Dimmer switches shouldn’t be used on wall outlets because it is against the electrical code. Installing a dimmer switch on an outlet and then plugging in another appliance on the circuit can cause a short-circuit event or even an electrical fire.
How do you stop a light switch from controlling an outlet?
The easiest way to do this is to disconnect the red and black wire from the switch and wire nut them together. Use a blank cover to cover the switch box. This allows you to go back to switched outlets in the future if you want. Make sure there will still be a light controlled by a switch by the door.
Does a dimmer switch control voltage or current?
A light dimmer works by essentially chopping parts out of the AC voltage. This allows only parts of the waveform to pass to the lamp. The brightness of the lamp is determined by the power transferred to it, so the more the waveform is chopped, the more it dims.
What does a dimmer control?
Dimmers are devices connected to a light fixture and used to lower the brightness of light. By changing the voltage waveform applied to the lamp, it is possible to lower the intensity of the light output.
How do you change a dimmer switch to an outlet?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: First turn off the power to the switch at the circuit or fuse panel unscrew and remove the switch. Plate. Then use a voltage tester to make sure that the circuit is dead it should read zero.
Do dimmer switches work on all lights?
Most light fixtures will work with standard dimmer switches, including those with halogen and incandescent lamps. Determine whether your fixture uses line or low voltage. If you install line-voltage track and rail lights with incandescent bulbs, you can use dimmer switches to control their brightness.
How do I make my light plug dimmable?
How to Wire a Dimmer to a Lamp
- Unplug your light’s power cord from the wall outlet.
- Plug the dimmer into the wall outlet.
- Plug your lamp’s power cord into the receptacle on the dimmer.
- Turn on your lamp, using the switch on the lamp itself. Slide the dimmer up and down to test it’s functionality.
Can a dimmer switch dim an outlet?
Dimmer switches. General-use dimmer switches shall be used only to control permanently installed incandescent luminaires (lighting fixtures) unless listed for the control of other loads and installed accordingly. Simple answer is that you cannot dim any device other than a permanently installed incandescent luminaires.
Can I change a dimmer switch to a normal switch?
You can replace the dimmer switch with a regular light switch, only from what you have described you need to install a 3-way light switch, not a single pole light switch. The typical connections are as follows: The black wire to the lone screw on the 3-way light switch.
Do dimmer switches need special wiring?
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 happens if you put a non dimmable LED in dimmer?
So what happens if you use non-dimmable LEDs on a dimmer? Well, at best the bulb just won’t dim properly. At worst, though, you might damage the bulb. You see, dimmable LEDs have special circuitry inside that allows them to respond to varying current levels or “pulsing” current waves to produce a dimming effect.
Can you use dimmable bulbs in a regular socket?
The answer is YES. However, keep in mind that the bulb will function at is full capacity.
Can you put a dimmer switch on a light with 2 switches?
No, you should not have to replace both of the existing switches on each circuit. You won’t be able to dim from both ends, of course. You just need a “3-Way LED Dimmer” and follow the appropriate wiring.
Can I use a regular dimmer switch with just the light on a ceiling?
Standard dimmer switches should never be used to control the fan motor on a ceiling fan because the dimmer could damage the fan motor, or overheat and start a fire.
What is the difference between a 1 way and 2 way dimmer switch?
In its working, the main difference between them is the number of contacts they each have. The one-way switch has two contacts and the two-way switch has three contacts. In a two-way switch, there are two, one-way switches combined in one.
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.
What is the red wire for on a dimmer switch?
A second black (sometimes red) wire on the dimmer attaches to the other black circuit wire in the box. The green ground lead on the switch attaches to the circuit grounding wire, which is usually a bare copper or green insulated wire.
What’s the yellow wire on a dimmer switch?
Yellow wires are used as switch legs to ceiling fans, structural lights, and outlets paired with light switches, while blue wires are usually used as travelers for three-or-four-way switches.
