Single Pole Dimmer Switch Wiring

With a standard 2 way dimmer a single switch controls a single light.

Single pole dimmer switch wiring. Dimmer switches don t work on most fluorescent fixtures and low voltage lighting requires special low voltage dimmers. Most dimmer switches can handle 600 watts of power. The difference between a single and double pole switch is that the latter controls two circuits at the same time. Installation is a simple matter of connecting the hot wire leads to the hot circuit wires one of which is entering the box from the power source the other leading to the light fixture.

For this you ll need one three way dimmer and one three way switch. With a three way dimmer you can control a light from 2 different locations. Dimmers come in two basic wiring configurations. In the diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the dimmer box the black line wire connects to the common terminal of the 3 way dimmer a 3 wire nm connects the travelers of the dimmer to the travelers of the 3 way switch traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch.

A double pole switch is what you need to control a 240 volt device because 240 volt circuits have two hot wires. Standard single pole installation 4 wire switches dimmers standard single pole installation 3 wire switches dimmers 3 way multi switch installation 4 wire switches dimmers 3 way multi switch installation 3 wire switches dimmers when the bulb or fixture adapter is required for c by ge 3 wire dimmers switches. A hot lead wire a ground wire and a traveler wire. Replacing a standard single pole or three way switch with a dimmer switch is no different than replacing a standard switch.

Older homes may only have a hot lead and a ground wire. If the wire end is in poor condition trim off the bare end then strip about 3 4 inch of insulation using wire strippers. It should have about 1 2 inch of bare wire at the end and should be formed into a hook like loop. Traditional single pole dimmer switches like standard switches generally have just two hot wires and a ground wire with no neutral wire connection.

Inspect the end of each wire. How to wire a dimmer with 2 black leads in a single pole application. Wire the new single pole switch. A standard single pole dimmers 2 way or three way dimmers.

Single pole switches will have 3 wires. Check the rating of the dimmer switch you purchase. It has four terminals.