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installing a dimmer - wire colors

1K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  goosebarry 
#1 ·
hi

i live in an apartment that was built before 1970 or something...i forgot what management told me last year... anyway, i wanted to convert a light switch to a dimmer and ran into a problem with all the online instructions i found...

the light switch has a blue wire on top, and a single black wire (looped) and splitting off into 2 directions inside the box (on bottom, same side of blue wire).

my dimmer has 2 black, 1 green....

what on earth am i supposed to do? NO guides i've found mention a blue wire.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/e...talling-dimmer-wire-colors.html#ixzz1zcdKFLUZ
 
#2 ·
You live in an apartment. You should not be removing a switch, installing a dimmer, or doing any other electrical work.

If your landlord grants you permission in writing to install it, then you should call a licensed and bonded professional to install it for you.
 
#3 · (Edited)
hi

i live in an apartment that was built before 1970 or something...i forgot what management told me last year... anyway, i wanted to convert a light switch to a dimmer and ran into a problem with all the online instructions i found...

the light switch has a blue wire on top, and a single black wire (looped) and splitting off into 2 directions inside the box (on bottom, same side of blue wire).

my dimmer has 2 black, 1 green....

what on earth am i supposed to do? NO guides i've found mention a blue wire.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/e...talling-dimmer-wire-colors.html#ixzz1zcdKFLUZ
Blue is an alternative color for second hot wire. It sounds like your apartment didn't use NM cable for the switch leg. Wire nut 1 black wire to the blue and the other black wire to the black wires. If there are any other ground wires in the box wire nut all the grounds together with the green wire. Otherwise attach the green wire to the box.

Most modern instructions on the Internet assume you are using NM cable including for switch legs. NM cable uses black and white, then red if there is a third conductor.

P.S. Probably no one warned you that you need to bring your lawyer with you to this forum.
 
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