Electrical Systems – How to Install a Dimmer Switch

Installing a new dimmer switch can be as easy as one-two-three as long as you follow many simple safety rules. First, you have to duly size the switch you'll need in each operation. Numerous different types of dimmers are available moment including different colors, shapes, wattages, and wall plate styles. 

 First on your list is to count the number of lights or bulbs that are to be controlled by your dimmer switch and add up the total number of watts of the bulbs. Five 100 watt bulbs will bear for illustration, a dimmer switch that will handle at least 500 watts but further is better. Try not to run your switches at their maximum standing. This may beget overheating of the switch and at worse a fire. 

Once you have determined the total number of watts you'll use, it's time to go to the store. You may find dozens of different colors, shapes, and sizes as well as standard slide switches, drive buttons, and programmable dimmers as well. 

Choose color first, type alternate( regular or programmable), slide or button style, and also make sure the dimmer you picked will handle the number of watts you need. It'll tell you right on the package the maximum number of watts the switch can handle. Also, check to see if the switch will handle the new CFL fluorescent bulbs presently being vented. Veritably shortly in 2011, I understand old-style incandescent bulbs will no longer be available to buy. 

 

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Another thing to check before installing a dimmer switch is to determine if the electrical wall box is large enough to handle a dimmer switch? Dimmers are relatively a bit larger in size than a standard single gang light switch. One dimmer switch in one gem box is generally OK if there aren’t a bunch of other cables also in the box. 

When a two-gang switch box is being converted to a dimmer along with a single gang (or two dimmers), this is a condition where the box may be too tight for comfort and the electrical law. Dimmers need air space to keep themselves cool during use. 

 

Quilting cables and dimmers into too small a box can beget unseasonable dimmer switch failure from overheating but also be the cause of an electrical fire. Veritably, veritably dangerous condition. You may have to replace the wall box with a larger deeper box to give acceptable space for the cables and switches but the work is well worth it. 

A word of caution. Before starting to replace your new dimmer switch, turn off the circuit swell for that switch box. Using a small affordable tester, make sure the cables are each dead before you start to remove the screws from the switches themselves. This double-check assures someone differently didn't cross cables nearly and beget an electrical reverse feed to the switch you're changing. 

 

Remove the old switch plate cover and switch. Nearly all new switches moment has three cables. White, black, and green. The change is veritably easy. The white line to white, black to black, and green go to the bare bobby ground line in the power string. 

Switches come with line nuts and I explosively recommend using them. Numerous electricians also add a serape of good quality electrical vid around each line nut. I also add a serape of vid around the body of the switch to cover any exposed line connect screws that may be touched when pushing in or pulling out the switch of the wall box by accident. 

 

Once wired, turn the swell back on and try the switch to assure proper operation before replacing it with the wall. Turn the swell back out and also precisely push all the cables back into the box and squinch the new dimmer switch into place. Install your wall plate and you’re done! 

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