Table of Contents
Can you put a dimmer on 2 wire?
Only connect incandescent bulbs to Dimmer Switch (2-Wire). Dimmer Switch (2-Wire) is able to avoid need of a neutral wire by completing an electrical circuit through the connected load.
How many wires does a dimmer switch have?
Attach the Dimmer Switch There will be three wires: one black, one white, and a separate ground wire that may be bare copper or is sometimes wrapped in green.
Why does my dimmer switch have 2 black wires?
The two black wires connecting to the black leading to the switch are supplying power to the switch/dimmer. The blue wire from the switch connected to the other black wire is the switched-hot going to the light. The green wire is the ground. It all looks normal.
Do you need a neutral wire for a dimmer switch?
Since most Insteon-compatible wall switches and dimmers require a neutral wire connection to operate, you need to know if you have one of these in place. There are a few hardwired automated switches that don’t need a neutral wire, but these are in the minority. Also, you’ll be limited to incandescent lights.
Can you have 2 dimmers on a 2 way switch?
Installing the Two-Way Dimmer Switch Traditionally, you cannot dim a light from two different switches, as it will cause a conflict in the circuitry. A master and slave switch controls the dimmers in multiple locations around your house. The master is a one-way circuit that will only work with a slave switch.
Can you have a dimmer on a 2 way switch?
If you have a 2-way circuit (where the same lights are controlled by two switches) you must choose a push-on/push-off dimmer and replace one of the switches with that dimmer. You can only use one push-on/push-off dimmer in a 2-way circuit. Push-on/off dimmers can also be used in 1-way circuits.
Does it matter which wire goes where on a dimmer switch?
1 Answer. Unless the new dimmer is specifically marked with LINE and LOAD or similar, it doesn’t matter which wire goes to which screw/pigtail in a simple two wire switch or dimmer. Since your new switch can be used as a three way, the instructions should say which screw should not be used.
What kind of wire do you use for a dimmer switch?
New dimmers have either a green grounding wire or a green ground screw that you’ll have to connect to a grounding source if one is available. Houses wired with plastic-sheathed cable almost always have bare copper ground wires that you’ll connect to the toggle dimmer switch.
What are the 3 wires on a dimmer switch?
Single pole switches will have 3 wires: a hot lead wire, a ground wire, and a traveler wire. Older homes may only have a hot lead and a ground wire. If you have less than three wires, stop and call an electrician.
How do you wire a switch with two black wires?
Connect the top screw to the wire that feeds to the light. Connect the bottom screw to the hot wire. When you turn the power back on, and if you want to swap the direction of the switch (as in press down to turn off, or turn on), turn off the power and switch the two black wires.
Which wire is hot if both are black?
The black wire is the “hot” wire, it carries the electricity from the breaker panel into the switch or light source. The white wire is the “neutral” wire, it takes any unused electricity and current and sends it back to the breaker panel.
What happens when you have two black wires?
You should see two black wires, each connecting to a different screw on the side of the switch. These are called terminal screws. You will also see two white (neutral) wires that connect to one another in the box.
Does neutral wire have power?
Neutral wire carries the circuit back to the original power source. More specifically, neutral wire brings the circuit to a ground or busbar usually connected at the electrical panel. This gives currents circulation through your electrical system, which allows electricity to be fully utilized.
How do you hook up a 2 wire light fixture?
Connect the lead wires from the fixture to the black hot wire in the electrical box by twisting a wire connector to the ends of the lead and hot wires. Repeat these connections with the two white neutral wires from the light fixture and the white neutral wire in the light fixture box.
Are dimmer switches wired differently?
Unlike standard switches, most dimmer switches have wire leads that are connected to the circuit wires with wire connectors, rather than using screw terminal connections.
What happens if I wire a dimmer switch backwards?
A light switch is a simple device with only two states, competing a circuit (On) or breaking a circuit (Off). It is a series control element is a series – parallel circuit design. A light switch has no polarization so when you reverse the connections on the light switch it works just as before you reversed the wires.
Do you need a red wire for a dimmer switch?
The word Dimmer is a function of the switch. Red is the switched lead (or traveler in a 3-way installation), and is attached to the switched hot going to the light. Red with white is a traveler, used for 3-way installations. In your situation, you’ll just cap this one off.
