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How to Install a Dimmer

A dimmer can be an energy-efficient alternative to a regular light switch.

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Circuit testerScrewdriverWire cutterWire stripper

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How to Install a Dimmer

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" How to install a dimmer. First, turn off the circuit breaker at the main panel for the switch you are about to replace. Remove the screws holding the outlet cover plate. Remove the cover plate. Unscrew the top and bottom screws holding the switch to the electrical box. Carefully remove the switch from the box. Use a circuit tester, to test all the wires attached to the switch. Make sure that no voltage is present anywhere on the switch before you continue. Remove the black wire and then removed the white wire, followed by the bare copper ground wire. Always remove the ground wire last. Most dimmers have wire leads already attached. You'll be connecting these wires through the wires coming from the wall. To do this, clip the loops off the wires coming out of the walls. Then, using a wire stripper, remove 1 inch of insulation from the black wire and from the white wire. "

" electrical box. Put the cover back in place and secure it with the two cover screws. Turn the circuit breaker back on and your new dimmer is ready for use."

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