Humming or buzzing dimmed lights. Also included are diagrams for 3 way dimmers a 3 way ceiling fan switch and an arrangement for a switched outlet from two.
Hot Dimmer Switches
Installing a dimmer switch with multiple switches. When installing dimmers for 3 way switches remember to buy a special 3 way dimmer switch it will say at the store and on the package. If not you will have to put the dimmer you purchased on one of the 3 way switches spdt of which there are two in the circuit. If the light is controlled by two switches be sure to buy a three way dimmer switch. Two dimmers may be installed to control one or more lights as long as the dimmer switches are compatible with each other such as one being the master and the other being the slave. In this setup the light level is controlled from a single location whichever light switch you replace with the dimmer switch. On this page are several wiring diagrams that can be used to map 3 way lighting circuits depending on the location of the source in relation to the switches and lights.
It doesnt matter if you reverse the two switch wires to a single pole dimmer. Also only one switch in this setup can be on a dimmer. For lights that have multiple switches one on north and one on south wall for same light do i need two smart switches for the one light. One for an outlet one for the lights and who knows what the third is for. Before removing the switch be sure to mark which wire is common. Since they are all currently up down flip switches do i need generic replacements and a new panel for these that match the.
A good rule is to not exceed more than 80 of the rate maximum for the dimmer switch. Installing the two way dimmer switch traditionally you cannot dim a light from two different switches as it will cause a conflict in the circuitry. However you can set up specialized two way dimmers using a master and slave switch. Any electrician will tell you that this will not work for a regular double switch three way circuit. Unlike 3 way dimmer switches which cannot support multiple dimmers on the circuit multi location dimmer switches allow for dimming controls in more than one location. 3 way dimmer switch wiring diagram multiple lights.
The other switches you can have more than one must be on off switches only. Finish the job by installing the cover plate and turning on the power to test the new dimmer. See buying a dimmer switch below for more details if you have a double box for two switches calculate the required box size and install a larger double box if needed. That will be the one on the odd colored usually dark gray screw. There are three switches on many of these panels. Screw the dimmer to the box with the screws provided.
The spdt 3 ways will have only 3 wires plus ground. Identify the light circuit turn it off and tag it with a note before working with the dimmer switch wiring. Wiring of 3 way light switches is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole. To make sure no one switches off the not smart switch leaving me unable to use smart functions on it. Three way switches allow for controlling a light fixture from two separate locations these are usually used at the top and bottom of a flight of stairs or at two different entrances to a room. Multiple switch wiring 3 way and single pole.
When using a 3 way dimmer switch you should only have one dimmer on the circuit. It is not unusual for the wires inside of an outlet box to be covered by spray paint from the initial construction of a dwelling.