What does l1 and l2 mean on a dimmer switch?

Dimmers look slightly different to standard switches being much more chunky. They usually come supplied with a common(C), Line out(L1) and Line out(L2) terminals similarly to a two way switch. Sometimes all three terminals are in a row.

What does l1 l2 and COM mean?

The single direction plane switch has two L1 terminals, the terminal to which the neutral cable is connected – the blue cable (traditional black, before changing). COM or Common is the terminal to which the live core cable is connected – this is the brown cable (red era).

Does it matter which wire goes where on a dimmer switch?

1 Answer. Unless the new dimmer is specifically marked with LINE and LOAD or similar, it doesn’t matter which wire goes to which screw/pigtail in a simple two wire switch or dimmer. Since your new switch can be used as a three way, the instructions should say which screw should not be used.

Does a dimmer switch need 3 wires?

When installing a Dimmer switch, all you’re really doing is controlling the amount of voltage flow to a light which makes it dim at a low setting to a fully bright light at maximum setting. Now a typical circuit will contain a 3-wire cable known as romex.

How do you make a one way two way switch?

To replace two switches with one, simply eliminate one switch from the “power” circuit, and connect both outgoing wires (one is red, one is black in your photo) to the same switch. Beware: some switches are “3-way”, and so while they may appear to have separate terminals, the reality is they don’t.

How do you make a one-way two way switch?

Can you use two way switch one-way?

Yes it can be used. You need to com and either of the other two terminals normally S1. more often than not if you ask for a one-way switch these days you’ll be given a two-way. as a two-way can be used as a one-way some manufacturers no longer make one-way switches.

What happens if you wire a dimmer switch backwards?

You could put the switch on the neutral wire and everything would work, but it would leave voltage potential to ground in the light when it is switched off. That makes it a bit hazardous for changing light bulbs. If you became an electrical path to ground through a wet floor or something you could get a shock.

What are the wires on a dimmer switch?

New dimmers have either a green grounding wire or a green ground screw that you’ll have to connect to a grounding source if one is available. Houses wired with plastic-sheathed cable almost always have bare copper ground wires that you’ll connect to the toggle dimmer switch.

Are dimmer switches wired differently?

Unlike standard switches, most dimmer switches have wire leads that are connected to the circuit wires with wire connectors, rather than using screw terminal connections.

How many wires do I need for a dimmer switch?

There will be three wires: one black, one white, and a separate ground wire that may be bare copper or is sometimes wrapped in green. Identify the different colored wires, and use needle-nose pliers to attach the wires to the dimmer in the same way they had been attached to the switch (Image 1).