changing light switches
clueless dummy when it comes to electrical. Took out two dimmer switches, the round knob ones that you push in to turn on and twist to dim. Want to add two regular switches. Does the wiring come in from the wall have to changed around for this?
the one on the left is staying there. It's a 3 way switch. the right two are the dimmer set ups. Do the white wires stay where they are attached to each other and the blacks go into the new switches?
the one on the left is staying there. It's a 3 way switch. the right two are the dimmer set ups. Do the white wires stay where they are attached to each other and the blacks go into the new switches?
Comments
Seriously, make sure both all of those wires are dead before going any further.
Did you have a 3 way on the circuit with the dimmers?
If not then white (neutral) goes to the silver screw and black (live) goes to the brass.
If you haven't done this before make sure applicable insurance is paid up.
this should end well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUtdXzBSVaU
Up next, Phil Helmuth found to be responsible for blackout of 2003.
Ouch..... You definitely need to get help..
This is AC we're talking about, no + or -... However the black is normally called the "hot" side. On the black the voltage is positive for half the cycle and negative for the other half, hence alternating current (AC).
I'm pretty sure there are electrons in there somewhere
There are...... And I have seen them!;)
and the light!
Holy shit!
Can we get a thumbs down button for posts?
Don't mess with your electricity if you aren't 100% sure. At the very least make sure the breaker is off and TEST IT before you touch it.
And as a final caution do you really want electrical advice from a poker forum based on a photo?
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I declare we're an electrical forum.... maybe I can have more success at that... Mario can be our "God"...
where's the fun in being safe and practical?
can we start a thread on how to turn off your smartphone sig line?
I'd bet power is coming in on the wire from the right and the 2 middle wires branch out to the lights. These ones won't be live unless connected to the wire on the right. That is why the wire nut is on the right black wire.
That is not a bet you want to lose.
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pshaw! Are we not gamblers here?
Meh . . . tech equivalent of Mark signing his posts. Plus it lets us know who has the cool toys.
Sent from my shitty lap-top while drinking my tea.
Sent from T8's mom's avocado rotary phone.
Being an electrician the two blacks that are wire nuted together (marretted) are the hot or power coming in. The single wires that were on the other side of the dimer are the switch legs(go to the light). Leave the white wires alone as they do not go to the switches.
The best practice is to put the power wires on the top of the switch and the switch legs on the bottom.
ground wires are not needed for switches...that's an American electrical code thing. You do not need to hook them up or connect them to anything.(green wire or copper).
I need to make note that the black wires were not originally curved as you see in this video. The were twisted with the black wires on the dimmers and covered with marretts.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/lighting-light-fixtures-ceiling-exhaust-fans/502028-replacing-dimmer-switches-video.html#ixzz2bDic6VWT
wiring - YouTube
He assumed you to extrapolate from this that one of each of the black wires from the marrette on the right go to each dimmer and the black wire from each of the middle 2 wires goes to a their own dimmer.
If you hook it up the way you describe in your video best case your lights will not come on. Worst case you will fry one of the dimmers, electrocute yourself or burn down your house. But hey we are all gamblers right?
Where do you live? A ton of people could help you with this. If it means saving your life I'll jump in my car to hook this up for you. I am not an electrician but I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express once.
Question for Rob: if you have one dimmer switched on is it possible for power to flow back through the neutral wire to the light that is switched off if you inadvertently grounded it? I doubt that is possible but curious if that might cause a shock.
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But seriously, I am doing some researching and reaching out, hence my video and 2 forum postings before I do anything. I won't try this on my own until I am 100% correct. Other people that I have spoken with say to definitely attach a ground wire to the switches and receptacle however RAM says there is no need.
I do realize that my thoughts of hooking it up were incorrect as well. As I say, I am proceeding with caution pkrfce9 and I appreciate the concern, input and help! I do have a friend that is license but he's at a cottage for a few more days, so if anything, I can wait it out for him.
Ram is correct, switches don't need a ground, receptacles do.. If I was coming to Oakville in the next day or two I would volunteer to drop by. It really is quite simple, the switch is just completing the circuit unlike a receptacle where it is the device, ie lamp, toaster, etc which is completing the circuit when you plug it in. There is no neutral on a switch.
to elaborate what I described before.
1- the two back wires tied together with the third black wire(blue wire nut)are the power wires or the hot wires.
2- the other two individual wires that are on their own go directly to the switch. (switch leg)
3 - look at the directions to the new dimers you bought as there are 3 connections on the dimer as seen in the video. You need to identify which two are for a single pole operation(my suspicion is you may have bought a 3way dimer...that is can control a light from two locations). if your dimer is not rated for single pole operation you need to exchange. If the dimer is ok for this...step 4
4 - power wire will go on the brass/bronze and the switch leg will go on one of the other ones.
5- if it makes you feel better needing the ground wire...there is a green terminal on the dimer. Attach a wire(bare or green only) from it to the box. Feel free to cut if off the old dimer. If you use bare...tape it as sometimes when you push in in the box it will touch the other terminals and may cause a short. This is not needed for electrical code.
if you are not sure if the dimer is rated for single pole take a picture of the instructions and post it.
PM me with your phone number if you have any questions and I will call you.
HOW IS THAT FOR POKER CONTENT!
If you switch power wire to neutral (white) it will cause a dead short and will blow the breaker/fuse.
I should comment that the switch that MUD did not touch is a 3 way switch and the white wire attached to it is NOT A NEUTRAL. It is used as an extra conductor(traveler) for wiring purposes and is very legal in Canada. In the USA the white can only ever be used for a neutral.
if the neutral is switched and power is at the light you could get a shock from hot to ground, but that type of switching is wrong. If the dimer is truly off there should be no power at the light in this configuration of wiring. All power comes from the switching. No feedback will occur.
Any time there is power to a circuit and you open the neutral there will be arcing and a potential shock.