I replaced a lighted switch which was not working and was not lighted. The new switch does not work and is not lighted.

The dimmer switch you select will depend on the type of bulbs you will be using. The 'original type ' of dimmer works with regular incandescent bulbs and halogen bulbs only. They cost around $15.00. Then there are dimmers for compact florescent (cfl) bulbs and LED lights that are dimmable, as well for regular light bulbs. These types of dimmers are more expensive, ranging in price form around $40.00 upwards.
Light Switches Dimmers

If you are replacing a single pole switch ( just one switch that operates lights) you'll need a single pole dimmer. If you are replacing a 3-way switch ( two switches that operate the same light) you'll need a 3-way dimmer.
Installing the dimmer is pretty straight forward. All dimmers come with installation instructions. Make sure you turn off the circuit breaker for the particular switch you are replacing.

DISCLAIMER:Attempting to work on house electrical systems without proper training is DANGEROUS and you stand the risk of dying.


The Cooper 7729w is a three pole single throw switch with a common (connected) hot wire that supplies it. What you had before was two separate single pole single throw switches and one single pole double throw switch that is used as a three way. The short answer is NO that replacement will not work UNLESS you don't want the other switch on the other side of the room to work.


Personally, I think that if you really need to ask this question you need to seek the advice of a professional electrician.

Not enough information is given.
TM813 is combo switch with single-pole and 3-way. So switch has two different rocker-switches on face, and one controls 3-way circuit and one controls single-pole circuit.
You are controlling a light and a fan.
You have successfully connected lights to 3-way switch.
Are you trying to connect fan to single-pole switch?
Add a comment and say what you are connecting, and what type of switch you are replacing, and what each wire tests, and what terminals are on switch and what wire you have connected to each terminal so far.

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.

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Switches are single-pole, 3-way and 4-way.
There are other types of switches also, but none are directly called two-way.

Single-pole is when 1 switch controls lights:
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Single-pole-switch-300.jpg

3-way is when 2 different switches control same lights.
4-way is when 3 or more switches control same lights.
http://waterheatertimer.org/ST01C-program.html#3-way

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This extra wires where taps for the non working components you mentioned.

no- one wire goes to one screw and the other wire goes to other screw. It shouldn't matter which one goes where, just seperate.

The problem is that the Cooper #9530DS-K-L is actually a 3-way switch and you need a single pole dimmer switch to replace your existing single pole toggle switch.

If you want to use the Cooper switch you have you can take one of the black wires and cap it with a wire nut and connect the other two wires, but frankly, you'd be paying about 2 times the price for a 3-way dimmer switch when you only need a single pole switch.

You should be able to return the switch and get the correct one.

You should only have (2) black wires on the proper replacement switch, plus a ground wire

Hope you found this very helpful and best regards!

get new one,not repairable.

First, aluminum wire is rarely used anymore, in residential. It's pretty costly to rewire the entire house and you would have to bring it up to the latest codes and have inspections . Usually the single pole switch is used to break the circuit on the "Hot" leg only and the neutral is usually straight wired to the load (Bulb). Based on your description, I would think it's the socket. If it was the switch, it would have sparks or something, not the bulb/ socket. You may have "Blown" the connection in the socket. Kill the breaker and check it.

Hope this helps.