Wiring a motion sensing dimmer switch
#1
02-09-13, 03:45 PM
Wiring a motion sensing dimmer switch
I'm trying to replace a dimmer switch in my house and what I expected would be a really easy job is looking more complicated than I expected.
The current switch is a simple rotary dimmer. It has two black leads and a green. The green isn't attached to anything (the house is 100+ years old, though the wiring is redone).
The wall box has a white and a red wire coming in on one side and a white, red, and purple wire coming in on the other side. The two white wires are spliced together. The two red wires are also spliced together, but also have one of the black wires from the switch spliced in. The other black wire from the switch is spliced to the purple lead.
The new dimmer switch has red, white, green and black leads. I expect the white would splice in with the two white wires, but what about the red and the black?
From reading the forum I'm wondering if this might be wired as a three way switch, but there's nothing else that controls the light.
I've attached a couple of photos. They aren't great, it's rather dark where the switch is located. Hopefully they're good enough to make out what's going on.
Any help would be great. Thank you!
The current switch is a simple rotary dimmer. It has two black leads and a green. The green isn't attached to anything (the house is 100+ years old, though the wiring is redone).
The wall box has a white and a red wire coming in on one side and a white, red, and purple wire coming in on the other side. The two white wires are spliced together. The two red wires are also spliced together, but also have one of the black wires from the switch spliced in. The other black wire from the switch is spliced to the purple lead.
The new dimmer switch has red, white, green and black leads. I expect the white would splice in with the two white wires, but what about the red and the black?
From reading the forum I'm wondering if this might be wired as a three way switch, but there's nothing else that controls the light.
I've attached a couple of photos. They aren't great, it's rather dark where the switch is located. Hopefully they're good enough to make out what's going on.
Any help would be great. Thank you!
#2
02-09-13, 04:36 PM
Is it a motion sensor or dimmer. I never heard of the two being combine. Black should be power in, the wire in your box that is always hot. Red should be power out to the light. White is the neutral and goes to your other neutrals as you wrote.
#3
02-09-13, 05:46 PM
The new dimmer switch has red, white, green and black leads
#4
02-09-13, 06:59 PM
Thanks you for your replies.
The new switch is indeed a motion sensing dimmer. It acts as a motion sensor that dims the light to and from full brightness and also has a dimming control setting. Here's the exact product: Cooper Wiring Devices OS106D1-GY 600W PIR Occupancy Sensor Dimmer Switch - Gray - Smarthome
The schematic is as follows, and sounds like it matches with CasualJoe's assessment:
Hot Black -> Hot Black on switch
Ground bare -> Green on switch
Neutral White -> Neutral White on switch
Output Red on switch -> Black on Fixture
The new switch is indeed a motion sensing dimmer. It acts as a motion sensor that dims the light to and from full brightness and also has a dimming control setting. Here's the exact product: Cooper Wiring Devices OS106D1-GY 600W PIR Occupancy Sensor Dimmer Switch - Gray - Smarthome
The schematic is as follows, and sounds like it matches with CasualJoe's assessment:
Hot Black -> Hot Black on switch
Ground bare -> Green on switch
Neutral White -> Neutral White on switch
Output Red on switch -> Black on Fixture
#5
02-09-13, 09:51 PM
Welcome to the forums!
From your description of the wires, the appearance of the box in your photos and your location in Illinois, it appears that you have wiring run in grounded conduit. Given that, use a rated ground screw to terminate the green wire on your control to the grounded metal box. Because your new switch incorporates a motion sensor, it needs power. To provide it a complete circuit, ad the white wire on it to the splice with two white wires in it now, as you said.
That leaves
The red-wire splice is ungrounded power entering and leaving. Add the black wire on the switch to that splice. Splice the red wire on the switch to the single purple wire.
From your description of the wires, the appearance of the box in your photos and your location in Illinois, it appears that you have wiring run in grounded conduit. Given that, use a rated ground screw to terminate the green wire on your control to the grounded metal box. Because your new switch incorporates a motion sensor, it needs power. To provide it a complete circuit, ad the white wire on it to the splice with two white wires in it now, as you said.
That leaves
Hot Black -> Hot Black on switch
Output Red on switch -> Black on Fixture
Output Red on switch -> Black on Fixture
