How to Use a Dimmer on a Three-Way Light Switch
If you need two light switches to operate one light fixture, then what you need is a three-way switch. At any given point, you can turn the light on or off using either three-way light switch so you can better control the light you have in your space. Adding a dimmer to a three-way light switch adds even more control because you can adjust the brightness of the light so it emits exactly the amount of light you want in your room. A three-way dimmer is easy to install when you already have a three-way light switch. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Access your circuit breaker panel and turn off power to the light switch where you're working. Unscrew the face plate on your three-way switch and pull the plate away from the wall so you can see the wires.
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Look for the black common wire, which is the wire that connects both light switches to the light fixture. If you don't properly connect the common wire, your three-way dimmer switch won't work. There are two black wires in the electrical box: one is the hot wire and the other is the common wire. You can identify the common wire because it loops around the common terminal, which is a screw that's a different color from the rest of the screws in the light switch.
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Unscrew all of the wire nuts connecting your electrical box to the light fixture to disconnect your wiring. Leave the common terminal in place so the wire doesn't get mixed up with the black hot wire in the electrical box.
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Follow the color-coded system to connect the wires in your electrical box to your new three way dimmer light switch. Twist the green wires together, the white wires together, and the black wires together. Insert each pair into a wire nut and twist the wire nut clockwise to tighten the wires together and secure the connection.
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Disconnect the common wire from the old light switch and move it to the new light switch. Wrap the wire around the odd colored screw, which is the common terminal, and tighten the screw to secure the connection. You'll notice the odd colored screw because it's a different color from the other screws.
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Secure the three-way light switch in place with the enclosed screws, then attach the face plate.
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Turn your circuit breaker back on to restore power to the light fixture.
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References
- Photo Credit light bulb image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com
