Hi- I am trying to install a dimmer switch on a single switch light.

I bought single pole switch, but the wires don't match and I can't make heads or tails from the instructions.

My existing, working switch has the following: a bare ground wire on one post, a red wire on another post and 2 black wires on the final post.

The switch I bought (Cooper 600w under the Ace hardware brand) has only 3 wires coming out of an enclosed box- one green and 2 blacks. Also, there is no place to attach the ground.

Did I buy the wrong switch? I read on another thread about 12/3 wiring that sounded like mine, but I had never heard of that. Is there a specific switch I need to buy for that?

This is probably all basic, sorry. I thought this was going to be a 5 minute job, LOL!

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Remove 2 wires to switch, connect those 2 to the 2 blacks on the dimmer, The green is not important for operation , It is for safety. If no screw and wire in the back of a metel box, then maybe you can connect to the Bare or green wires.
If it is a switch, 12-2 is all you need, 2 12 gauge and ground, 12-3 is 3 #12 and ground.

Connect the bare ground to green, the red to one of the black wires from the dimmer, and the two black wires from the final post to the other black wire from the dimmer.

Connect the bare ground to green, the red to one of the black wires from the dimmer, and the two black wires from the final post to the other black wire from the dimmer.


THANKS!! This was perfect. Common sense I guess two sides of a switch.

Working like a charm now. Cheers!

You're welcome.