I want to switch out a dimmer switch with a regular switch. There are 5 black wires attached to this 2 wire dimmer switch – 1 to 1 and 4 to 1. How do I install a regular switch with two screws? 4 black wires to 1 and 1 black wire to the other?
Electrical – Switch out a Dimmer Switch with 5 Black Wires
electrical
Related Solutions
That is a 3-way dimmer, so you'll have to replace it with a 3-way switch. The new 3-way switch will have 4 terminals (screws), 1 black (Common), 2 brass (Travelers), 1 green (Ground).
When working with 3-way switches, the Common terminal will always be the odd color (odd man out). For example, on your current switch the Red wire is the Common. On a regular 3-way, the black (odd color) screw is the Common.
To prevent confusion, it's often a good idea to work with one wire at a time. Rather than disconnecting all the wires from the old switch, then trying to remember what went where.
- Start By turning off the power at the breaker, and verifying it's off with a non-contact voltage tester.
- Disconnect the bare copper wire from the old switch, and connect it to the green terminal on the new switch.
- Disconnect the black wire (the one connected to the red wire on the old switch), then connect it to the black (Common) terminal on the new switch.
- Disconnect the black and red travelers, and connect one to each brass terminal on the new switch.
- Turn the breaker on, and verify proper operation.
- Turn the breaker back off, and mount the switch in the box.
- Turn the breaker back on, and again verify proper operation.
The quick answer is yes, it is ok however I'd advise to switch the wires. That is, wire nut the two white wires and connect the black wires through the dimmer switch, I'll explain.
You switch box is a hot box, any switch system has a hot box or hot lamp. If power is run directly to the lamp and only switch cables run to the switch you have a hot lamp. In this case you have a hot box, one set of those cable is live and the other set runs to the lamp outlet. On a hot box you want to bridge the neutral lines together(white) and switch the hot lines(black) that way your lamp isn't powered when change a light bulb (and the switch is turned off). Side note to complete: a hot lamp typically runs a black and white to the switch so you'd have one color on each side of the switch.
Related Topic
- Electrical – How to replace this switch with a dimmer
- Electrical – Replacing a dimmer switch
- Electrical – switch with 3 black wires
- Electrical – Replacing a dimmer switch to a normal switch
- Electrical – 3 black wires to new dimmer switch
- Electrical – Help replacing a dimmer switch
- Electrical – Switch with 2 black wires and 1 white
Best Answer
If the dimmer controls only one light, the four wire bundle is almost certainly a group of hot leads powering several fixtures or outlets in addition to the dimmer and its fixture. The single wire from the dimmer goes to the fixture it controls.
You can confirm this by checking the leads using a non contact tester. Make sure the wires are not touching the box or anything else. Turn the dimmer off. Turn the breaker on. You should read power on the bundled wires and no power on the single wire.
Turn the breaker off again.
A pigtail (a short black wire) should be connected between the 4 wire bundle and one terminal of the switch (if is is a basic switch, either terminal will do). Connect the other terminal to the single wire. Mount the switch and turn the breaker back on.