Fabulous Dimmer Switch Wire Colors

A 3 wire nm connects the travelers of the dimmer to the travelers of the 3 way switch.

Dimmer switch wire colors. Switch drops from a junction box. When installing your dimmer remember electricity flows into it on one side and out on the other side. In most cases the two switch wires will be some color other than green or white usually black.

Since 2006 british law dictates that the colours mentioned above must be used in all new electricity installations. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. See lights and switches although there was none there we have added a red indicator to the black wire.

Blue this is the neutral wire. Put a wrap of black tape around the white conductor to label it as a hot wire. For other types of dimming control systems consult controls manufacturer for wiring instructions.

Why do different colours of wiring exist. The ground wire is typically green or copper and should be connected to the bottom center wire on your dimmer. However it might have one red one white and one green or one black one white and one green.

In the diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the dimmer box. Hot black typical 120v or 277v 60 hz neutral white ground ground. Any electronic wiring in a uk home features three colours of wiring which are used for three different functions.

Switched hot black switched hot red typical low voltage dimming wires purple gray typical electrical panel. Usually two wires will be black and one will be green. This 3 way dimmer switch is wired as follows.