wiring a dimmer switch?

Question

the dimmer i just bought says (single pole/unipolar) when i took the old switch out there is 2 black wires 2 white wires and a red one. in the old switch which is still hooked up one black wire is capped off with a white wire and the other bla and whi wire are connected to the switch with the remaining red wire on the opposing side. the bare wire is simple enough which should go the green wire on the new dim switch. the new dim switch has only 2 black wires and a green one. do i have the right switch and if so how do i hook it up

Answer 1

heres some basic info hope it helps

Light dimming switches are not only very safe, but the variety of sleek and efficient dimmers you can purchase today is outstanding. In my opinion, the only fire hazard you might introduce to your home while installing one would be failure, on your part, of reading and following any enclosed instructions. I have installed dimmer switches for years and not one has ever caused an electrical fire.


The reason dimmer switches get hot is fairly simple. Some dimmers get hotter than others because of their design. Old dimmer switches typically were rheostats that varied the amount of voltage going to the light bulbs. As the rheostat was turn down to lower the voltage, the electricity was changed into heat. These old dimmers wasted lots of energy.

Modern dimmer switches use slick internal electronics to dim the lights. These components can turn the light on and off 120 times per second. This is too fast for you to see. By altering the amount of time the switch is off rather than on, you see a lower amount of light out of the bulb. This method of dimming is highly efficient. Well over 90 percent of the electricity that does flow into the switch gets used in the light bulb. The heat that you feel in modern dimmers simply is a result of the ordinary friction of the electricity flowing through the device.


Modern electronic dimmers have a heat sink or metal plate that directs this heat towards the room. This is why you feel the heat on the cover plate. This is done intentionally. Over time, excessive heat could damage the house wiring or the internal components of the dimmer switch.

You don't need any special wiring to connect a typical residential dimmer switch. If you have a standard toggle switch in place now that operates the light, a dimmer can replace this switch. You can even get three way dimmer switches that allow you to operate a light from two different switches.

Be aware that dimmer switches can only handle a specific amount of light load. You can typically purchase dimmers that are rated for 600 or up to 1,000 watts of lighting. Light bulbs are usually clearly marked as to their wattage. Determine the total wattage of the bulbs that are being controlled by any one dimmer. Purchase the correct size dimmer switch to suit your needs. But keep in mind that the metal heat sink plate on the front of many dimmers can be altered so that you can place multiple dimmer switches next to one another. If you break off the side tabs of the heat sink, as allowed in the instructions, you need to derate the capacity of the dimmer. If you snap off the tabs on both sides of the heat sink a 600 watt dimmer becomes a 400 watt dimmer.

Be prepared for tough decisions when you buy your dimmer switches. There are so many cool ones out there. You can buy one that has all of its controls in the tiny space that is used by a standard on and off toggle switch. Dimmer switches are made with tiny LED light level indicators, softly glowing night lights, and tap-on and tap-off capabilities. Perhaps my favorite dimmer switch is the one that has a hand held remote control. You sit on a couch or in a chair, point the remote towards the switch and you can dim the lights while still seated. It is the ultimate couch potato gift!

Point of use dimmer switches are also available. You can purchase a dimmer switch for a table lamp. This device allows you to stop buying three way light bulbs. You can buy a standard higher wattage bulb and use the dimmer to create an infinite amount of different light levels to suit the task. These dimmers are very handy.

Author's Notes:

June 2002

Tim,

While the older light dimmers had a potentiometer (variable resistor- rotating or slide type) as the method of controlling the semiconductors within them, they never were truly a 'rheostat' as you explain. The power to the light was not directly handled by the potentiometer, but by a semiconductor switch called a triac, which had a control signal provided by the potentiometer.

A true rheostat to work the common load of 600 watts handled by the standard light dimmer would be about half the size of a toaster (which is a 1200 watt resistance load typically) and generate as much heat...really think that would have worked well in a wall box?

It is possible that the writer to the column experiencing the warm dimmers had several dimmers ganged in the same enclosure, and that the proper derating (typically a 600 watt max load for the first dimmer in a box, derated to 500 if there are two, 400 watts each if there are three) was not followed during installation OR someone installed larger or more lamps than the original installation intended.... seen both of these happen in my career....

While some newer dimmers have eliminated the potentiometer in favor of touch plates, and the working components are about the same, the efficiency of the semiconductor devices have improved tremendously, and improved efficiency leads to less loss on the switching which results in lower heat dissipation



if anythign check out these links maybe theyll help
the first link is apdf and has alot of pictures

Answer 2

You need a 3 way switch as handyman said, but do not try capping off wires as handyman suggested. Ignore the other answer, which copied a book of useless information not related to your question.

When you get a 3 way switch, one of the 3 wires is a common (will be labeled or have a different color or both). Similarly, one of your 3 colors on the switch (black, white, or red) is on the common (look for that word and/or a different color screw).

If you stated the colors right, whoever did the original wiring didn't follow code right.

You don't seem the most qualified for doing electrical work. Feel free to call an electrician. There is more to it than there might seem. Don't undo any wire nuts, just remove wires from the switch. I think some people have asked how to do a dimmer with a whole bunch of unconnected wires. Impossible to help online at that point.

Answer 3

Turn OFF electricity at the main fuse box (or the circuit breaker box) that controls the power to the fixture or the room you’re working on.
Test the wires to ensure the power is OFF.
Place the wall switch in the OFF position.
All electrical connections must be in agreement with local codes. Check with local authorities to see if a permit is required.
If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician.
Do not use bulbs with wattage greater than specified for this fixture (if applicable).
Step 1
Remove the wall plate and switch mounting screws so the switch can be pulled from the wall and the wires exposed. Don't touch any of the wires until you've confirmed they aren't carrying electrical current.

Step 2
Use masking tape to mark the wires that are connected to the switch, or take a picture with your phone. These are the wires you need to connect to your new dimmer.

Step 3
Disconnect the wires by loosening the screws and unhooking the wires.

Step 4
Strip the wire insulation by 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch using a wire stripper. Double check the manufacturer's instructions to make sure you don't strip off too much insulation.

Step 5
Before installing the new dimmer make note of which side is the top and which is the bottom of the dimmer switch.

Step 6
Connect the wires. If your house has lead wires, connect them to the house wires using wire connectors and then wrap them with electrical tape. Connect the green ground wire to the copper ground wire in the box using a supplied connector. Twist it clockwise to tighten.

Step 7
Carefully tuck the wires back into the electrical box and attach the dimmer to the electrical box with the mounting screws.

Step 8
Mount the wall plate to the switch and secure it with the wall plate screws.

Step 9
Turn the power back on and test the switch. If it fails to work, turn the power off again and test once more. Double check your work for incomplete connections.

Tip: Don’t use a dimmer on a circuit that includes an outlet. You could damage such products as vacuums and electronic devices if they’re plugged into a dimmed outlet.

Answer 4

The dimmer you bought is rated to be used either as a 3-way or a single switch. Read the instructions that came with it to determine which wire to cap off. Then it is a simple matter of connecting wire for wire in place of the old switch. The ground wire goes with the bare or green wires already in the box.

Answer 5

THAT WOULD BE A THREE WAY SWITCH AND WOULD GET A WIREING DIAGRAM MABY DIFFERNT SWITCES. MIGHT BE ABLE TO CAP THE RED AND BLACK OFF AND JUST USE ONE HOT AND ONE SWITCH.GOOD LUCK.

Answer 6

Check out these links.
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/preamble.html
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part2/preamble.html
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/index.htm
http://www.the-home-improvement-web.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch.htm
Hope it helps.

Answer 7

problematic stuff. lookup with bing and yahoo. this can help!