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cubbiefantn · Apr 6, 2009, 08:21 AM

So I installed two dimmer switches in my bedroom this weekend. One operates the new ceiling fan and works just fine. The other is supposed to dim the light on the fan. We had a ceiling fan there previously, but with regular toggle switches. So the light always works fine, by itself, but if the dimmer switch for the light now effects the lights in the master bath. In other words, it not only dims our bedroom light, but also the vanity lights in the bathroom. If the dimmer is completely off the bathroom lights won't come on. We never had this issue before. Any ideas?

stanfortyman · Apr 6, 2009, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by cubbiefantn

Any ideas?

Yeah. In the box with the dimmer is also a feed out to the bathroom. You wired that feed out to the load side of the dimmer.
I bet you un-wired all the splices in the wall box instead of just the two wires on the switch, right?

Now you will need to remove the dimmer and test to see which is the line in, which is the switch leg to the fan light, and which is the load out to the bathroom.

You do have a decent tester don't you?

Please post back with this info.

ballengerb1 · Apr 6, 2009, 08:45 AM

Stanfortyman has given you a good start but I have a different question for you. Tell us about that dimmer switch for the fan. Not all dimmers can be used on a fan, you ust use a stepped dimmer not a rotary or slide dimmer.

stanfortyman · Apr 6, 2009, 08:56 AM

Good point. I forgot to mention that.
You cannot use a "dimmer" for a fan. You MUST use a fan speed control and the fan pull chain must remain on high.

cubbiefantn · Apr 6, 2009, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by stanfortyman

Yeah. In the box with the dimmer is also a feed out to the bathroom. You wired that feed out to the load side of the dimmer.
I bet you un-wired all the splices in the wall box instead of just the two wires on the switch, right?

Now you will need to remove the dimmer and test to see which is the line in, which is the switch leg to the fan light, and which is the load out to the bathroom.

You do have a decent tester don't you?

Please post back with this info.

I'm posting this from memory because I'm not at home right now, but there was a black wire connected to both the fan and light switches. Then, there was a red wire and another black wire connected to the light switch.

I don't have a tester, but I need to get one.

cubbiefantn · Apr 6, 2009, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Stanfortyman has given you a good start but I have a different question for you. Tell us about that dimmer switch for the fan. Not all dimmers can be used on a fan, you ust use a stepped dimmer not a rotary or slide dimmer.

Both switches I bought are made by Lutron. They are slides and the one I hooked up to the fan was specifically for fans.

On a somewhat related note, I recently installed a ceiling fan in another room where there was previously only a ceiling light, so there's no separate wiring for the fan. I was wanting to put a dimmer in that room as well, but from what I'm gathering here it sounds like that probably wouldn't work.

ballengerb1 · Apr 6, 2009, 09:16 AM

Sounds like you might have the correct switch, it only appears to be a slide but is actually 4 distinct steps if you move it slowly. For that new fan you can use the same kind of switch but be sure to leave the pull chain on high speed. That or you could install a remote for about $45.