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Is this the way a 3-way dimmer switch works?

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Is this the way a 3-way dimmer switch works? SHIRLEEN HOM 06-19-2005
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Posted by SHIRLEEN HOM on June 19, 2005, 4:33 am
In my dinning room I have two 3-way switches that control the light. I
replaced one of the 3-way switches with a 3-way dimmer (GE push on/off).
After connecting everything, the dimmer acts as a "master" switch. If the
dimmer switch is on, the other 3-way switch can turn the light on or off. If
the dimmer switch is off, the other 3-way switch has no affect and the light
stays off.

Is this how it is supposed to work? Or did I wire something incorrectly?

The dimmer has four wires grouped in two's. A black/red pair and a
black/green pair. I identified the hot wire in the box and connected it to
the black wire of the black/red pair. I then connected the red and other
black wire to the remaining two wires in the box without identifying them.
The green wire was then connected to the ground.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Rich



Posted by on June 19, 2005, 5:09 am
Did the switch come with an insert to help you identify what each wire
was intended for? If so I would start there.

The correct wire must be tied into the hot and the other two, to the
travelers that go to the other switch. My guess is the red wire on the
switch should be connected to the incoming hot and the two blacks to
the incoming travelers.


Posted by Joseph Meehan on June 19, 2005, 5:57 am
SHIRLEEN HOM wrote:
> In my dinning room I have two 3-way switches that control the light. I
> replaced one of the 3-way switches with a 3-way dimmer (GE push
> on/off). After connecting everything, the dimmer acts as a "master"
> switch. If the dimmer switch is on, the other 3-way switch can turn
> the light on or off. If the dimmer switch is off, the other 3-way
> switch has no affect and the light stays off.
>
> Is this how it is supposed to work? Or did I wire something
> incorrectly?

I have seen more than one version of that kind of switch and they don't
use the same wiring pattern. You will need to consult the instructions that
came with the switch. Note: some require their own second switch for fully
function.

>
> The dimmer has four wires grouped in two's. A black/red pair and a
> black/green pair. I identified the hot wire in the box and connected
> it to the black wire of the black/red pair. I then connected the red
> and other black wire to the remaining two wires in the box without
> identifying them. The green wire was then connected to the ground.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated,
>
> Rich

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit



Posted by RBM on June 19, 2005, 7:20 am
First you must identify the common on your dimmer, it's usually the odd
colored wire. Next, in your switch box you will see that two of the three
wires you're going to connect to the dimmer are coming from one cable, and
the third wire is coming from a separate cable. Connect that "third" wire to
the common and the other two to the wires that are left(order doesn't
matter) connect your ground and you're done. Note that the "hot" wire would
only go onto the common of the switch if you are at the "feed" side of the
system. You happen to be at the "load" side, which makes your common, the
wire that is going to the lights

> In my dinning room I have two 3-way switches that control the light. I
> replaced one of the 3-way switches with a 3-way dimmer (GE push on/off).
> After connecting everything, the dimmer acts as a "master" switch. If the
> dimmer switch is on, the other 3-way switch can turn the light on or off.
> If the dimmer switch is off, the other 3-way switch has no affect and the
> light stays off.
>
> Is this how it is supposed to work? Or did I wire something incorrectly?
>
> The dimmer has four wires grouped in two's. A black/red pair and a
> black/green pair. I identified the hot wire in the box and connected it to
> the black wire of the black/red pair. I then connected the red and other
> black wire to the remaining two wires in the box without identifying them.
> The green wire was then connected to the ground.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated,
>
> Rich
>
>



Posted by jeffc on June 19, 2005, 11:17 am

> In my dinning room I have two 3-way switches that control the light. I
> replaced one of the 3-way switches with a 3-way dimmer (GE push on/off).
> After connecting everything, the dimmer acts as a "master" switch. If the
> dimmer switch is on, the other 3-way switch can turn the light on or off.
> If the dimmer switch is off, the other 3-way switch has no affect and the
> light stays off.
>
> Is this how it is supposed to work?

No, you wired it wrong. What kind of dimmer is it? The last one I
installed had instructions and a picture. The instructions said one way,
the picture showed a different way. One was correct, the other was like you
described.



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