1

I recently installed a new LED light fixture. It's a bit bright, so I'm replacing the single-pole switch with a Lutron CL Ariadni dimmer switch (the fixture is dimmable). The existing switch has two black wires going to it and no ground wire. (Power is off.)

enter image description here

The new dimmer switch has a ground wire. It also has one copper colored screw and two gold colored screws (one on each side). The instructions say "if you are replacing a single-pole switch, the screw on the same side as the different-colored screw is not used." So I'll be using the copper screw and the gold screw on the other side.

enter image description here

How should the new dimmer switch be wired in? Should I just use the two black wires that were connected to the original switch? What about the ground wire, should I remove one of the ground wires from the pigtail and connect the switch's ground wire to that? Should I just add the switch's ground wire to the ground pigtail?

Improve this question
2
  • 1
    Please note that not only does the fixture need to be dimmable, the lights need to be as well. LEDs usually are not dimmable, although some are. If you have one of those integrated fixtures where the lights are a permanent part of the fixture and the fixture is dimmable, then I would assume the lights are dimmable.
    – user4302
    Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 4:04
  • In this case I am using an integrated fixture, but thanks for the heads up.
    – Todd
    Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 12:00

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

This is actually how you want to see your switches done. Except for the ground. You should always ground the switch when able and I don't see any reason why this one couldn't have been grounded. One of the wires into the box is the power (it's the wire coming off the switch that leads to the nutted group). The un-nutted black leads to your fixture. There's a matching white (neutral) that's pigtailed as well (you don't need to mess with it).

You should do as the instructions say and use only the screws indicated. The extra screw is for a three-way. Since the dimmer has a ground wire, just add it to the existing ground (bare) pigtail.

Improve this answer
1

How should the new dimmer switch be wired in? Should I just use the two black wires that were connected to the original switch?

YES- just like you described, using the screw terminals indicated.

What about the ground wire? Should I just add the switch's ground wire to the ground pigtail?

YES

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.