[dstudenka]

I am trying to wire a dimmer switch for a light. I have 4 wires coming out of the wall . Grey, black, pink and a copper wire. I assume the blk is hot, copper is ground and I do not know what the grey and pink do. All I know is that the old switch that was there was a standard light switch and when it was turned on the light would come on really dim and that was all. The pink was hot only when the switch was on. I bought a dimmer toggle and it has a red wire, green wire and a black wire. I cannot figure this thing out. Thanks for the help
Dave

[acetc]

Did this switch have three terminal screws on it ?

[dstudenka]

The old switch has 4 screws. 1 of them is the ground screw. The way it was wired before was when you turned the switch on the light would only come on real dim.
Thanks
Dave

[dstudenka]

Yes. 3 terminal. 1 ground

[acetc]

Sounds like a three way switch, do you have another switch that controls this light as well?
If this is a three way switch I don't think you can replace it with a dimmer switch.

[dstudenka]

I am not aware of any other switch that cntrols this light. If that is the case then how do I wire a single pull switch with what I got (grey, ground, pink, black -wires)
Thanks
Dave

[acetc]

If you take the light down that this switch works you will see what color wires go to the light, you should see a white wire to the light and either the gray ,pink or black going to the light as well. At the wall switch,( If you have a volt meter) you can check from the ground wire to each of the other wires ,one at a time, when you find the hot wire to ground it will go to one side of the new switch, the colored wire (pink.black or gray)that you have determined connects to the light will go to the other side of the new switch.
Be sure to wire nut and tape the remaining wires (individually) and connect the ground to grounding screw on the new switch.
If you don't have a volt meter ,you can buy one at a hardware store fairly reasonable.

[zippy25]

Sounds like a three way switch, do you have another switch that controls this light as well?
If this is a three way switch i don't think you can replace it with a dimmer switch.

Hello, I was getting ready to post a similar question about installing dimmer switches, and did a search first and gotthis. I am having simialra issues. I have a light, that has 2 separate light switches that control it. I wanted to put in a dimmer on one of the switches. The dimmer switch that I bought has 3 places to put wires, 2 for big covered wires, and one for a ground, but in my wall, there are 1 ground wire, 1 red wire, and 2 black wires. What do I do with this? Any help would be great, and sorry to the OP if I hijacked your post, just not sure what to do...

[daddysmurf]

They make a three way dimmer and that is what you need !keep track of how you disconnect the wires and replace them onto the dimmer in the same way.

[hkstroud]

This post is 2 1/2 years old