How to Install a Leviton Toggle Dimmer
Leviton toggle dimmers enhance a room's aesthetic appeal by controlling the flow of electricity to the light fixture. This increases or decreases the level of light in the room. Installing a new toggle dimmer switch in a pre-existing switch box requires removing the old switch. The new dimmer easily fits into the switch box and is hooked up to the same electric cables as the old switch. The installation process takes little time and can be carried out by a person of limited electrical installation experience. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Turn off the power to the light switch by switching off the corresponding circuit breaker in the home's main breaker box. Turn the switch on and off to check that the power is off.
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Remove the screws from the existing switch plate with a screwdriver and take off the plate. Loosen and remove the two screws holding the switch to the box. Pull the switch from the box. Loosen the two terminal screws holding the two black wires in place, then loosen the grounding terminal screw. Pull out the black wires and green grounding wire from the back of the switch.
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Cut off the exposed copper wires at the end of the two black wires and green wire, using a wire cutter. Strip away 1/2-inch of insulation from the ends of the wires, using a wire stripper. Remove the wire nut from the ends of the two white (neutral) wires, and separate the wires. Make sure all black and white wires are not touching one another.
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Turn the power back on. Carefully touch the ends of one set of black and white wires with the ends of a circuit tester, then do the same with the other set of black and white wires. The wires that make the tester's light go on are from the fuse box and are called the line wires. The other set of wires are called the load wires. Turn off the power. Place the two white wires back together, and twist on the wire nut. Push the white wires into the back of the switch box.
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Twist the black line wire end from the switch box with the black wire end from the dimmer switch; thread on a wire nut over the bare twisted wires by hand. Twist the black load wire from the switch box with the red wire coming from the dimmer switch; thread on a wire nut over the bare twisted wires. Twist the bare (ground) wires coming from the switch box with the green ground wire coming from the dimmer switch. Thread on a wire nut.
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Push the wires into the back of the box, and carefully push in the Leviton dimmer switch. Attach the dimmer to the switch box by reinstalling the two screws. Screw on the dimmer's new face plate. Turn the power back on at the circuit breaker, and turn on the dimmer switch to check that it is working. If it is not, turn off the power and check all wires in the switch box.
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Tips & Warnings
When testing the toggle dimmer, make sure that the switch is facing up when the lights are on--this means that the switch has been installed the right way up. If the switch faces down when the lights are on, turn off the power. Remove the face plate and switch from the box, turn the switch around and carefully reinstall it in the box, not twisting wires. Then replace the faceplate and turn on the power.
When wiring the switch, the red wire coming from the dimmer switch with a insulation label attached is for three-way installations. Leave this wire alone when installing single pole switch circuits.
Failure to turn off the power to the switch may result in being electrocuted.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit pliers and wire cutters image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
