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3 way dimmer switch

06:22AM | 10/07/02

Member Since: 10/06/02
1 lifetime posts

3 way dimmer switch

Here is my issue......I have a 3 way ciruit.

I want to replace one 3 way switch with a dimmer. The line power goes to the first switch and then to the other switch and then to the lights. When I replaced the first swtich with the dimmer it didn't work correctly. The 3 way dimmer has 2 black wires and one red wire (and a ground). I attached the wires as per the old switch (red to red, black to black etc).

I can't figure this out.

HELP!

joed

09:26AM | 10/07/02

Member Since: 09/17/02
527 lifetime posts

Check the instruction set for the dimmer and determine which wire is the common of the new dimmer. If I had to guess I would say the red wire on the dimmer was the common. Don't go matching by color. You need to connect the black power wire coming into the first switch to the common of the dimmer. The other two wires from the old switch go the the other wires from the dimmer.

Electrical Inspector

12:08PM | 10/07/02

Member Since: 09/27/02
76 lifetime posts

joed's right , the 'common' must be determined on both device, and 3W circuit.
the remianing two are 'travelers'

....from the hip, swap the blacks...