By Mark J. Donovan
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Installing a light dimmer switch is a
relatively straight forward project to do, however when dealing with
electricity safety needs to be the top priority.
You can replace a standard light switch with a
light dimmer switch in less than an hour using just a common screwdriver
and a pair of Needle Nose Pliers.
Installing a
Light Dimmer Switch Instructions
To begin with, turn power off to the light
switch at the main circuit panel or fuse box. Note, it is best to use
only one hand when turning on and off the circuit breaker. |
Your other hand should not be touching the
circuit panel or anything that could come in contact with the ground.
Make sure you let everyone in the home know that
you are working on the light switch and that for no reason should they turn
power back on at the main circuit panel or fuse box. You may also consider
putting a piece of tape over the circuit breaker and label it “DO NOT TURN
ON”.
Remove old Light Switch
After turning power off at the circuit panel or
fuse box, toggle the light switch a couple of times to ensure that the light
switch is no longer operational.
Next, using your screwdriver, remove the screws
that hold the light switch faceplate and pull the face plate off.
Now remove the two screws that hold the light
switch to the electrical box.
Next, pull the switch out from the electrical box
a few inches.
Using your screwdriver and/or needle nose pliers
remove the wires from the light switch and straighten them with your needle
nose pliers
Buy a Light Dimmer Switch
Visit your local home improvement store with your
light switch in hand, and find a light dimmer switch to replace it with. You
may want to ask a salesperson to help you find a functionally equivalent
light dimmer switch. For example, if your old light switch is a Single Pole,
Single Throw (SPST) type, you will need to find a replacement dimmer switch
that is functionally the same.
Install Light Dimmer Switch
If you are installing a light dimmer switch that
has only two black wires and a ground, simply install the light
dimmer switch by connecting the two black wires on the light dimmer switch to the
wires in the electrical box and according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Note that a 2 black wire dimmer switch does not have a polarity so it does
not matter which black dimmer wire attaches to which light switch wire.
Connect the wires by twisting each pair together
and then installing a wire nut over them. You may also want to wrap the wire
nut with a small piece of electricians tape for added protection.
Also, if the light dimmer switch has a green wire,
connect this wire to the ground wire in the electrical box.
If you are installing a light dimmer switch
that has black and red wires and a ground, connect the black wire to the
power (Line) and the red wire to the (Load). To determine which is which,
pull out both switch wires from the box and separate them. Also pull out the
bare wires (grounds) if the light dimmer switch is installed in a plastic
electrical box.
Safety
Notice on Installing Light Dimmer Switch
Being extremely careful and ensuring the wires are
separated from each other, have someone turn on the circuit breaker. Using a
volt meter or neon tester, probe one switch wire and the bare wire (ground),
and see if you get a deflection on the volt meter or if the neon tester glows.
If you do, then this is the Line and the other wire is the Load. Be careful
not to touch the bare wires with your body.
If the electrical box is metal, probe one switch
wire and the metal box, and see if you get a deflection on the volt meter or
if the neon tester glows. Again, if you do, then this is the Line wire and the
other wire is the Load.
Now have someone turn off the circuit breaker before
proceeding further and connecting the dimmer switch wires to the Line and
Load wires.
Connect the light dimmer switch wires by twisting each pair together
and then installing a wire nut over them. You may also want to wrap the wire
nut with a small piece of electricians tape for added protection.
Push the newly wired light dimmer switch into the
electrical box and attach it with the two mounting screws.
Reinstall the new light dimmer switch faceplate
cover that should have come with the dimmer and you are ready to test it.
Turn the power back on to your new light dimmer
switch at the main circuit panel or fuse box.
Toggle the light dimmer switch and confirm the
light turns on and off properly.
Adjust the dimmer knob or bar to confirm the light
switch dims properly and you're done.
For information on Changing a Light
Switch, See HomeAdditionPlus.com's "How
to Change a Light Switch Ebook". It provides detailed, easy to
understand, step-by-step instructions and pictures, on how to replace a
Light Switch.
How to Finance your Home Electrical Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
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