Replacing a standard light switch with a dimmer switch is a great way to add flexibility, and a touch of moodiness, to your home’s lighting. They don’t just have aesthetic value however, they also help you to save energy and money while adding to the life of your light bulbs by reducing the amount of wattage they are emitting.
To avoid overheating and possible damage to other equipment, do not use dimmer switches to control receptacles, motor-driven appliances, or transformer-supplied appliances
Safety First! Turn off the power to the room you’re working in at the electrical panel. Double check to make sure that power is turned off by flipping the switch on and off or use a voltage detector.
Helpful Hint: To make sure no one flips the breaker back on before you finished, put a piece of tape over it!
STEP 1: FIGURING OUT WHICH DIMMER SWITCH YOU NEED
(1) The dimmer switch you purchase needs to work with your existing wiring. The two primary types you’ll deal with when installing a dimmer switch are single-pole and three-way.
A single-pole switch turn a light, receptacle or device on and off from a single location. A characteristic of a single pole toggle switch is that it has an “On” and “Off” marking on the switch (something you will not find on a three or four way switch).
A three way switch is always used in pairs and allows you to turn a light or receptacle on and off from two different locations. These switches have no “on” or “off” markings because the on and off positions will vary as the switches are used.
(2) Make sure that each dimmer switch that you purchase has a maximum wattage rating that will not be exceeded by the total wattage of all of the fixtures that it will control.
STEP 2: TURN OFF THE POWER
Turn off the power to the circuit you’re working on at your home’s main electrical panel. Find the right breaker and toggle it to the “off” position. If you’re not sure what breaker it is, it is better to be safe than sorry. Get someone to help you determine which of your home’s circuits are being turned on and off as you toggle different breakers on the panel.
Helpful Hint: If time allows, and your panel lacks proper labeling, take advantage of this testing process and label it accurately for future use.
STEP 3: REMOVE THE EXISTING SWITCH
Single Pole Switch
Three Way Switch
Unscrew the cover plate and remove it. Next unscrew the old switch from the electric box and remove it gently. To ensure that the circuit has been powered off, test it with a voltage detector. Then snap a photo of which wire goes to which terminal on the existing switch to refer to if need be. After all, a picture is worth 1,000 words!
Next disconnect the wall wires from existing light switch. If you have a single-pole switch (left), you should see three wires; one black, one white and a separate ground. Depending on how the connections, either loosen the terminal screws or insert a small screwdriver into the rectangular hole adjacent to the wire.
If you have a three-way switch (right), one of the wires will be connected to a different colored screw or plugged into a hole in the back of the switch that is labeled “Common.” Tag this wire with a piece of electrical tape.
STEP 4: PREPARE THE WIRES
Use a wire cutter to trim off the excess bare wire that extends past the plastic insulation and repeat for every wire. Then use a wire stripper to strip off 3/8″ of insulation. This will give you a clean piece of wire for the connections to the dimmer switch.
The dimmer switch’s wires should already have some insulation stripped off. If not, prepare them in the same manner.
STEP 5: CONNECT THE DIMMER SWITCH
IMPORTANT: Carefully review the instructions from the dimmer switch. Placing any wires in the wrong locations OR flipping any components upside down it a serious hazard.
Single-Pole Switch: If you’re working with a single-pole circuit, start by connecting the dimmer’s ground wire to the green ground wire in the wall box. Then connect the black wire from the dimmer switch to one of the wires from the electrical box in the wall. With needle-nose pliers, twist the exposed parts of the wires together. Next tighten a wire nut over the two wires. Then connect the red wire from the dimmer switch to the other wire from the electrical box in the wall.
Three-Way Switch: Locate the wire from the electrical box in the wall that you tagged with a piece of electrical tape. Connect it to the black wire from the dimmer switch (using the same needle-nose pliers twisting and wire nut method from the Single-Pole Switch instructions above). Next, connect the red wire from the dimmer switch to one of the wires from the electrical box in the wall. Lastly, connect the red/white wire from the dimmer switch to the one remaining wire from the electrical box in the wall.
For more assistance or to utilize an interactive installation guide, check out Lutron’s Installation Assistant
STEP 6: INSTALL NEW DIMMER SWITCH INTO ELECTRICAL BOX
Now that all of the wires have been connected, it’s time to insert the newly wired switch into the electrical box. Perform this gently so that the wires will fit comfortably into the box. Bending them in an accordion style fold is the best way to ensure a snug fit.
Then push the switch back into place. Tighten the two screws that hold it in position using a screwdriver. Lastly, install the new dimmer switch’s plate over the switch and screw it into place using a screwdriver.
STEP 7: TURN POWER BACK ON AND TEST
Head back to your home’s electrical panel and toggle the circuit to the “on” position. Then test the dimmer to make sure your installation sucessful.
If the light doesn’t work, verify that the light has a bulb installed that is specially designed to be “dimmable.” If the dimmer still doesn’t work, turn off the breaker and double check your wiring connections.
Helpful Hint: It is normal for a dimmer switch to feel warm to the touch during operation.
WRAP UP
Using dimmer switches allows you to tailor the ambient lighting of an entire room. Ambient, or general, lighting is a light that illuminates the whole room. Think of it as the indoor equivalent of natural sunlight outdoor. Dimmer switches allow you to tailor a room’s lighting to the mood of the moment: soft and subtle for movies, or bright and vibrant for reading or cleaning.
For any and everything you need to update your home’s lighting, come by and see us at Koopman. Visit Koopmanlumber.com and find the store nearest you!
