![]() Twist until the insulated sections of the wire have wrapped around each other. ![]() Hold each pair together so that the ends of the insulation align and twist the wires together in a clockwise direction with linesman’s pliers.Match wire-color to wire-color, joining the bare ground wire with the green wire from the switch.Strip about 3/4 inch of insulation back from the freshly cut wire ends and attach them to the leads on the dimmer.And if it’s the kind of switch where the wires stab straight into the back, they’re hard to remove in any event. If that’s not noticed during installation, you could be setting the connection up for an arc fault, which can start a fire. Reattaching them might break the wires inside the wire nut. If the wires attach to the switch with screws, they’ve already been bent and fatigued. There are good reasons for cutting the wires rather than disconnecting them. Cut the existing wires as close to the switch as possible.Remove the screws holding the old switch in place and pull the device out of the box.Most dimmers, on the other hand, come with integral wire leads that connect to the house wires using wire nuts. One difference between dimmer switches and regular switches is that with the latter, the house wires attach directly to the switch. Sometimes more than one circuit feeds into the same box. If there’s more than one switch or a receptacle in the same box, check the second device’s wires with the voltage tester as well.Once the plate is off, it’s a good idea to check the wires in the electrical box with a voltage tester, just to be sure.Check to be sure the circuit is dead by flipping the existing switch on and off before removing the switch plate.Safety Check: Is the Power Off?Īny time you’re working with electricity, be sure to turn the power off at the panel and follow these steps: In most cases, no permit or inspection is required, but it is important to be careful whenever working around electricity. Replacing a regular switch with a dimmer switch is one of the easiest DIY electrical projects. Dimmer switches can accommodate all of these circumstances. While you may want brighter light for reading, you might want less light for watching TV, and perhaps even a third level of light for a romantic evening at home. Controlling the level of lighting in a room is a great way to set a mood.
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