Dimmer Switch: How to Install

Summary: Learn how to install a dimmer switch. Find out how to replace your old switchplate with a dimmer switch safely.

TOM: The easiest way to change the look and the feel of the home without spending a lot of money is simply by replacing the old fashioned light switch with a dimmer. Now, dimmers have come a long way since the old rotary ones of years past. Replacing the dimmer in your house is actually easier than you think. I’m going to show you how to do just that.

The first thing to remember, though, is to turn off the electricity. With the power safely turned off, the next step is to remove the old toggle light switch, but once the switch is out of the wall, you’ll notice that the black wires are basically connected to two screws on the side of it. These are the wires that have to be reconnected to the dimmer.

There you have it, the switch is out. We are left with two black wires and one ground. We are going to hook these up, wire for wire, with the new dimmer, but this device is going to give us a lot more control than the old switch did.

Here is the new device. You’ll notice again, two black wires and one ground. All you have to do is go wire for wire, and we’ll be in business in no time.

Now, the last thing to do is to fold these wires up neatly and push them back into the outlet, because you want to be able to get the new dimmer aligned exactly where you want it to go. That’s all there is to it.

Now, we need to turn the power back on, put the faceplate on, and guess what? We are back in business. Now, we have a dimmer. What’s cool about the new solid-state technology dimmers is that you can actually adjust the level simply by using the rocker arm and when you push the button, the light will fade on and fade off.