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Do you need an electrician to install a dimmer switch?
Electricity is a mystery to many people, but some electrical projects — like wiring a switch — are so simple that anyone can do them. With a few easy steps and the right knowledge, there’s no need to hire an electrician.
Can you put a dimmer switch on LED lights?
A standard dimmer switch cannot be used with an LED light as you will never be able to dim the LED light either completely or not very well. LED lights need their own special electronic dimmer switch to have a fully functioning and dimming light.
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.
Does it matter which wire goes where on a dimmer switch?
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.
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.
How much does it cost to have a dimmer switch installed?
How Much Do Dimmer Switches Cost? Dimmer switches cost between $10 and $35 on average, although some higher-end models can be more expensive. On top of this, installation costs can be between $100 and $200, depending on the service and your location.
How are dimmer switches wired?
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.
Do you need an LED dimmer for LED lights?
A dimmer is required for dimming LED bulbs. In most cases your current dimmer is used to dim halogen and incandescent bulbs. Each dimmer has a minimum power, this power is 40-80W. As a result, the LED bulbs may not dim or only very bad, resulting in flashing.
What kind of dimmer is needed for LED lights?
There are two types of dimmer switch available: leading-edge and trailing-edge dimmers. Some retrofit LED light bulbs and fittings have drivers that allow them to work with either type, but for a better chance of the dimmer operating correctly, choose a trailing-edge dimmer.
How do you dim LED string lights?
Plug the dimmer in. Plug the string lights into the dimmer. Then use the remote to turn them on. You can dim by 75%, 50%, 25%, or using the + and – symbol.
What happens if a light switch doesn’t have a ground wire?
For a normal light switch, the ground is a safety feature, not necessary for operation. You can leave that screw unconnected if you don’t have a ground wire, or if you have the wire but no screw on the switch, you can ground the switch another way.
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.
Where do you connect the ground wire?
When running a ground wire, it should be connected to the designated place on the device, and then run to a safe location where the energy can be dispersed. This typically means having the wire lead into the earth, which is where this type of wire gets is name.
What happens if you wire a dimmer 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.
Why are some LED lights not dimmable?
Damage or failure – LED driver, circuit or LED is damaged or fails. Load below minimum – The power load of the LED lamp is below the minimum required by the dimmer. Mixed models- Different models of LED will likely have different drivers – since drivers behave differently this could result in dimming issues.
What happens if you dim a non dimmable LED?
So what happens if you use non-dimmable LEDs on a dimmer? Well, at best the bulb just won’t dim properly. But non-dimmable LEDs are only designed to be either fully powered ON or OFF, which means the circuitry inside won’t be able to handle low or pulsing current levels and will eventually become damaged.
How do you dim LED lights without a dimmer?
You just simply replace your current bulb with the SceneChange bulb, then you can just toggle your existing light switch on the wall or on a lamp to change the light setting. You can simply adjust the light from cool white to warm white to a warm glow with different brightness.
