[brad34]

Hello everyone,

I feel silly asking, since I think this is a pretty basic question.

I am trying to replace 2 dimmer switches with 1 new dimmer and 1 standard single pole switch in the same box. Each switch controls a different light (no fans).

How do I go about doing this correctly? Thank you

 

[joed]

Can not tell from what you have provided.
If they are single pole devices there should be two wires on each device. Take them off and put them on the new devices. If they are three way then you need to identify the common connection.

 

[dmxtothemax]

Do you have a tester ?

Looks like red wire on left is power feed to one light.
why is it red and not black ?
Is this light on a 3 way switch set up ?

Centre wire is likely power feed in to both lights !
and is looped to second switch.

Black wire on right is power feed to light two.

But you need to do test to be sure !
Use a non contact tester.
center wire should be hot with both switchs off or on !
Left should only be hot with left switch in the on position !
Right switch likewise should only be hot when right switch
is in the on position !
Neither switchs should be part of a 3 way switch arrangement !

TEST and reply with results !

 

[brad34]

Do you have a tester ?

why is it red and not black ?

This is exactly what is throwing me off. People on a different forum are telling me the black on the left is the hot, the red leads to the first light and the black on the right leads to the second light.

Is a voltage tester (contact) dangerous or is a non-contact tester just safer?

 

[dmxtothemax]

This is exactly what is throwing me off. People on a different forum are telling me the black on the left is the hot, the red leads to the first light and the black on the right leads to the second light.

Is a voltage tester (contact) dangerous or is a non-contact tester just safer?

This is why we need to test and be sure !
I suspect the centre black is the main hot feed
to both lights !

A non contact tester is a safer way of testing !
All electrical tests involve some risk,
it's how you manage them.

Better still -
If you have ANY doubts
DON'T DO IT !
call an electricain instead !

 

[frenchelectrican]

The way I look at the switch box the centre black conductor which it have a jumper between the two dimmer which that is incomming source so you will have to make a pigtail splices for both dimmer and single pole switch.

But before I can make more comment do you have the new dimmer model number to make sure before I can comment the connections.

Merci,
Marc

 

[brad34]

I used my non-contact tester and confirmed that the black wire coming in from the left is the only hot wire. I then went ahead and pigtailed that and connected one wire to each switch. I then hooked up the red to the switch on the left and the remaining black to the switch on the right. Of course I also pigtailed the ground wires. Right now the lights are working perfectly.

Thanks a lot for your help!