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Do dimmer switches need special wiring?
Remember: Dimmer switches don’t work on most fluorescent fixtures, and low-voltage lighting requires special low-voltage dimmers. Remove the wires from the old switch. Dimmer switches are usually connected to the house wiring by short lengths of wire coming out of the switch body rather than by screw terminals.
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.
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.
Does a dimmer switch need 3 wires?
A 3-wire NM connects the travelers of the dimmer to the travelers of the 3-way switch. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. The 3-way dimmer and 3-way switch are also interchangeable. The common terminal of the 3-way switch connects to the light fixture(s).
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.
How many wires do I need for a dimmer switch?
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 4 wires?
Since the switch cuts the power on and off, there will be a black wire coming into the switch and a black wire leaving. The whites are normally just connected together with a wire nut and the coppers are connected together with a wire nut or grounded to a metal junction box. So the new switch has four wires.
How does a 3-wire dimmer switch work?
3-Wire Basics It allows dimmers to set the intensity of ballasts by providing a line- voltage phase-control signal from the dimmer to the ballast on a dimmed hot wire. The dimmer separately switches the power to the ballast over a dimmed hot wire.
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.
What does L1 L2 and C mean on a dimmer switch?
Dimmers look slightly different to standard switches being much more chunky. They usually come supplied with a common(C), Line out(L1) and Line out(L2) terminals similarly to a two way switch. Sometimes all three terminals are in a row.
Can I install a dimmer switch on any light?
A dimmer switch can be installed anywhere that an existing on or off switch is in place. Replacing the current toggle switch with a dimmer switch will allow you to change the lights’ brightness, so long as you are using a light bulb that is compatible with the dimmer you have chosen.
How do you wire a dimmer switch to a ceiling light?
Installing a Dimmer Switch Select a dimmer switch that has a rated capacity high enough to handle the combined wattage of all the bulbs in the chandelier added together. Turn the power off to the fixture at the breaker. Remove the cover and existing switch. Attach the dimmer to the wires using wire nuts.
Can you swap a dimmer switch with a regular switch?
Most dimmer switches have 2 wires going to them, as do regular switches. Just turn off the power to the circuit at the panel, and make the two wire replacement. Be sure to get your connections tight and well insulated, wire-nuts work well for that. Good luck.
How do I install a dimmer switch without a ground wire?
In that case, an exception in article 404.9(B) of the current National Electric Code (NEC) allows a dimmer without a connecting ground wire to still be installed if it is a replacement. Simply remove the dimmer wire, or cut it short and cap it with a wire nut.
Why are my dimmable lights not dimming?
One of the most apparent reasons for dimmer switches not being able to dim all the way is the lack of compatibility between the dimmer and bulb you have used. There are dimmable bulbs and non-dimmable bulbs; if you were to use a non-dimmable bulb with a dimmer switch, it wouldn’t work out at all.
Why does my dimmer switch have 5 wires?
It’s a 3-way switch The other two wires (the brass screws) are travelers. When you throw the switch, it alternates which one is connected.
Do they make 4 way dimmer switches?
Lutron CA-4PS-WH Diva 15 A 4-Way Switch, White.
Can I connect red and black wires together?
Red Electrical Wires These wires are typically used for switch wiring as well as the interconnection between smoke detectors hard-wired into the power system. You can link two red wires together, or you can link a red wire to a black wire. Since red wires conduct current, they are considered hot.
