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    juniorballs's Avatar
    juniorballs Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 5, 2012, 09:08 PM
    3 way light switch; light on ceiling; dimmer troubleshoot help
    L recently purchased a Lutron dimmer to replace an older dimmer. Out of the box is a red white and black wire.. no ground, and on the dimmer itself is a black wire and 2 red wires ( one with a white spiral stripe ) I've tried every combination without connecting black to white, and now I cannot turn the light on with the switch. And if the switch is in the on position I cannot turn the light on with the dimmer. How can I right this wrong?
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #2

    Jun 6, 2012, 02:42 AM
    What is the model number of the Lutron dimmer you have?
    juniorballs's Avatar
    juniorballs Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Jun 6, 2012, 06:28 AM
    Its CTCL-153P (skylark contour)
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #4

    Jun 6, 2012, 08:22 AM
    According to the installation manual, the black of the dimmer needs to connecto the common wire of the 3 way circuit, leaving the two travelers in the box to connecto the remaining red and red/white wires.

    What you need to do is confirm which wire in the box is the common.

    http://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocum...ary/032365.pdf
    juniorballs's Avatar
    juniorballs Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Jun 6, 2012, 06:39 PM
    Thank you for the info I reversed the application took the switch out and in its place I installed the dimmer and where the dimmer was went the switch. The white wire in the box with the switch was common. Go figure!
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #6

    Jun 6, 2012, 07:22 PM
    Connecting a white wire to a hot will always make you think twice.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #7

    Jun 6, 2012, 07:27 PM
    The red with white gets capped for single pole use.
    They do this so for single pole operation it will be more natural/normal.
    In three way application, it is always swapping.
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