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Electrical Wiring Question - Adding a dimmer switch to a Three way circuit?
Hi. I would like to add a Maestro Dimmer switch to a three way circuit. My current setup is that I have two switches that control one receptacle. I would like the finished job to have the receptacle be controlled by only the dimmer switch and have the second switch be inoperable.
This is what I currently have for my wiring setup.
Switch 1 (One wanting to add dimmer to and keep):
Red and White wire connected at top of switch
White connected at bottom
Two black wires connected to each other
Switch 2 (One wanting to make inoperable):
Black connected at top
Red and White connected at bottom.
Receptacle:
White connected at top
Black and White connected at bottom
Two black wires and one white wire connected to each other
I understand somewhat how the two switches work but am baffled at the receptacles wiring. I am no electrician by any means so if someone could explain in simple terms, I would greatly appreciate it!
Answer: on the line switch you have one hot wire and two travelers,
on the load side you have the other end of the two travelers and the wire that goes to the light.
the light works by switching from one traveler to the other one either end.you need to figure out which wires are the travelers and which one is the hot in the first switch box "line side", check the directions on the dimmer and wire it as instructed using one of the travelers as the wire to the 2nd switch box which you will connect to the black wire to the receptacle on the brass colored screw, the white goes on the silver colored screw and the ground goes on the green colored screw
