How to Wire a Lamp Dimmer

Installing a lamp dimmer switch provides two significant advantages. Firstly, it can save electricity, and secondly, it is a great way to add mood lighting to your home. Lighting is very important for the atmosphere of any home, and lamp dimmers provide an opportunity to have different lighting intensity depending on your mood. Installing a lamp dimmer is not a particularly complicated or time consuming task, and it does not necessarily need to be done by a qualified electrician.

Step 1-Make the Necessary Preparations

Before working with any electrical installations in your house, it is essential to unplug the device first. If you are working with a built-in lighting fixture, be sure to turn off the electricity on the main circuit board first. Installing a lamp dimmer is not as complicated as installing a dimmer switch for a built-in light fixture, however. The job should not take long, provided you have the basic tools at your disposal and feel comfortable about working with basic electrical circuits.

Step 2-Know Which Wire is Which

You will need to familiarize yourself with the wires and find out which one the neutral wire is and which one the live one is. The live wire will probably be red and have a smooth surface, whereas the neutral wire should have a ribbed surface. Be sure that you know which wire is which, as wiring an electrical installation in the wrong way will start a fire and irreparably damage the new switch as well as the wiring and the lamp itself. The lamp dimmer will be attached along the cord of the lamp.

Step 3-Cut the Live Wire

Separate the live and neutral wires inside the cord of the lamp. Find the length along the wire where you would like to install the dimmer switch. Cut through the live wire in this location. Use the wire strippers to strip away the insulation at both ends of the live wire. Remove approximately one inch of the insulation on both ends.

Step 4-Attach the Dimmer Switch

To install the dimmer switch, remove the cover of the assembly. The manufacturer of the dimmer switch will be able to give you more specific instructions which you should also refer to. The neutral wire will need to be placed inside the switch box, and both of the trimmed back ends of the live wire should be placed in the terminal clamps inside the switch box assembly. Make sure that you fasten these clamps tightly so that there is no risk of the wire coming loose and causing a short circuit.

Step 5-Testing the Lamp Dimmer

Replace the cover of the switch assembly and then test to see it works before screwing the cover back in place. If it works as intended, fasten the screws on the cover. Your lamp will now be ready to use.