IMPORTANT:
Read this before you start
Introduction
Want to shake things up? Want to affect the mood? An effective way to quickly change the mood of a room is by dimming or brightening the lights. A softer light results in a more comforting, relaxing atmosphere. Brighter lighting is more suitable for normal room use and reading. An easy way to control your lighting is to install a dimmer switch.
Dimmer switches come in four popular styles: dial, slide, touch pad, and combination light switch/dimmer slide. Since dimmer switches come in different shapes and each operates a little differently, you should always follow the instructions included with the switch for installation and operation. However, most dimmer switches have similar installation requirements that will be discussed in this tutorial. |
Skill Level & Time
To Complete
• Beginner - 30 to 45 minutes
• Intermediate - 20 to 30 minutes
• Advanced - 15 to 20 minutes
Cautions
Make sure you turn off the circuit you will be working on. Locate the breaker or fuse and properly disable.
If you are using a plastic work box, be sure to connect ground wires directly to ground leads on the new switch instead of to the work box.
Common Mistakes
Make sure you connect the wiring to the correct terminals on your new switch. The black wires (hot) go to the hot leads. The white wires (neutral) go to the neutral leads. Green or bare wires go to the grounding terminal.
Helpful Tips
Use insulated tools as an extra safety measure.
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