How to Install a Dimmer on Kitchen Lighting

Learning how to install a dimmer on kitchen lighting will add a different dimension to the way you illuminate your kitchen area. Choosing the right-sized dimmer is an important step when introducing a device that controls the level of illumination in the room. Here are some suggestions to follow.

Step 1: Calculate the Wattage

You’ll need to do a little math when it comes to choosing a dimmer switch for your kitchen lighting. When flipping the switch in the kitchen, count the number of light bulbs that turn on and add up the wattage of all. For example, if that switch operates 10 light bulbs, each a 65-watt bulb, the total wattage would be 650.

Step 2: Select the Dimmer Switch

Most dimmer switches operate a different maximum wattage like 600 or 1000. Note that the dimmer switch must be able to handle the total wattage of all lights it will operate so in the example above, a 1000-watt dimmer switch should be purchased. The total wattage must not exceed the switch capacity. You will also need to buy specially constructed dimmer switches to operate lights with ballasts for low voltage, or fluorescent lights, and motor powered fans that accompany light fixtures.

Step 3: Turn off Breaker

It is imperative that you turn the breaker off on your electric control panel that controls the circuit before changing to your dimmer switch. The best way to do this is to start with the lights on and turn one breaker off and on at a time until you locate the one that controls the circuit to the switch that operates the kitchen lighting where you want to introduce the dimmer switch.

Step 4: Replace Switch

Remove the present light switch cover plate from the wall and then remove the switch from the existing wires. If there are more than two wires present (not including a green or bare copper ground wire), it is a 3-way switch, which indicates that another switch in the room also operates the lighting. In this case you’ll need a 3-way dimmer switch, which is a bit more complicated to install and is not covered here.

Replace the normal 2-wire switch by first connecting the green ground wire from the wall box with the green wire from the dimmer. It does not matter which black wires connect to which black wires from the wall box—the switch will operate properly connecting in anyway.

Once all wires are connected, push them back into the wall box so you have enough room to install the dimmer switch with its cover, making sure the operating piece (usually a wheel-shaped control) fits through the same hole that the flip switch went through. If not, you probably received a standard switch cover that fits when you purchased the dimmer assembly.

Tips to Remember

If there is more than one switch operating the room lights, you will need to use a dimmer switch for in the entire room. Purchase a 3-way dimmer with installation instructions.