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Installing a Dimmer Switch

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A dimmer switch is one of life's little conveniences that, once installed, you wonder how you ever got along without! Any standard single-pole wall switch is a good candidate for replacement with a dimmer switch – as long as there's ample room in its electrical box and the light it's controlling is of the incandescent persuasion.

Don't try to install a dimmer in an undersized box or one that's already jam-packed with circuit wires, and never use a dimmer to control a fluorescent light. All types of dimmer switches have wire leads instead of screw terminals, so make sure you have the right size wire connectors on hand.

 

1. Turn off power to the circuit at the main service panel. Use a neon circuit tester to make sure the power is off. Connect the wire leads of the dimmer switch to the circuit wires using wire connectors. The switch leads are interchangeable and can be attached to either of the two circuit wires. If your dimmer switch happens to have a third (green) wire, this is a grounding lead; attach it to the grounded metal electrical box or the circuit's bare copper grounding wire.

 

 

2. A three-way dimmer has an additional wire lead. This "common" lead is connected to the common circuit wire. On a three-way switch, the common circuit wire is the one attached to the darkest (or copper) screw terminal on the old switch; it also may be labeled with the word COMMON on the switch itself. Only one of the pair of three-way switches may be a dimmer switch; both switches will turn the light fixture on and off, but only one can control its intensity.

 

 

 

 

 

Home Remodel – Tips and Planning
Tips to help you plan a smooth and efficient home remodel.
Sometimes embarking on a home remodel can seem like a never ending process. In the beginning, it sounds so quick and easy. Then the project begins…and it goes on…and on…and on. Every homeowner doing a home remodel wants the work completed in a timely and efficient manner. How can you plan a home remodel and make sure it flows smoothly?

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Build a Laundry Room Cabinet and Expand Your Options
The laundry room cabinet can serve many purposes besides hiding the bottles and boxes of cleaners and detergents. The fact is the laundry room is going mainstream in new homes, and older homes are being remodeled to increase family use and convenience. Used to hold state of the art laundry appliances, they often also serve as craft and hobby areas.

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Solar Powered Lighting for Garden Areas
Save time and money with solar powered lighting for garden.
With more and more effort to protect the environment and reduce energy waste people are turning to solar power as a solution. Solar powered lighting for garden areas is no different. Power is created from the rays of sunlight. Solar lighting batteries are continuously recharged with the sun's energy. Just browse the Internet and you'll find many sites offering solar powered lighting for your garden.

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Making the Shot on How to Light a Pool Table
If you have a pool table in your game or family room, then you need to know how to light a pool table. Pool requires a lot of precision shots and they’re much easier to line up when there’s enough light. There are a variety of light configurations you can use to adequately light the table, and the one you choose is a matter of personal preference.

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Becoming Enlightened by Connecting Landscape Lights
Connecting landscape lights is easy with new lighting designs. Outdoor lighting used to require a lot of electrical knowledge and specially designed tools, but that’s no longer true. Most landscape lights are sold as expandable kits and come with everything you need to create interesting and useful lighting in your yard or around outside features and structures.

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Using Landscape String Lighting For Atmosphere
Landscape string lighting creates a mood for outdoor areas, but also for special occasions. String lighting comes in a variety of styles from formal to light-hearted themed lighting. It’s practical lighting that’s so easy to install even someone who’s never been involved with electrical projects can easily do the job.

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Lighting the Way with Garden Torches and Outdoor Lighting
Using garden torches and outdoor lighting is an easy way to add elegance and interest to any yard. Lighting also serves another purpose- safety and security. Well placed lights turn dark yard areas into lit spaces and potentially treacherous walkways and stairs into easily navigable structures. Garden torches and outdoor lighting add beauty to the house too when strategically placed to showcase house features.

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Garage Conversions to Living Space – Making More Room!
When you need more space and are on a limited budget, you should look at the possibilities garage conversions to living space hold for your purposes. The advantage of using the existing garage is that the basic framing and some of the wiring is already done. Turning it into living space can be done for a much more reasonable cost than if you add a new room to the existing house.

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