How to Install Leviton Dimmers
Leviton is an American company that got its start in 1906. As of 2010, Leviton is still producing electrical wiring devices for your home or business. The Leviton dimmer can be installed in place of your normal light switch, allowing you to variably control the brightness of your incandescent light fixture. After the installation of a Leviton dimmer, you can turn on your lighting at full brightness, or turn the dial down and save electricity when full wattage is not needed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Small flat blade screwdriver
- No-touch electrical tester
- Philips screwdriver
- Pliers
- Wire stripper
- 3 wire caps
- Electrical tape
Instructions
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1
Turn off the power to the circuit you will be working on at the main breaker box.
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2
Remove the switch plate on the light switch you will be replacing with your Leviton dimmer switch. Loosen and remove the switch plate retaining screws with a small flat blade screwdriver and pull the plate from the wall to reveal the light switch.
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3
Place a no-touch electrical tester in close proximity to the wires coming out of the side of the light switch. Do not continue if the tester beeps, meaning there is power to the switch.
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4
Loosen and remove the two screws that retain the switch to the electrical box with a Philips screwdriver. Pull the switch from the electrical box, which will have wires connected to it. Loosen the screws that hold the wires to the switch. Remove the wires from the switch. Remove the switch from the electrical box.
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5
Straighten out the bare ends of the wires protruding from the wall with a pair of pliers. Cut the insulation back on the wires with a wire stripper so that ¾ inch of bare wire shows, if necessary.
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6
Twist the green wire on the Leviton dimmer to the bare ground wire from the wall. Twist a wire cap onto the bare ends of the twisted wires in a clockwise direction. Secure the wire cap with a couple wraps of electrical tape.
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7
Twist the black wire from the dimmer to the black wire from the wall. Now twist the white wire from the dimmer to the white wire from the wall. Top each set of white and black wires with a wire cap and electrical tape as in step 6.
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8
Push the dimmer into the electrical box, making sure the arrow at the top of the dimmer is facing upward. Secure the dimmer to the electrical box with the screws provided. Install the new switch plate with the screws provided. Restore the power at the breaker box.
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Tips & Warnings
Your Leviton dimmer may need to be programmed so that a remote control can be used. If your dimmer is so equipped, following the programming instructions that came with your particular dimmer.
