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Posted on Jan 03, 2012

Can I use a 2-way dimmer on a single pole light switch

The back of the dimmer has 1 black and red next to each other. The other red wire is by it self

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 75 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 21, 2008

SOURCE: Dimmer Switch Installation issue

ALL you really need to worry about is the white and black wire that you hooked up before. The green ground screw is not needed. If you have a bare wire completely bare all the way, you can hook it to the green, but it is not required to work.
The other 2 screws are for the switch. It does not matter which wire goes where, as the switch just puts them together, and takes them apart.

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Anonymous

  • 360 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 31, 2009

SOURCE: Install a single pole light dimmer

House wires are for a 3 way switch, you will need a different switch

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Mar 22, 2009

SOURCE: Trying to install trimatron 120vac push dimmer

Called the guys at Home Depot and they helped me over the phone.
thanks

VtToolMan

Mark

  • 704 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 07, 2009

SOURCE: two slots on back of dimmer. one has single black

Yes, this is a single pole dimmer switch. Connect the green wire to the ground wire in your electrical switch box and connect one black wire to the power (common wire) in the switch box and the other to the wire going to the incandesant light fixture. (Standard dimmers cannot be used with CFL type bulbs).

You should be working fine! Remember to turn off the power to the wiring your connecting this dimmer to to prevent both getting a shock and from damaging the dimmer during installation.

Hope you found this very helpful and best regards!

John Morganti

  • 864 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 23, 2009

SOURCE: how to wire 3 switches in a 3 gang box

WARNING: Do not attempt to do this work unless you completely understand the information provided below. If in doubt call an electrician.
Always make sure the power is disconnected from all possible sources before making any connections. Your description of the problem indicates that there may be multiple power wires coming into the same box. In that case local codes may require that the box be partitioned to prevent exposure to voltages up to 220 volts.
You need to determine where each wire goes to know how to connect them together. You cannot rely on color alone. If the power supply runs through the box to the loads then most (but probably not all) of the white wires will be connected together. If the power runs to the load boxes first then none of the white wires in the switch box should be connected together. They are used to run the switched/dimmed power back to the loads (and should be taped to cover the white in the box). In that case each switch has its own power input and they should not be tied together. A wire (could be black or white with black tape) brings power from the load box, gets connected to the input terminal of the switch and the corresponding black wire carries the switched power back to the load. The fan/light switch will have one power in and a switched power out for the fan and another for the light. The 3-way will have one "power" in (or it could be the final power out to the light) and two "carrier wires that connect to the other 3-way switch. If the power supply goes through the switch box then there will be at least 10 wires in that box. In that case see the attached diagram: a5fa64a.gif

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0helpful
1answer

Try to add a dimmer but we have 2 blacks and 1 red wire. Product has 2 black and 1 green. How to connect?

Usually this is indicative that you have a 3-way lighting circuit, but only a single-pole dimmer. For most lighting circuits, the red wire and one of the black wires are supposed to be run over to a second light switch. You need dimmer rated as a "3-way" in order for that to work. If you get stuck, I would call the manufacturer's tech support number at 1-800-523-9466. They're available 24/7 and it will not cost you anything.
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1answer

Hi, How do you wire a Leviton switch to the next switch in a 4 gang box? Diagram? Thanks! Michael

Switches are not identified.
Single-pole switches are wired differently than 3-way.
Wire colors are not identified. Some boxes have red and black wires that carry power.
Add a comment and fill out details after studying image and reading information.
I am not there, so you can also add a comment and include in-focus photo of your switches that you posted on Flickr.

Following image shows single-pole switches, with typical black and white wires.
No bare copper ground wire is shown. Ground wires connect to green screw.
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Single-pole-switches-in-4-g.jpg

So your new switch has 2 brass screws. No white wire connects to single-pole switch. One screw will have 1 black wire that goes to light fixture. The other screw will have 1 or 2 black wires that jumper or connect to the other switches as shown in image.

White wires are usually twisted together and covered with wire nut and pushed to back of box.

Upvote the help.
And take advantage of fixya expert assistance live.
For a price, expert works with you while you work on circuit or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.
0helpful
1answer

I am replacing an existing switch/single outlet, the outlet was always live.the switch controlled a light. the existing sw was very old and only has connections on the back top.. The left had 2 white wires...

Hi,
White wires under the silver screw...
The black wire under the black screw...
and the red wire under the brass screw...

If it does not work right then switch the red and black wires...

heatman101
0helpful
1answer

Installing 3 pole dimmer-from box i have 2 black, 1 ground 1 red...dimmer has 2 red 1 black and ground...how do i connect

If you look at the wiring in both boxes, you can usually figure it out. typically, you have one common at each end. This might be the red in your case. It would go to the light at one end, and be the hot wire at the other end. The other two are called travelers, and just go switch to switch. On the dimmer, the black would be the common, the two reds would be the travelers and the ground, the ground. In yours, the two blacks may be the travelers. You can try this hook up and see if it works.
1helpful
1answer

My GE lighted rotary dimmer switch has 3 wires coming from the same hole- 2 black and one red. Is the red wire the ground wire?

No.

It is most likely a three way dimmer, where the two black wires would run to the other three switch, and the red wire would either run to the breaker panel or the light fixture (depending on the electrical box location).

If you're using this in a single-pole application, place a wire nut on one of the black wires, and then wire it as a single-pole device using the red wire and the remaining black wire.

And make sure you have the power turned off before attempting.
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1answer

I have two black wires in box attached to regular light switch & want to know if I can install a Skylark S-603PG single pole dimmer switch which has one black , one red&white, red and green wires

This is single-pole -or- 3-way dimmer
Manual shows on following link:
http://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentLibrary/0301107A.pdf

1) Manual says: The red/white wire is not used in a single-pole application. Twist a wire
nut over this wire for a single-pole application.
2) Green wire connects to bare ground wire. Or bare ground to bare ground.
3) Connect dimmer-red and dimmer-black to either insulated wire that came off of old switch

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, fixya expert speaks with you over phone while you work on dimmer or any do-it-yourself project.
We are always less expensive than a service call.
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I have the unit wired and it does not wotk.I have black to black,red to red green to ground and white to white,any thoughts? Thank you

Electrician test wiring before connecting anything.
First of all, you don't mention what type of switch was replaced.

1) Leviton 6230 countdown timer is made to replace single-pole light switch only.
Single pole is where 1 switch controls the Load (light fan motor)

Your wiring sounds like 3-way switch.
3-way is where 2 switches control same Load.
For example a hallway usually has 3-way switches.

To confirm. If old switch has 1 dark screw, 2 brass screws, and 1 green screw, then that is 3-way switch. Use Leviton LTB15, LTB30, LTB60, LTB02, LTB12 countdown timer for 3-way.
Smarthome sells product and shows .pdf manual
http://www.smarthome.com/4255/Leviton-LTB60-1LZ-4-Button-10-20-30-60-Minute-Countdown-Timer-Switch/p.aspx


2) If old switch has 2 brass screws and 1 green screw then that is single-pole switch.

3) If you are replacing single-pole switch, here are testing & wiring instructions for Leviton timer.
Remove device and separate wires for testing.
Use ordinary two wire tester.
Tape tester leads to wood sticks so hands are away from power.
Do not untwist wires that were twisted together before you started.
Turn on power.
Test each wire to bare ground wire.
Tester lights up on Hot wire. This wire will connect to timer black wire.
Now you know Hot wire.
Test Hot wire to each of the other wires, excluding bare ground wire.
Tester lights up on neutral. Timer white wire connects to Neutral wire.
If box does not contain Neutral wire, then timer white wire connects to bare ground.

Timer green wire connects to bare ground wire.
Timer red wire connects to wire going to Load.
0helpful
1answer

How to install a dimmer switch

This is a 3-way switch, made to control a light fixture that is also controlled by another switch in a different location. A typical example is a ceiling light fixture installed in an upstairs hallway, which could be controlled by switches at both top and bottom of the staircase.

The green wire in your switch is the ground connection, and joins to the green insulated or bare copper ground wire in the switch box. The red wire is the common connection. It connects either to the incoming AC hot wire from the electric panel, or to the hot terminal of the light fixture, depending on the switch location. The two black wires are traveller connections. They connect to the traveller terminals of the other 3-way switch.

If you purchased this switch as a replacement for a regular single-pole toggle switch or dimmer switch - one that controls a light from a single location only - then this isn't what you need and you can't use it. You'll know if you have a single-pole switch because it will have only three wires or screw connections. Return it and get a single-pole.

To install this as a replacement for a 3-way toggle switch or dimmer, connect the red wire to the wire going to the common terminal of the original switch. This will be a black- or brass-colored screw on a toggle switch, or the different-colored (not green, that's ground) wire on a dimmer. The black wires connect to the wires that go to the traveller screws (copper-colored) on a toggle switch, or the same-colored wires on a dimmer. It doesn't matter which traveller wire connects to which.

Note that if you're using a 3-way dimmer, only one of the switches can be a dimmer. The other switch has to be a plain old 3-way toggle.
3helpful
1answer

Trying to hook up a dimmer switch it has a red black yellow and green wire the box has a black white and ground which wires get connected together?

For a single-pole installation:

1. Connect the 2 white wires together (one from the source and the other to/from the light fixture) - 2 wires
2. Connect the black wire from the source to the black wire on the dimmer switch - 2 wires
3. Connect the black wire to/from the light fixture to the red wire on the dimmer switch - 2 wires
4. Connect the ground wires - 3 wires
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