How do you change a rotary dimmer switch?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So we are actually replacing an old dimmer switch that is broken and we're going to put in this new switch. You can see it has the little dimmer.
What are the terminals on a dimmer switch?
Each dimmer module has 3 screw terminals, L1, L2 & C (common). In 1-way lighting circuits each light is controlled by 1 switch.
How do you install a dimmer switch with two wires?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Take the ground wire off the existing switch and connect it to the green ground wire on the dimmer. Remove one of the wires from the switch and connect it to either of the black wires on the. Dimmer.
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 does my dimmer switch have 2 black wires?
The two black wires connecting to the black leading to the switch are supplying power to the switch/dimmer. The blue wire from the switch connected to the other black wire is the switched-hot going to the light. The green wire is the ground.
How many wires do I need for a 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. Identify the different colored wires, and use needle-nose pliers to attach the wires to the dimmer in the same way they had been attached to the switch (Image 1).
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 is the copper screw on dimmer switch?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Which opens and closes the circuit. If it's closed the lights on if the circuits open the lights off.
What does L1 and L2 mean on a dimmer switch?
Two way switches have a COM terminal as well as L1 and L2 terminals. When L1 is off L2 would be on. When L1 is on L2 would be off.
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.
Does a dimmer switch need 3 wires?
A 3-wire NM connects the travelers of the dimmer to the travelers of the 3-way switch. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. The 3-way dimmer and 3-way switch are also interchangeable. The common terminal of the 3-way switch connects to the light fixture(s).
Do you need a neutral wire for a dimmer switch?
In any installation, either the light switch or the light fixture MUST have a neutral wire. Therefore, if there’s no neutral in your switch box, the light fixture will have one. There are several compact smart switches which can fit inside electrical boxes and light fixtures.
Which wire is hot if both are black?
Here’s a rundown of electrical wires: The black wire is the “hot” wire, it carries the electricity from the breaker panel into the switch or light source. The white wire is the “neutral” wire, it takes any unused electricity and current and sends it back to the breaker panel.
What happens if you mix up hot and neutral wires?
This happens when the hot and neutral wires get flipped around at an outlet, or upstream from an outlet. Reversed polarity creates a potential shock hazard, but it’s usually an easy repair. Any $5 electrical tester will alert you to this condition, assuming you have a properly grounded three-prong outlet.
Can you put two wires one screw?
Never connect more than one wire under a single screw terminal. It’s also not a good idea to direct-wire all three cables to the receptacle by utilizing both the screw terminals and the push-in terminals on the back of the device.
What is the correct procedure for connecting wire to terminal screws?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Here's a tip the white wire always goes to the silver screw. The red or black wire goes on the brass. Screw.
Can I put two black wires on same screw?
No, it is not safe. That screw terminal is made to take just one wire. Since it doesn’t use the switch as it’s intended (by its UL listing) it’s a code violation. It will make a poor connection, which can heat up and potentially cause a fire.
Which wire is hot when both are same color?
In most modern fixtures the neutral wire will be white and the hot wire is red or black. In some types of fixtures, both wires will be the same color. In this case, the neutral wire is always identified by some means. In some cases, there will be small writing on the wiring case.
What happens if you wire a light backwards?
But here’s the catch: If you connect the circuit wires to the wrong terminals on an outlet, the outlet will still work, but the polarity will be backward. When this happens, a lamp, for example, will have its bulb socket sleeve energized rather than the little tab inside the socket.
What do you do with a neutral wire in a light switch?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Down here and we do have a neutral water we've got a white wire here. And this neutral wire that means that we can use any of these three light switches any of these three smart light switches.
