【How-to】Where does the red wire go on a dimmer switch

Where does the red wire connect in a dimmer switch?

Red is the switched lead (or traveler in a 3-way installation), and is attached to the switched hot going to the light. Red with white is a traveler, used for 3-way installations. In your situation, you’ll just cap this one off. Green is ground, and is attached to the grounding conductor.

Does the red wire connect to black or white?

Sheathed cable with a red wire always is accompanied by a black wire, a white wire and a bare wire. Very old homes may have cable that excludes the bare wire.

Why does my dimmer switch have a red wire?

If the switch is a single-pole, the red wire may serve as an unswitched hot leg in a circuit in which power flows from the switch to a controlled light fixture or outlet, then onto another outlet that is continuously live (not controlled by the switch).

Does it matter which wire goes where on a dimmer switch?

1 Answer. Unless the new dimmer is specifically marked with LINE and LOAD or similar, it doesn’t matter which wire goes to which screw/pigtail in a simple two wire switch or dimmer. Since your new switch can be used as a three way, the instructions should say which screw should not be used.

Where does the red wire go?

Red wires are usually used as secondary hot wires. Red wires are also hot and should be clearly marked to avoid the dangers of electrocution. Red wires are commonly used when installing ceiling fans, where the light switch maybe.

Where do you connect the red wire?

Connect the red wire in the ceiling to the black wire in the light kit and the black wire in the ceiling to the black wire in the fan. Tuck the wires back into the box. Turn the power back on and test the fan.

What are the two red wires on my new dimmer switch used for?

The two travelers are connected to the traveler terminals on the opposite switch. This setup allows either switch to change the state of the fixture by changing which traveler is connected. When both switches are on the same traveler, the light is on. When the switches are on different travelers, the light is off.

What are the wires on a dimmer switch?

New dimmers have either a green grounding wire or a green ground screw that you’ll have to connect to a grounding source if one is available. Houses wired with plastic-sheathed cable almost always have bare copper ground wires that you’ll connect to the toggle dimmer switch.

What are the 3 wires on a dimmer switch?

Single pole switches will have 3 wires: a hot lead wire, a ground wire, and a traveler wire. Older homes may only have a hot lead and a ground wire. If you have less than three wires, stop and call an electrician.

Where does red wire go on three way switch?

The black hot wire connects to the far right switch’s common terminal. Red and blue wires link traveler terminals of both switches. The red wire, which is connected to the first switch’s common terminal, leads back to the fixture.

Is red wire same as white?

The white wire is always neutral, and when the cable has only two conductors, as most 120-volt cables do, the hot wire is black. … The red wire is for the light switch. This configuration, sometimes called a half-hot or split-tab outlet, is becoming increasingly popular, so it’s good to know how to wire it.

How do you wire a light with two red wires?

How do you wire a 3-way dimmer switch?

What does the red wire connect to in a light fixture?

The red wire would the “load” wire (controlled by the switch.) It would be connected to the black wire of the “load” (light fixture, outlet controlled by switch, fan, etc.)

What happens if you wire a 3-way switch wrong?

Finding the common wire: When wiring a 3-way light switch, you’ll need to find the common wire and connect it to the common screw. If you don’t correctly connect this wire, then your lights won’t work from more than one switch. … Since improper wiring is one of the main causes of home fires, this is a serious problem.

How do you wire a dimmer switch?

How many wires do I need for a dimmer switch?

Attach the Dimmer Switch

There will be three wires: one black, one white, and a separate ground wire that may be bare copper or is sometimes wrapped in green.

What color is the common wire on a 3 way switch?

Two of the terminals are a light color—bronze- or copper-colored—and are called travelers. The single dark-colored screw is known as the common terminal. The ground screw is usually green.

Do dimmer switches need special wiring?

Remember: Dimmer switches don’t work on most fluorescent fixtures, and low-voltage lighting requires special low-voltage dimmers. … Remove the wires from the old switch. Dimmer switches are usually connected to the house wiring by short lengths of wire coming out of the switch body rather than by screw terminals.

How do you wire a dimmer switch UK?

How do you wire a dimmer switch to a single pole?

Are dimmer switches wired differently?

Unlike standard switches, most dimmer switches have wire leads that are connected to the circuit wires with wire connectors, rather than using screw terminal connections.