I have a question about installing a dimmer switch...
OK, let me explain what I see in my "old" switch box...

Three wires (Red, Black, White) (enclosed in a white sheathing) are coming into the top of the box... they go up to my light fixture. The RED is connected to the top screw terminal on my old switch. The black [/COLOR is connected to the other terminal. The white is "moretted" (?) connected to another white wire that comes out from the bottom of the box. The black wire that comes from the bottom of the box is connected to the other terminal... but not at its termination point... there is a gap of about 1" cut out of the black insulation...and this "C" shaped copped wire is connected to the terminal... it looks like the photo I have attached.. .

QUESTION:

My dimmer has three wires... (two black and a green... I know where the green goes, but how / where do I connect the two black wires...

it seems that I would have copper wire exposed somewhere... or do I connect three, or cut one (the black that has its exposed copper to the terminal)...

any help would be appreciated. Thankss

Where does that black wire go when it leaves the switch box? All I see entering the fixture is a red and white wire.

At any rate, you need to find out which wire is hot and which is netural.

You need to wire the dimmer in series with the hot wire, just like a normal light switch.

However I'm wondering if you have a three way switch in there as if I read your post there are three terminals? (not counting ground) Is there another switch controlling this fixture on another wall?

Wilson,

Do you have a meter and can you check voltage levels for me?

I suspect that your wall switch is being fed from an outlet below it. The Black coming into the bottom of the switch is the constant hot. The white that continues up to the fixture is the "Neutral" line. Do not touch that line. There is no reason.

That leaves the "Red" from the top of the switch to the fixture. This is the feed conductor to the fixture.

The direct answer to your question is that Red will connect to the Black that feeds the fixture. Black will connect to the feed into the switch.

Assuming I am correct in where the source of power is coming from. To make sure, do the following. Check the handle of the wall switch. Does it say On/Off? Next put the red probe from your meter on the black lead to the bottom of the switch. Put the black probe into the White Wire connector. Do you see approx 120 VAC on the meter?

I would hook the dimmer to the red and the black. Leave the white alone.
To verify, connect red to black, if light goes on, you have no short, and a dimmer should be fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andrewc24301

Where does that black wire go when it leaves the switch box? All I see entering the fixture is a red and white wire.

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Good question... I didn't see it...
It is moretted to another black wire in the ceiling box...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donf

Wilson,

Do you have a meter and can you check voltage levels for me?

I suspect that your wall switch is being fed from an outlet below it. The Black coming into the bottom of the switch is the constant hot. The white that continues up to the fixture is the "Neutral" line. Do not touch that line. There is no reason.

That leaves the "Red" from the top of the switch to the fixture. This is the feed conductor to the fixture.

The direct answer to your question is that Red will connect to the Black that feeds the fixture. Black will connect to the feed into the switch.

Assuming I am correct in where the source of power is coming from. To make sure, do the following. Check the handle of the wall switch. Does it say On/Off? Next put the red probe from your meter on the black lead to the bottom of the switch. Put the black probe into the White Wire connector. Do you see approx 120 VAC on the meter?

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Hi Donf...
OK, so my BLACK on my dimmer connects to the RED that goes north (up) to the light...
But when I disconnect the wall switch from the wires in my wall, I am left with two wires wires with bare ends (1 RED and 1 BLACK-(however, this black also has that notch in it (which was wrapped around the bottom terminal)...
I was thinking to cut this notch in half... then, connect the other black on my dimmer to one of the ends and the other end of the black wire...
Basically, BLACK DIMMER to RED SWITCH
And... BLACK DIMMER to BLACK wire to other BLACK wire...
(and discard the small piece of wire that extended past the notch...
Does this make sense?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stratmando

I would hook the dimmer to the red and the black. Leave the white alone.
To verify, connect red to black, if light goes on, you have no short, and a dimmer should be fine.

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BLACK (#1) DIMMER to RED travelling up to light.
BLACK (#2) DIMMER to what?. do I connect it to the other BLACK in the box?. what about the now exposed notch of bare copper, once I remove it from the terminal>?. I thought about cutting that and then I would be left with two blacks inside my box... I would then connect the two B's from my box to the B#2 from my dimmer?
GREEN DIMMER to screw on back of box

Your thoughts?

Are you having a problem hooking dimmer to the red and black.
A dimmer connects where the old switch went.

Message from wilsonfrench:

Quote:

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Hi Andrew...

I don't know the language well (hot? Neutral? Series?)...
All I know is what I see (original pic).. you asked about the black when it leaves the box... well it is moretted to another black in the light box...

- no - the only switch that turns the light on and off is this switch.

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I see what's happened here.

The hot wire is the one that carries the voltage. The installer has taken the black wire and is using it to carry voltage to another fixture from the light fixture.

What you need to do leave the two whites connected. Connect the red wire to one of the black wires on the dimmer, then cut the black wire where that insulation is stripped off in the switch box, the connect both the black wires and the other black wire on the dimmer swith.

Bear with me I will draw you a picture.

I think the answer you posted above in the picture wilsonfrench (post #8) will work fine.

Give that a try.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andrewc24301

Message from wilsonfrench:



I see whats happened here.

The hot wire is the one that carries the voltage. The installer has taken the black wire and is using it to carry voltage to another fixture from the light fixture.

What you need to do leave the two whites connected. Connect the red wire to one of the black wires on the dimmer, then cut the black wire where that insulation is stripped off in the switch box, the connect both the black wires and the other black wire on the dimmer swith.

Bear with me I will draw you a picture.

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... andrew, thanks for your photo.. I added something to it... I think I am going to have a little piece of wire left over (the 1" length) that goes from the terminal to the connected end... I added to your photo the way I see it... is it right now?
You indicated that I had a red dimmer wire and a black dimmer wire.. but I have two blacks

Yea, that's my bad..

Connect that red wire to the other black wire.

So one black wire goes to the other two black wires, they are hot (energized) all the time.

The other black wire will go to the red. This will carry the electricity to the fixture, where the red wire again, joins the black wire of the fixture.

I don't have a dimmer switch in front of me, so I can't remember if they require the "hot" wire to go on a certain terminal.

If this is the case, then it should be written on the back of the switch.

It may say something like "LINE", this is what you will connect all the black wires too. And then on the other wire may say something like "LOAD", connect this to the red wire.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andrewc24301

Message from wilsonfrench:



I see whats happened here.

The hot wire is the one that carries the voltage. The installer has taken the black wire and is using it to carry voltage to another fixture from the light fixture.

What you need to do leave the two whites connected. Connect the red wire to one of the black wires on the dimmer, then cut the black wire where that insulation is stripped off in the switch box, the connect both the black wires and the other black wire on the dimmer swith.

Bear with me I will draw you a picture.

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That's it! Worked perfectly... a little tight pushing in the new switch box... but otherwise.. straigtforward instructions. Thanks!

Glad to be of assistance!

Happy dimming! :)

Sorry about the confusion.