Table of Contents
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.
What are the four wires on a dimmer switch?
The new switch has 4 wires: black, red, red/white striped, and green. Can I attach the new switch somehow?Sep 10, 2014.
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.
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.
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 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.
Can you install a dimmer switch on any outlet?
Dimmer Switches Should Not Be Used on Outlets Along with the very real risk of electrical shortage and fire associated with putting a dimmer switch on an outlet, it’s also against electrical code to install a dimmer switch on a pre-existing electrical outlet.
Do you need three wires for a dimmer switch?
When installing a Dimmer switch, all you’re really doing is controlling the amount of voltage flow to a light which makes it dim at a low setting to a fully bright light at maximum setting. Now a typical circuit will contain a 3-wire cable known as romex.
Do dimmers need red wire?
It depends on the dimmer switch. If it’s a single control dimmer then normally the white wire is your hot to the dimmer and the black is the return to power the light. The third wire should be the ground and likely will be a taped up version of the red wire.
What color is the dimmer wire?
The wires from the dimmer will typically be black. The two house wires may be black, red or white with black marking. Tighten a wire nut over each pair of wire ends. If there is bare wire exposed, unscrew the wire connector, remove the wires, trim the ends of the wires with a wire cutter and then re-cap the wires.
Does a 4 way dimmer switch exist?
Correct, no 4 way dimmers. The 3 way must be at either end of the switch legs, whatever it takes. If the dimmer is desired in a location where only a 4 way switch makes sense, the only solution is to extend the power and double back the switch legs so that it becomes the “end”.
How do you connect 4 wires to 2 wires?
The first option is to use the black wire of the 12-3 cable as the hot wire. Connect the black wires of both cables together, and connect the common white wires together. Cap the red wire and leave it untouched in the junction box. Place plastic twist caps on all splices.
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.
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.
Can I connect red and black wires together?
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. Red and black wires are both hot or line wires and should not be connected together.
