Digital Touch Screen Dimmer Switch Wiring
#1
12-04-11, 10:28 AM
Digital Touch Screen Dimmer Switch Wiring
How can I wire a digital dimmer when all I have is hot and neutral?
The dimmer has 4 wires green(ground), Blue(load) black (hot) and White(neutral)
I've installed one upstairs without any issues. Now I need to install the same dimmer in one of room in my basement but all I have is 2 wires the hot and neutral from one cable. The "old" switch that I want to replace is a single pole toggle light switch.
Thanks
The dimmer has 4 wires green(ground), Blue(load) black (hot) and White(neutral)
I've installed one upstairs without any issues. Now I need to install the same dimmer in one of room in my basement but all I have is 2 wires the hot and neutral from one cable. The "old" switch that I want to replace is a single pole toggle light switch.
Thanks
#2
12-04-11, 10:36 AM
Now I need to install the same dimmer in one of room in my basement but all I have is 2 wires the hot and neutral from one cable.
*A white wire used as a hot in a switch circuit by code must be recolored some color other then white green or gray but often that isn't done.
#3
12-04-11, 10:56 AM
I can't re-run a new cable those digital dimmers came in a box of 2 I have installed 1 and I need to use the other one somehow since I can't return it. So basically what you are saying is I can't use that dimmer with the wiring that I have?
#4
12-04-11, 11:03 AM
So basically what you are saying is I can't use that dimmer with the wiring that I have?
*Except restricted circuit receptacles such as laundry.
#6
12-04-11, 01:12 PM
Originally Posted by audiotek
Well I guess I'll abandon that project. Can I still use regular dimmer for a switch loop?
#7
12-04-11, 04:16 PM
OK so I got a Lutron MAW-603-RH-WH, MAW-603-RH
Lutron MAW-603-RH Maestro Multi-Location 600W 120V Dimming Package - ProLighting.com
So if I understand this right I can use both hot on that dimmer. 1 Hot on the black screw and the other Hot(neutral) on the silver screw???? or blue screw??? Yeah I guess the guy at Home Depot didn't fully understand what I really needed
Lutron MAW-603-RH Maestro Multi-Location 600W 120V Dimming Package - ProLighting.com
So if I understand this right I can use both hot on that dimmer. 1 Hot on the black screw and the other Hot(neutral) on the silver screw???? or blue screw??? Yeah I guess the guy at Home Depot didn't fully understand what I really needed
#8
12-04-11, 05:39 PM
That is a 3-way dimmer. You just need a simple cheap single location dimmer. Sometimes a 3-way dimmer can be used as a single location dimmer. I don't know about yours but I doubt it because of the silver screw.
No. Please stop right now and recolor the white wire black or red with a magic marker so you stop confusing yourself by thinking of it as neutral. The silver screw on that dimmer probably needs a neutral. Go back and just get a simple single location dimmer.
other Hot(neutral [sic]) on the silver screw
#9
12-04-11, 07:21 PM
Yeah while I was unpacking I realized it was the wrong dimmer, so I guess no neutral=no fency dimmer. I bought another one it's a Lutron MA-600HW-BLSS and that one has only 2 brass screws but I bought it to go in a room where there's 2 wires from the electrical box and 3 wires that goes to the fixture. Will that work?
#10
12-04-11, 07:48 PM
Only two brass screws will work. If by three wires you mean white, red, and black that was installed to have separate switches for a ceiling fan and ceiling fan light. Normally if used for light only the red is capped on both ends and only black and white are used.
#11
12-04-11, 08:12 PM
So I can use that dimmer by just using the 2 Hots? Yes the cable going up to the fixture is Red Hot and White I kind of noticed that the fancy dimmers need a neutral and a load wire but not that one!!!!
I guess I'm going back to HD tomorrow to exchange the other dimmers. What do I need to ask the sales guy at HD? I need a dimmer that will work with a switch loop and no neutral? Anything else because that's what I told the guy and he gave me dimmers with Neutral and load wires!!!!
I guess I'm going back to HD tomorrow to exchange the other dimmers. What do I need to ask the sales guy at HD? I need a dimmer that will work with a switch loop and no neutral? Anything else because that's what I told the guy and he gave me dimmers with Neutral and load wires!!!!
