Hi all,
I’m in the process of replacing an old dimmer switch that has a round knob as dimmer with the more modern style with paddle and slide.
The previous switch controlled 4 receptacles and we were able to dim them without any issues, unfortunately, it was great for the lamps as we could turn them on/off as we wished but the tv that was plugged into one of the receptacles always needed the switch to be on the on position. I understand why this is, as the receptacles were all on the switch but I’m having issues with replacing the old dimmer with a new dimmer.
The new dimmer is advertised as can be used as single or three way so I should be good with it as long as I leave the red wire with tag alone, then it is acting as a single pole.
I had identified the hot wire (black) and the other two black wires that wasn’t exhibiting power as the travelers including the second red wire. I proceeded to connect the second red wire (from wall where previous switch was) and the other two black wires (not hot) with the red wire of new switch, black hot wire (from wall where previous switch was) to black wire on new switch. It seem to work but am I doing something wrong as I thought I could hear an electrical humming noise from new switch and it seemed that when I had only initially connected that second red wire to red wire of new switch, there was power running through all the wires - ground, black and red with tag used only for three way.
Does this mean my new dimmer switch is defective or it can’t be used the way I intend to of having the new switch control all receptacles?
Are there dimmer switches specifically designed for receptacles? When I asked this of the manufacturer, she said that dimmer can’t be used to control receptacles. I think she didn’t know what she was talking about but just guessing from some article she was reading on their support site.
Thanks!
I’m in the process of replacing an old dimmer switch that has a round knob as dimmer with the more modern style with paddle and slide.
The previous switch controlled 4 receptacles and we were able to dim them without any issues, unfortunately, it was great for the lamps as we could turn them on/off as we wished but the tv that was plugged into one of the receptacles always needed the switch to be on the on position. I understand why this is, as the receptacles were all on the switch but I’m having issues with replacing the old dimmer with a new dimmer.
The new dimmer is advertised as can be used as single or three way so I should be good with it as long as I leave the red wire with tag alone, then it is acting as a single pole.
I had identified the hot wire (black) and the other two black wires that wasn’t exhibiting power as the travelers including the second red wire. I proceeded to connect the second red wire (from wall where previous switch was) and the other two black wires (not hot) with the red wire of new switch, black hot wire (from wall where previous switch was) to black wire on new switch. It seem to work but am I doing something wrong as I thought I could hear an electrical humming noise from new switch and it seemed that when I had only initially connected that second red wire to red wire of new switch, there was power running through all the wires - ground, black and red with tag used only for three way.
Does this mean my new dimmer switch is defective or it can’t be used the way I intend to of having the new switch control all receptacles?
Are there dimmer switches specifically designed for receptacles? When I asked this of the manufacturer, she said that dimmer can’t be used to control receptacles. I think she didn’t know what she was talking about but just guessing from some article she was reading on their support site.
Thanks!
