How to Change a Dimmer Switch
Dimmer switches can become worn after awhile and may eventually stop working altogether, so it's a good idea to know how to change them. There are four main styles of dimmer switches, including the dial, slide, touch pad and combination light switch/dimmer slide. Dimmer switches use what is called a variable rheostat, which regulates the amount of electricity that flows to the light, letting you adjust it between bright and dim. Dimmers can be found at any hardware or big box retail store. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find the breaker box or fuse box that supplies power to the switch you will be working on and turn it off or remove the fuse. Turn the switch on to see if the power has been cut.
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Use a screwdriver to remove the screws from the front of the faceplate and remove the faceplate. If it's a dial switch, you'll have to remove the dial first.
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Remove the screws from the switch and pull the switch out of the box, then unscrew the wire connectors and remove the wires from the top and bottom of the switch.
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Unscrew the wire nuts and strip the wires from the box down about 3/8 of an inch so you will have new wire to connect to the new switch.
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Use pliers to twist the black wires from the new switch to the black wires from the metal box and connect them with a plastic wire nut. Do the same with the white neutral wires and ground wires.
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Bend the wires so they fit inside the metal box, push the switch into the box and secure it with the screws.
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Screw in the old or new faceplate and replace the dial if it's a dial switch, then turn on the breaker or replace the fuse and test the dimmer.
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If the switch doesn't work, try replacing the light bulbs. If that doesn't work, you may have to recheck your wiring connections.
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References
- Photo Credit light switch image by Scrivener from Fotolia.com
