How to Install a Leviton Dimmer Switch
Light dimmer switches are used to reduce the standard level of illumination that a light fixture produces. This creates a different ambiance in the room. Dimmers can operate one or more lights, but the total wattage of all light bulbs should not be more than that of the dimmer switch (usually around 600 watts). Though the dimmer switch is a little larger than a regular switch, it will fit comfortably in a standard light switch box, after the old switch has been removed. Leviton dimmer switches take little time to put in. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Voltage tester
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Instructions
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Turn the power off at the circuit breaker. Pull the two black wires apart at the back of the box. Note that there is a green (ground) wire, as well as two white (neutral) wires that are connected together with a plastic twisting nut. Then turn the power back on, but don't touch any of the wires with your hands.
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Place one end of a voltage tester on the end of the ground wire, and the other end of the tester on the tip of one of the black wires. Keeping the tester on the ground wire, touch the end of the other black wire with the tester. The back wire that causes the tester to light up is the hot wire (feed wire that supplies the electricity), and the other black wire is the load wire (carrying the power to the light fixture). Now turn the power back off.
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Study the back of the Leviton dimmer. The black terminal receives the hot wire, and the red terminal receives the load wire. There is also a green terminal that receives the ground wire. Don't concern yourself with the other plastic-covered terminal, as this is for a three-way lighting circuit. Push the load wire into the slot by the red terminal, and tighten the terminal screw. Push the hot wire into the slot by the black terminal, and tighten the terminal screw. Then push the ground wire into the slot by the green terminal, and tighten the terminal screw.
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Push the wires carefully into the back of the switch box, and then also push the dimmer switch into the box. Attach the dimmer to the box with the two screws. Then put on the switch cover by installing the two small screws. Turn on the power.
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Tips & Warnings
Make doubly sure that the power is off before installing the dimmer.
References
- Photo Credit screwdriver image by Aleksandr Lukin from Fotolia.com
