This lets you dim from one location and turn the lights on and off from another. A triac is a small semiconductor device similar to a diode or transistor.
Ceiling Fan Light On Dimmer Switch Fan On Normal Switch
Light dimmer switch diagram. If only one switch controls the light purchase a single pole dimmer. With a three way dimmer you can control a light with two switches. Most dimmers are rated for 600 watts of power consumption so if you have several light fixtures which will be controlled by the 3 way dimmer switch you will need to count the number of fixtures the number of lamps per fixture and the watts per lamp. With a standard single pole dimmer a single switch controls the light. If you need light only when youre nearby install a motion sensor light switch. But you wont be able to dim the lights from every switch location unless you buy a set of special dimmers with advanced electronics and install one at each switch location.
If you want to control the amount of time a light stays on equip your lights with a light switch timer. In the last section we saw that a dimmer switch rapidly turns a light circuit on and off to reduce the energy flowing to a light switch. Care should be taken in selecting your dimmer switch. If youre in a room where light is a little harsh relieve your eyes and save energy with a remote dimmer switch or a 3 way dimmer switch. Like a transistor a triac is made up of different layers of semiconductor material. In the diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the dimmer boxthe black line wire connects to the common terminal of the 3 way dimmera 3 wire nm connects the travelers of the dimmer to the travelers of the 3 way switchtraveler wires are interchangeable on each switch.
If the light can be switched on and off from two or more switches buy a three way dimmer switch. The central element in this switching circuit is a triode alternating current switch or triac. You will need a three way dimmer and a three way switch.
Gallery of Light Dimmer Switch Diagram
