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View Full Version : Installing dimmer to a lightswitch with only 1 black and 1 white wire.


Bellamin
Apr 1, 2008, 12:29 PM
I purchased a single pole dimmer switch with a Black, Green and Blue Wire. When I remove the light plate, my light switch has one black wire and one white. Nothing else. How would I install the Dimmer?

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n56/syndash/lightswitch.jpg

stanfortyman
Apr 1, 2008, 12:46 PM
What you have is called a switch loop. The power is brought down on the white and the black is the switch leg.
This is legal and very common.

Just think of the white as another black. Connect the two blacks of your dimmer to the white and black in the box.

Bellamin
Apr 1, 2008, 01:23 PM
Thank You.

I connect the black one to black, but I also have a blue and green wire with the dimmer. Do I connect the blue to the white? What do I do with the green wire?

stanfortyman
Apr 1, 2008, 01:44 PM
Black, blue and green is odd.
It would be an assumption that the black and blue are your two hot leads.
Green is ALWAYS ground.

What brand and model dimmer is it?

Bellamin
Apr 1, 2008, 01:55 PM
It's a Leviton True Touch Decora Dimmer Model 6606

Leviton True Touch Decora Dimmer - Incandescent / 600W - Leviton 6606-W - LevitonProducts.com (http://www.levitonproducts.com/catalog/model_6606-W.htm?sid=EB317C3F3CE9DC1C710B201FDC414950&pid=1208)

Stratmando
Apr 1, 2008, 02:37 PM
You can Connect Black to Black and white to blue, green is ground and connects with other grounds/box.
Anytime you replace a switch with a 2 wire dimmer(not counting ground). You can connect either way.
The other way is Black to white, and blue to black. First way is easier connecting.

Bellamin
Apr 1, 2008, 06:09 PM
Thanks for all the help. I was able to get it working. :)