How to Wire a Lutron Toggle Dimmer Switch Using 4 Wires

Use a terminal screwdriver to attach the wires to the toggle dimmer.

Dimmer switches are designed to change a room's ambiance by increasing or decreasing the amount of power that reaches the light fixture. The dimmer switch is generally the same size as a standard light switch, so easily fits inside a normal light switch box. Lutron toggle dimmers with four wires are three-way dimmer switches, and at first glance look like a regular light switch. The installation process won't take much time to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Terminal screwdriver

Instructions

1. Turn off the power to the light switch, and remove the switch face plate by removing the two screws with a screwdriver. Then remove the switch from the box, also by removing the two screws.

2. Look at the terminal screws on the back of the switch. Locate the wire going to the terminal screw marked "common" (the wire may be red or black). Remove all wires from the back of the switch by loosening the terminal screws with a terminal screwdriver. Remove the old switch.

3. Connect the green (ground) wire from the dimmer to the green wire coming from the wall box, using a plastic twisting nut. Connect the black wire coming from the dimmer to the "common" marked wire from the wall box with a twisting nut. Then connect each of the two red wires from the dimmer to either of the other two wires from the wall box with plastic twisting nuts.

4. Push the wires into the back of the box, and also push the dimmer into the box. Attach the dimmer to the box with the two screws, and attach the switch face plate with a screwdriver. Turn the power back on.

Tips & Warnings

• A terminal screwdriver has a smaller head to fit easier into terminal screws on the back of switches, or receptacles.

• Be absolutely certain that the power is off before installing the dimmer switch.

References

• Lutron: Magnetic Low Voltage Dimmer