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#1
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single pole dimmer to 3 way wiring
I want to install a single pole dimmer. When I opened the switch on the
wall, I discovered 3 way wiring. Apparently, this switch was intended to work with another in the room. I din't want that. I want the dimmer for this single light only. When I disconnected 2 of the black wires (they were joined together with a murette) the other light went off. How do I connect the single pole to the 3 way wiring? |
#2
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single pole dimmer to 3 way wiring
If two wires were connected under a wirenut, leave them together. If you
have a three way switch, it'll have three wires connected to it and possibly a ground wire. By connecting together, two of those three wires, it will cause the light to come on: those are the two that you want to connect to the single pole dimmer. Insulate the third wire. Note: if there is another three way switch in the circuit, flipping it will turn off power to the light wrote in message oups.com... I want to install a single pole dimmer. When I opened the switch on the wall, I discovered 3 way wiring. Apparently, this switch was intended to work with another in the room. I din't want that. I want the dimmer for this single light only. When I disconnected 2 of the black wires (they were joined together with a murette) the other light went off. How do I connect the single pole to the 3 way wiring? |
#3
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single pole dimmer to 3 way wiring
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#4
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single pole dimmer to 3 way wiring
Thanks for the speedy responses. I think I'm making some progress
here. The wiring is in place for a three way switch. Only a single pole switch was installed however. I have 3 wires coming into the switch box. Each has a black and a white and a ground. There are 2 lights (A) and (B) in the room. Only one switch currently operates light (A) and the other switch operates light (B). I want to keep it this way. One switch each. Light (B) though has the wiring for a 3 way. But, only a single pole switch. This is where I want to put the dimmer. I tried just connecting the 2 leads (Both black) from the dimmer to the 2 blacks that operate the single pole switch. No good. The single pole switch had a black wire connected to the sigle black and a black connected to the 2 joined black wires. I'm thinking only one of the black wires is hot. Because when I uncouple the 2 that are together, light (A) goes off. I really hope this isn't as confusing as I am confused. |
#5
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single pole dimmer to 3 way wiring
Yes. There is a rocker for on off and a slide for the dimmer.
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#6
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single pole dimmer to 3 way wiring
I do think you're confused. You say light B has wiring for 3-way, but
it doesn't sound like it to the rest of us- only one hot/black wire in each cable. You say 3 cables enter box; sounds like these a 1 incoming power, 2 outgoing to light A, 3 outgoing to light B. The dimmer ought to work if you connected as described, and also reconnected those black wires you previously pulled apart. Is there actually another switch which operates the lights? |
#7
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single pole dimmer to 3 way wiring
On 10 Mar 2006 05:24:15 -0800, "
wrote: Thanks for the speedy responses. I think I'm making some progress here. The wiring is in place for a three way switch. Only a single pole switch was installed however. I have 3 wires coming into the switch box. Each has a black and a white and a ground. There are 2 lights (A) and (B) in the room. Only one switch currently operates light (A) and the other switch operates light (B). I want to keep it this way. One switch each. Light (B) though has the wiring for a 3 way. But, only a single pole switch. This is where I want to put the dimmer. I tried just connecting the 2 leads (Both black) from the dimmer to the 2 blacks that operate the single pole switch. No good. The single pole switch had a black wire connected to the sigle black and a black connected to the 2 joined black wires. I'm thinking only one of the black wires is hot. Because when I uncouple the 2 that are together, light (A) goes off. I really hope this isn't as confusing as I am confused. Well, I might or might not understand, but it's more important that you understand. To do this one should generally make a diagram big enough to explain everything. Then you should think about how rearranging things will get you what you want. If you are trying to keep either the way it is or the way it should be, or both, in your head, that is too difficultl. And won't be any help later. Once the switch is fixed and the diagram conforms to the facts, save the diagram in your "house" file. |
#8
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single pole dimmer to 3 way wiring
After reading your posts and the replies, it seems you may be confused as to
what a three way switch is. Having three wires attached to the switch doesn't make it a three way. Most switches have multiple methods of connecting wires to each terminal. The switch you describe has two black wires connected to one terminal. One brings power to that switch and the other jumpers that power to another location. If you remove those wires from the switch, you need to wirenut them together. One of the wires from your dimmer would also connect to them. The second wire from your dimmer would connect to the wire left on your switch, and of course ground wires should be connected wrote in message oups.com... I want to install a single pole dimmer. When I opened the switch on the wall, I discovered 3 way wiring. Apparently, this switch was intended to work with another in the room. I din't want that. I want the dimmer for this single light only. When I disconnected 2 of the black wires (they were joined together with a murette) the other light went off. How do I connect the single pole to the 3 way wiring? |
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