• Home
  • DIY
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
lets-do-diy.com
  • Home
  • DIY
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
lets-do-diy.com
You are at:Home»Projects and advice»Wiring a dimmer switch

Wiring a dimmer switch

Summary: Different types of dimmer: Learn how to install and wire a dimmer switch.


Dimmer switches provide a relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated way to vary the intensity of light in a room. There are three types of ‘dimmer’ for light fittings: touch dimmers, switch dimmers and remote dimmers. Although these types of dimmer switches can be fitted to low voltage halogen lights, they are not suitable for use with fluorescent lights.


Types of dimmer

  • Touch dimmers work by induction. Simply by touching a lamp base or light switch, you can dim the light in stages.
  • Switch dimmers are fixed to a floor or table lamp and worked by hand or foot. Rotating switches are used on wall switch plates.
  • Remote dimmers have a touch sensitive switch controlled by a remote control, which can be programmed to remember light settings.

Installing a dimmer switch

  • Cut off the power supply to the relevant circuit from the consumer unit.
  • Unscrew the switch plate, and pull it gently away from the wall.
  • Before disconnecting the colour-coded cores make a note of which terminals they connect to, so you know where to reconnect them on the new switch plate.
  • Unscrew the screws fixing the mounting box to the wall to remove the mounting box.
  • The dimmer switch will need to be flush-mounted. Follow instructions for installing a mounting box for guidance on creating a recess for the mounting box.
  • Mark the position of the pilot holes for the screws for the new mounting box.
  • Use a cable detector to ensure there are no cables in the way before you drill and plug the new holes.
  • Feed the cable through the hole in the mounting box and screw the mounting box to the wall.
  • If you have a metal face-plate on the switch, install a PVC guard between the wall and face-plate.
  • Reconnect the cores. Most dimmer-switches will be two-way (have 3 terminals). To replace a single one-way light switch, only use the terminals marked Com and L1. If the switch is two-way you will use all three terminals.
  • If you have a metal mounting box, be sure the earth core is connected to earth terminals in both the switch and the mounting box. With plastic mounting boxes, the earth cable should be placed in a plastic strip connector.
  • Replace the switch plate and screw it into place.

Tools needed

  • Insulated screwdriver
  • Padsaw (For plasterboard)
  • Bolster (For masonry)
  • Lump hammer (For masonry)
  • Cable detector
  • Power drill

Materials needed

  • Dimmer switch
  • Wall plugs
  • Plastic strip connector (For plastic mounting boxes)
  • PVC guard (For metal faceplate)

Important note:

The colour-coding system for electric cable changed in 2006, make sure you read Electric cable and flex to view the new information.

Related projects

  • Extending a lighting circuit
  • Fitting fluorescent strip lighting
  • Installing a wall light

Recent Comments
  • Anonymous on Average air source heat pump cost (2022)
  • Reggie on Prepare your home for moth season
Latest News
0

Design trends for 2022 and 2023

0

Product Review: Handsaws

0

Product Review: Claw hammers

1

Prepare your home for moth season

Popular Guides

Average cost to replace a radiator

Average cost to decorate a room or house

Average damp proofing costs

Average cost of air conditioning

Popular Projects

Removing asbestos

How often to clean a chimney

Installing French drains

Using a paint sprayer

DIY Categories
Bathroom
Building, brickwork and masonry
Ceilings
Cleaning
Concrete work
Damp, rot and infestation
Drains
Electrical
Fireplaces
Floors
Garden
Heating
Insulation
Kitchen
Lighting
Lofts
Painting and decorating
Plasterwork
Plumbing
Roof and guttering
Safety
Security
Tiling
Walls
Windows
Woodwork

© 2022 lets do diy ltd
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT