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Help Installing Smart Dimmer Switch

chompino

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Joined
Apr 9, 2015
Messages
24
Location
TX
Hi all, I'm trying to swap out a single pole light switch (left) with a smart dimmer, but I'm not sure what's going on with the wiring. I see the neutral and ground wires, but it looks like these two switches are daisy chained? Is this something I can be walked through? Or should I just call my electrician to come back?

Thanks!PXL_20210825_214852287.jpgPXL_20210825_214832599.jpg
 
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The Cobbler

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Oct 24, 2013
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25,802
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Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
is there a schematic drawing with the new switch?
show a pic of the original switches showing the terminals on the switch on the rh side . looks like the lh switch is getting power from the rh switch and feeding the light
it should be fairly easy, just have to identify the wires for the new switch

ahh, the new switch is for 3 way operation
 

Duke74

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May 15, 2021
Messages
249
Location
Pierceland
Hi. Your existing switches are daisy chained only because they are on the same circuit. The incoming power is feeding both switches. What you have to do is disconnect the wires off the switch you want to replace with the smart switch. The wire that is feeding both existing switches is your ‘power in’ wire. That wire will splice with the black wire on the smart switch. The red wire on your smart switch will splice with your ‘switch leg’. That will be the black wire going up to the light. Also, you will have to splice the white wire on the smart switch with the neutrals for that circuit. You also have to terminate the green wire with the other bonding wires in the box. Don’t forget to turn the breaker off before you start all this and you should be good to go.
 

Duke74

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May 15, 2021
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Pierceland
I forgot to mention. The yellow wire is only used if you are using the switch as a 3 way switch.
 
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rjacobs

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Jul 24, 2015
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3,856
Location
Dallas, TX
Black from your feed(likely the wire nutted bundle of black wires)
red usually goes to the load(the light or fan, whatever)
white to the neutral bundle
and green to ground

yellow is your 3 way, if you arent using it, just tape it up.


As far as your "stock" wiring to those 2 switches, doesnt look right to me, but I cant really see whats going on with it. Looks like one switch feeding another which is odd to me, but maybe its doing something else.
 

Terry D

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Mar 25, 2015
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Location
St. Louis, MO.
Black from your feed(likely the wire nutted bundle of black wires)
red usually goes to the load(the light or fan, whatever)
white to the neutral bundle
and green to ground

yellow is your 3 way, if you arent using it, just tape it up.


As far as your "stock" wiring to those 2 switches, doesnt look right to me, but I cant really see whats going on with it. Looks like one switch feeding another which is odd to me, but maybe its doing something else.
I thought the same thing, but look at the right switch closely, it has 3 black wires going to it. 2 of them is either doubled up on a screw, which is fine if it has pressure plates like the other switch, or left continuous and wrapped around a screw
 
OP
C

chompino

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2015
Messages
24
Location
TX
I appreciate the feedback! Both switches control different light fixtures, and neither are 3 way. I think that's why I was thrown off when I saw them connected to each other.

Duke, thanks for helping me identify the wires. That was half the battle. I'll give it a go this afternoon and keep y'all posted!
 

Duke74

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Joined
May 15, 2021
Messages
249
Location
Pierceland
I appreciate the feedback! Both switches control different light fixtures, and neither are 3 way. I think that's why I was thrown off when I saw them connected to each other.

Duke, thanks for helping me identify the wires. That was half the battle. I'll give it a go this afternoon and keep y'all posted!
No problem man. Good luck.
 
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