Can you put a dimmer switch on any light fixture?

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 does a dimmer switch work in a circuit?





A modern dimmer switch “chops up” the sine wave. It automatically shuts the light bulb circuit off every time the current reverses direction — that is, whenever there is zero voltage running through the circuit. This happens twice per cycle, or 120 times a second.

What type of circuit is a dimmer switch?

In the last section, we saw that a dimmer switch rapidly turns a light circuit on and off to reduce the energy flowing to a light switch. The central element in this switching circuit is a triode alternating current switch, or triac. A triac is a small semiconductor device, similar to a diode or transistor.

Where can a dimmer switch not be used?

Dimmer Switch is intended for dry, indoor use only. Dimmer Switch should not be used to control ceiling fans or ceiling fan lights. Use with branch circuit breaker 20A or less. Use only copper or copper-clad wire with this device.

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.

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.

Do dimmer switches change voltage?

Does a dimmer switch reduce voltage? It works by changing the voltage waveform applied to the lamp, it is possible to lower the intensity of the light output.

Does a dimmer switch reduce voltage or current?

If you dim domestic lights using a standard dimmer switch, do you actually consume less electricity? Since dimmers generally work by chopping off part of the mains cycle (50 or 100 times per second), you do quite definitely take less electrical power by dimming.

How do you wire a dimmer switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: These are interchangeable. Start by wiring the bear ground wire from the house to the green ground wire on the three-way switch screw on a wire nut and tighten it.

How many wires do I need for a dimmer switch?



three wires

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.

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.

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.

What happens if dimmer switch is not grounded?

The plug without a ground cable is dangerous because there is no alternative path for the charge to escape from the circuit. As a result, the conducting area is under the voltage. You then run the risk of coming into contact with the deadly excess charges that emit from power outlets.

Do dimmer switches need special bulbs?

A modern dimmer switch switch functions the same way as if you turn a light ON and OFF really fast. These switches are designed to work with CFLs, Halogens, and Incandescent light bulbs. But the bulbs need to be of the latest technology and must have the feature of dimming to allow it to be used with a dimmer switch.

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.

Do dimmers save electricity?



Not only do modern light dimmers save you energy, but they also extend the life of your light bulbs! Dimmers use a “Triac Switch” to rapidly turn a light circuit on and off to reduce the energy flowing to a light bulb. This switch will cut the energy running to the fixture up to 120 times in one second.

Can you use dimmable LED bulbs in a regular socket?

The short answer to this question is: Yes, you can use dimmable LEDs without a dimmer switch, just like normal light bulbs. This is handy to know because many retailers are reducing the number of non-dimmable LED bulbs that they stock.