Electrics > Replacing a one-way light switch with a dimmer switch

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Replacing a one-way light switch with a dimmer switch
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Replacing a one-way light switch with a dimmer switch Experts in your area

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Electricity is dangerous and can be hazardous.
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Replacing a one-way light switch with a dimmer switch

SWITCH OFF ELECTRICITY AT THE MAINS
First switch off the mains supply at the consumer unit and remove the fuse for the circuit you are working on. Undo the two fixing screws on the switch and pull out the switch from the mounting box. The existing light switch should have two terminals only. If it has three - one at the top and two at the bottom, then it is a two way switch.
Unscrew the terminals and remove the conductors from the original switch. Replace the conductors in the new dimmer switch in the same positions as the old switch. Ensure the terminals are tight. If the dimmer switch is metal e.g. brass or chrome, then it should have an earth terminal on the metal case. This should be connected with a short length of earth wire to the earth on the mounting box inside the switch.
Replace the new dimmer switch in the mounting box and secure it with the two screws.
Power can now be restored at the consumer unit.

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Comments

Subject		Posted by	Replies	Posted at
	Dimmer Dilema	Guest	2	23 Nov 07 at 21:12
	metal dimmer	Guest	6	17 Oct 07 at 8:44
	Dimmer buzzing loudly in middle position	Guest	3	14 Oct 07 at 10:35
	wrong purchase?	Guest	1	08 Oct 07 at 23:36
	1 gang dimmer - low bulb output	Guest	2	27 Sep 07 at 15:46
	Wiring a 2 gang dimmer switch	ACT	1	16 Sep 07 at 11:19
	Installing a dimmer switch	susiecampbell69	1	13 Sep 07 at 12:37
	Dimmer install Query	goose0211	4	09 Sep 07 at 16:39
	installing dimmer	canafind	5	08 Sep 07 at 16:35
	Earthing Steel Dimmer Switches	roger-bernhardt	2	05 Sep 07 at 13:10
	DIMMER SWITCH	tervy	7	28 Jul 07 at 18:35
	2 lights into 1 dimmer	leeksie	15	26 Jul 07 at 11:03
	accidentally disconnected dimmer switch from wall	proudmommie of3	3	28 Jun 07 at 19:07
	Dimmer switch to heated towel rail	jma	9	10 Jun 07 at 23:46
	2 lights 1 dimmer	Joely	3	29 May 07 at 18:00
	Dimmer switch connection	fmitchel	2	18 Apr 07 at 16:01
	dimmer to one way switch	ZEE	4	07 Apr 07 at 14:57
	Dimmer Switch with G9 bulbs	PIMO31	7	03 Apr 07 at 12:54
	2 Gang 1 Way Dimmer	jt240_1	2	24 Mar 07 at 9:52
	Touch dimmers	StanO	3	15 Feb 07 at 10:14
	Varilight Intelligent Safety Dimmer	kpclarke1	3	14 Feb 07 at 12:10
	3 wires in a dimmer switch	peterinscotland	8	01 Feb 07 at 15:20
	Dimmer Blown ...????	Gills	2	28 Jan 07 at 10:38
	Dimmer switch wiring	ggevans	9	23 Jan 07 at 21:30
	Dimmer switch problem	mbayl	3	20 Jan 07 at 13:27
	light/dimmer	sparky and george	5	19 Dec 06 at 12:54
	old french light switch	crackers	8	04 Dec 06 at 23:48
	Dimmer overloaded - any suggestions?	Duffledorf	16	29 Nov 06 at 20:29
	Advice please! Earth and dimmer	ChimesDesign	2	29 Nov 06 at 14:57
	2 way switch & dimmer	algie	1	27 Nov 06 at 15:45
	Blown dimmer switch 1G 2W	eagle1	2	24 Nov 06 at 16:25
	2 way dimmer switch wattage	simmy	1	01 Nov 06 at 11:43
	dimmer switch problem	michaelalton	1	29 Oct 06 at 17:08
	Arcing light switch?	rayder34	2	27 Oct 06 at 17:23
	Earthing	sadlerontour	4	25 Oct 06 at 14:58
	flickering light after installation	iainmar	3	14 Oct 06 at 10:11
	Weird wiring	LeeF&AJay	10	02 Oct 06 at 17:55
	Looking for a certain dimmer switch	Axsuul	3	25 Sep 06 at 16:49
	Changing Light Switch to Dimmer Help!	Del Ishy	3	17 Sep 06 at 22:47
	1 Gang 2 Way Dimmer	frank1976	5	15 Sep 06 at 18:08
	Dimmer with Halogen R7S 240v 100w	mayhem86	5	11 Sep 06 at 13:30
	two red wires	davehat	5	05 Sep 06 at 17:27
	Dimmer Switch Wiring - Should be simple!	stuartl	4	23 Aug 06 at 17:57
	Varilight 2 way dimmer	norfolknhope	4	26 May 06 at 11:37
	French Dimmer switch	captainkiwi	0	09 May 06 at 17:00
	ceiling fan and dimmer	marcweiser09	2	24 Apr 06 at 1:16
	ceiling fan lights flicker with dimmer	marcweiser09	1	24 Apr 06 at 0:59
	Help please - newbie	Zaphodsk1	0	09 Apr 06 at 21:07
	Installing dimmer switch	anglerls	3	19 Mar 06 at 19:10
	wiring for lights and dimmer	robertlabryer	0	07 Mar 06 at 2:16
	Flickering lamps after dimmer fitted - possible solution	Paulie	6	01 Mar 06 at 22:56
	dimmer switch	katem	5	19 Feb 06 at 15:30
	One way switch	clk	2	13 Feb 06 at 23:19
	2-way dimmer	Philip39	1	30 Jan 06 at 8:53
	Dimmer selection and Wiring	amh1	9	12 Jan 06 at 18:18
	Dimmer not dimming	asarco	1	08 Jan 06 at 2:11
	Replacing Switches and Fans and stuff	kevinwebster83	2	05 Jan 06 at 18:22
	Dimmer switch earth	BOS	2	19 Dec 05 at 17:18
	Dimmer Hell	ElectricNick	5	19 Dec 05 at 13:20
	Hot Dimmer Switch	uptight	3	15 Dec 05 at 21:59
	Dimmer defunct	cibul	7	13 Dec 05 at 16:38
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	Guitar potentiometer as lamp dimmer?	kwalton839	13	28 Nov 05 at 4:09
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	2 way dimmer switches (again)	alix	19	18 Nov 05 at 11:54
	2 Way Dimmer Switch	Scarecrow	2	10 Nov 05 at 17:34
	Dimmer switch earth	Sei	17	10 Nov 05 at 16:17
	Dimmer switch wiring	Spackman	1	02 Nov 05 at 13:25
	1 Gang 2 Way Dimmer - confused?!?	Adamc	9	29 Sep 05 at 14:16
	1 way 2 gang dimmer	Eifion	3	27 Sep 05 at 12:53
	1 Gang to 2 Gang	SparkNewbie	3	26 Sep 05 at 19:32
	2 Way Dimmer Problem	Collie	5	21 Aug 05 at 16:23
	2 gang dimmer prob.	Gruber	9	20 Aug 05 at 20:54
	unusaul coloured cables	delp	4	20 Aug 05 at 15:49
	Lights dim after a couple of miniutes use?	Cally	3	18 Jun 05 at 15:10
	Power for dimmer switches	f150	2	01 Jun 05 at 11:03
	Adding wall lights	KJD	4	09 May 05 at 13:42
	Dimmer switch 1 or 2 way?	Skier	7	07 May 05 at 11:38
	Dimmer Ratings	tim20vt	5	04 May 05 at 18:52
	Replacing a 2 gang dimmer switch	StephenBrown	4	07 Apr 05 at 11:15
	Dimmer Switch	hendo77	7	31 Mar 05 at 22:29
	ceiling pot lights to 1-way dimmer switch	Bern	2	30 Mar 05 at 3:02
	earth wire	elvis	7	23 Mar 05 at 9:26
	VERY noisy Dimmers & Microwave Buzzes!?!	CUS	6	21 Mar 05 at 20:09
	SWITCH PROBLEM	Rathilion	5	07 Mar 05 at 12:15
	2 way dimmer switch	ted d	3	08 Feb 05 at 12:36
	Dimmer switches	Kaffa123	9	07 Feb 05 at 14:39
	installing dimmer kills upstairs bathroom lightings	mahimahi8	2	22 Jan 05 at 15:18
	4-way dimmer?	coscap	1	17 Jan 05 at 23:27
	Installed dimmer, less light intensity...	Tim Mackey	8	03 Jan 05 at 15:48
	Halogen Floor Lamp not working	ajhughes	4	19 Dec 04 at 17:41
	dimmers	peterd	3	23 Nov 04 at 9:15
	changing a dimmer	newhousemadness	15	20 Nov 04 at 10:13
	1 light, 2 dimmer switches	Ben007	5	15 Nov 04 at 20:01
	dimmer switch	oystercatcher	5	15 Oct 04 at 12:40
	Metal plate dimmer	si-mate	7	11 Oct 04 at 20:14
	Dimmer for Halogen Capsules	Suemck25	4	15 Sep 04 at 9:39
	LV dimmer	constalation	1	10 Sep 04 at 21:06
	fan with dimmer remote	ukalexei	1	02 Sep 04 at 16:03
	Metal plate dimmer switch	mandy321	1	20 Jul 04 at 8:56
	dimmer switch help	wezza	1	04 Jul 04 at 10:15
	light bulbs	awilson	5	13 May 04 at 3:12
	dimmers	alanwalker	20	11 May 04 at 15:20
	L1, L2 & (~) HELP!!	JennyB	17	29 Apr 04 at 14:29
	One-way switch to Dimmer Switch	GarethP	23	28 Apr 04 at 15:12
	Dimmer switches	Lou123	10	13 Apr 04 at 10:44
	Remote dimmers	Phatfishie	4	09 Apr 04 at 17:16
	Replacing a 2 gang dimmer switch	orping	2	13 Mar 04 at 17:33
	Dimmer Switches	NealS	3	07 Mar 04 at 11:52
	earth	LEESTON	4	06 Mar 04 at 9:03
	Z-Wave Dimmers and strange circuits	DunnJo	3	28 Feb 04 at 20:41
	Varilight Dimmer	gav43	25	27 Feb 04 at 21:40
	swap 1 way for two way	ianbellamy	10	21 Feb 04 at 15:38
	Dimmer switch help	nbanks	1	14 Feb 04 at 18:12
	dimmer switch (sliding)	Scottish lassie	5	02 Feb 04 at 11:33
	screwfix remote dimmer	Ian26	3	29 Jan 04 at 14:17
	Earth wire?	diynoob	5	21 Jan 04 at 19:20
	replacing a dimmer with a normal switch	Joneedshelpwithwiring	20	05 Jan 04 at 23:08
	1 gang 2 way dimmer	DimAndDimmer	9	29 Dec 03 at 12:46
	Dimmer Switch Problem - Buzzing	tricky	12	24 Nov 03 at 20:53
	dimmer switch	rb_daman	1	23 Nov 03 at 16:06
	Dimmers With Spots	BF	6	26 Oct 03 at 19:10
	More touch remote problems	Persuaders	5	07 Oct 03 at 16:14
	2 Way? - No way	Spiked	2	25 Aug 03 at 18:54
	Dimmer not working	janeh	2	29 Jul 03 at 7:54
	Dimmer switch- buzzing and flashing on and off	drose	5	28 Jul 03 at 21:30
	buzzing sound	markh1967	1	02 Jul 03 at 9:52
	3 way dimmer, with fan	sdrfunb62	5	18 Jun 03 at 16:20
	Help- dimmer switches	disco10	8	21 May 03 at 9:25
	HELP !! Mad dimmer switch.	mad4nufc	26	11 Jan 03 at 20:50
	Halogen lights	eamonnmartin	8	08 Jan 03 at 17:16
	2 Way Dimmer	SimonFF	4	05 Jan 03 at 13:36
	2 way	ravichana	1	22 Dec 02 at 12:59
	Light controlled by 2 dimmers!	chrisneale	1	19 Dec 02 at 20:32
	2 Way Dimmer Switch	SimonFF	17	17 Dec 02 at 18:39
	Two Way Dimmer	Guest	1	11 Dec 02 at 13:25
	Metal dimmer switch	lurchajn	2	11 Dec 02 at 12:57
	DIMMER SWITCHES	ESKIMONELL	5	29 Nov 02 at 10:14
	dimmer switch to rum multiple lights	lewisdavies	1	18 Nov 02 at 12:13

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