The "COMMON" wire color? Replacing an old dimmer switch.
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 7
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
The "COMMON" wire color? Replacing an old dimmer switch.
Hey guys,
I am installing a new dimmer switch. I removed the old switch from the wall box and found 3 wires: Black, Red, and Green.
Now the new dimmer switch has me confused:
There is a screw for Ground (obviously the Green wire);
but then screws to attach "Single Pole" and another for "COMMON" (the "COMMON" screw is black).
Is "COMMON" my 'hot' Black wire? ...or the red?
Thanks! I'm in Massachusetts, USA.
I am installing a new dimmer switch. I removed the old switch from the wall box and found 3 wires: Black, Red, and Green.
Now the new dimmer switch has me confused:
There is a screw for Ground (obviously the Green wire);
but then screws to attach "Single Pole" and another for "COMMON" (the "COMMON" screw is black).
Is "COMMON" my 'hot' Black wire? ...or the red?
Thanks! I'm in Massachusetts, USA.
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 7
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Actually, I should have been more specific: the instructions have 2 options.
For 'single pole' it instructs to attach 3 wires - 1 labeled "single pole" (Wire to Light), 1 labeled "COMMON" (Wire to Source), and Ground.
For '3-way- it instructs to attach 4 wires - 1 labeled "single pole" (traveler to 3way), 1 labeled "COMMON" (wire to source), 1 labeled "3-way" (traveler to 3way), and Ground.
I have 3 wires coming out of my wall only, Black, Red and Green so I assumed the "single-pole" option... but I just don't know which wires are which.
Thanks again.
For 'single pole' it instructs to attach 3 wires - 1 labeled "single pole" (Wire to Light), 1 labeled "COMMON" (Wire to Source), and Ground.
For '3-way- it instructs to attach 4 wires - 1 labeled "single pole" (traveler to 3way), 1 labeled "COMMON" (wire to source), 1 labeled "3-way" (traveler to 3way), and Ground.
I have 3 wires coming out of my wall only, Black, Red and Green so I assumed the "single-pole" option... but I just don't know which wires are which.
Thanks again.