The replacement switch might be bad. But they have both a dimmer and a mechanical switch and it would be very strange for both functions to be bad out of the box.

How many cables (or conduit) or in the wall box and what is connected to what.

And did you open up the ceiling box with the light? And if so what cables where in there and what was connected to what.

Thanks for the help

My problem is that I could not turn on light being controlled by a dimmer switch. That was the only problem area in the house

The switch in question is part of three light switches. The first is the suspected bad switch. This switch control 4 recessed lights. The second switch is also a dimmer controling two recessed lights and the third switch work a ceiling fan.

When undid the face plate I saw the following: The suspected bad dimmer ( the original) had one wire connected to black "feed" wire. The second wire of the first dimmer was connected to a wire from the second dimmer and a black feed wire ( three wire tied together).

I simply copied this arrangement with my new dimmer. The lights go on with the new dimmer but will not shut off or dim. The new dimmer does not have a seperate off switch

Thanks

Sounds like the dimmer is bad. Quick verification. Turn the breaker off and disconnect the dimmer. Then turn the breaker back on long enough to verify that the lights are off.

But I have never seen a dimmer that did not also have a mechanical OFF.

Some are clear, they have toggle switch with a little slide contol by them.

Some of the rotories you push the knob in to turn it on or off.

Other rotories you turn it FULL CCW and the last bit is turns off. Sometimes you will feel a click, but not aways.

are you sure you have a dimmer and not a fan speed controller?

Thanks for the help. I started from scrath this morning and got the dimmer to work.

I was confused when I saw two light switches sharing a feed circuit.