Umair Gaines
Installing a dimmer switch is a great way to control the brightness of a light fixture and can even help to reduce electricity usage. Before attempting to install a dimmer switch, it is important to ensure you are confident and know exactly what to do, as electricity can be dangerous. If in doubt, it is always best to hire a professional electrician. However, if you have experience working with electrical systems, installing a dimmer switch can be a straightforward process. This involves turning off the power, isolating the circuit, and knowing where each wire from your existing light switch should go when fitting the new dimmer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Turn off the power at the circuit breaker box/consumer unit/fuse box |
| Step 2 | Confirm power is off by flipping the current switch on and off or test the circuit with a known working voltage tester |
| Step 3 | Unscrew the existing switch plate and the screws mounting the switch to the wall box |
| Step 4 | Gently pull the switch away from the wall |
| Step 5 | Identify the wires (usually 1-3 cables) and take note of the wiring connections |
| Step 6 | Loosen the terminal screws connecting the wires to the switch and remove the wires |
| Step 7 | Remove 3/4 inch of casing from the end of the house wires and the dimmer switch wires, if needed |
| Step 8 | Connect the ground wire from your dimmer to a green or bare copper wire in the wall box |
| Step 9 | Twist the ends together clockwise and cap them using a wire connector nut |
| Step 10 | Connect the black dimmer wire to your tagged common wire and remove the electrical tape |
| Step 11 | Connect the two remaining dimmer wires, called traveller wires, separately to each remaining wire in your wall box |
| Step 12 | Use a screwdriver to mount your dimmer to the wall with the provided screws |
| Step 13 | Carefully tuck the wires back into the electrical outlet box |
| Step 14 | Tighten the screws holding the dimmer to the electrical box |
| Step 15 | Attach the dimmer switch cover plate over the dimmer switch if applicable |
| Step 16 | Go back to the fuse board and turn the power back on for the circuit you worked on |
| Step 17 | Turn on the light and check if the dimmer switch is functioning correctly |
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What You'll Learn
Turn off power at the circuit breaker or fuse box
Before starting to install a dimmer switch, it is important to turn off the power at the circuit breaker or fuse box to avoid electrocution. This is a crucial safety step that should not be skipped.
To do this, first locate the correct circuit breaker in your fuse box or panel board. The circuit breakers should be labelled, but if they are not, they will likely have a 6A or 5A written on them. You may need to try switching off a few different breakers to find the right one, so it is helpful to have the light on in the room you are working on so you can see when the power is cut. Once you have located the correct breaker, switch it off.
Next, confirm that the power is off by flipping the current light switch on and off, or by testing the circuit with a voltage tester. This will ensure that power isn't reaching the circuit and that it is safe to proceed with the installation.
If you have a lock-off device and padlock, you can use these to ensure that nobody accidentally switches the power back on while you are working.
Once you have confirmed that the power is off, you can begin removing the existing light switch and installing the new dimmer switch.
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Remove the existing switch
Before starting to replace an electrical switch with a dimmer, it is important to take precautions to avoid the risk of electrocution and electrical faults. Always ensure that you are confident in your abilities before attempting to work with electrical wiring. If you are not, it is best to call an electrician.
Firstly, cut the power to the switch at the circuit breaker box or fuse box. Locate the correct circuit breaker and switch it off. Confirm that the power is off by flipping the current switch on and off, or by testing the circuit with a voltage tester.
Next, use a screwdriver to remove the existing switch. First, remove the switch cover, and then use a screwdriver to unscrew the screws holding the switch to the electrical box. Keep the screws, as you may need to reuse them with the new dimmer switch. Gently pull the switch away from the wall, exposing the wiring behind it.
Once the wiring is exposed, double-check that it is safe to proceed by using a voltage tester to verify that there is no electricity running through the wires. Take note of the wiring connections and colours, as you will need to replicate these for the new dimmer switch. You should typically see 1-3 cables, each with three wires, unless it is a two-way switch, in which case there will be four wires. The colours for two-way switches are brown (usually Live), black (Live), grey (Neutral), and green and yellow (Earth).
Loosen the terminal screws connecting the wires to the switch and remove the wires. You may want to mark the wires that are grouped together in the same terminal with a pen or some electrical tape, or take a picture on your phone to help you replicate the wire arrangement for the new dimmer switch.
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Identify the wires
Before you start working on replacing your light switch with a dimmer switch, it is important to turn off the power to the circuit at the circuit breaker or fuse box. This is to ensure that you avoid electrocution. You can double-check by flipping the switch and using a voltage tester to confirm that the wires in the box are not charged.
Once you have turned off the power, you can remove the switch cover using a flat-head screwdriver and then use a Phillips-head screwdriver to disconnect the switch from the box. You should then expose the wiring behind the switch.
Now, you need to identify the different wires. There should be three wires: one black, one white, and a separate ground wire that may be bare copper or sometimes wrapped in green. If you are replacing a three-way switch, one wire will be connected to a screw that is coloured differently or labelled "COMMON". This is different from the wire connected to the green screw, which is the ground wire.
It is important to keep track of which wire goes into which terminal (Common (Com), L1, or L2) as you will need to replicate this for the new dimmer switch. You can take a picture on your phone to help you remember, or mark the wires that are grouped together with a pen or electrical tape.
If you see a bundle of white wires at the back of the wall box, you can leave them in place.
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Connect the wires to the dimmer
Before connecting the wires to the dimmer, it is important to ensure that the power to the circuit is turned off at the circuit breaker or fuse box. You can confirm that the power is off by flipping the current switch on and off or by using a voltage tester. Once you have confirmed that the power is off, you can proceed with connecting the wires.
The first step is to identify the different wires. Typically, there will be three wires: one black, one white, and a separate ground wire that may be green or bare copper. If you are replacing a three-way switch, one wire will be connected to a screw that is coloured differently or labelled "COMMON". This is different from the wire connected to the green screw, which is the ground wire. Tag the common wire with a piece of electrical tape to identify it when wiring the new dimmer.
Now, let's connect the wires to the dimmer. Connect the ground wire from your dimmer to the green or bare copper wire in the wall box. Twist the ends together clockwise and secure them with a wire connector nut. Next, connect the black dimmer wire to the tagged common wire and remove the electrical tape.
Finally, connect the remaining dimmer wires, called traveller wires, to the remaining wires in your wall box. Ensure that you connect the wires in the same way they were attached to the old switch. You can use needle-nose pliers to attach the wires securely. If your wires are solid copper, create a loop in the end of the wire with the pliers and guide it around the screw on the side of the dimmer. Tighten the screw to ensure a secure connection.
Once all the wires are connected, gently push them back into the electrical box and screw your new dimmer switch to the wall using the provided screws. Now, you can restore power to the circuit and test your new dimmer switch.
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Secure the dimmer switch
Before securing the dimmer switch, it is important to follow the safety precautions and preparatory steps outlined in the previous sections. Once you have turned off the power at the circuit breaker box, confirmed the power is off, removed the existing wall plate and mounting screws, and gently pulled the switch away from the wall, you can proceed to secure the dimmer switch.
Firstly, ensure that you have purchased a dimmer switch that is compatible with your light fixtures and wattage. It is also important to check if your home has neutral wiring and purchase a compatible dimmer switch if necessary.
Now, gently push the wires back into the electrical box. Align the dimmer switch with the screw holes and use screws to secure the dimmer switch to the box. You may need to reuse the old screws if the new screws do not fit. Ensure that the wires are securely connected to their respective terminals. You can refer to the pictures you took earlier to confirm the correct wiring arrangement.
If your dimmer switch has a removable knob, gently pull it outward to remove it before attaching the wall plate. Tighten the mounting screws that hold the wall plate to the switch.
Finally, go back to the fuse board and turn the power back on for the circuit you worked on. Turn on the light and check if the dimmer switch is functioning correctly. If the circuit breaker trips, there may be a fault, and it is best to contact an electrician.
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