Yes and his location is a zipcode in CA. Beware OP: this is a UK forum and our codes are different in many details!
Agree with the other posters that you need to be sure it's a neutral, not just a white wire being used as a traveler (called a 'strapper' in the UK), and that it is part of the same circuit from the same breaker. If so it should be OK to use it for the dimmer.
On a 3-way if the feed goes to one switch and the light to the other, the white wire should be the neutral all the way through, with red and black travelers. But, if the light is part way along between the switches, although the red traveler goes through, the white and black must change over there. At the switch with the feed the white is a neutral, red & black are hot travelers; at the far switch black is the switched hot and red and white are the travelers. So at this end (the switch without the feed) the white wire cannot be used for the dimmer as it is not a neutral.
Thx gentlemen,
I appreciate the difference in standard practice in the UK verses the US, and that there are multiple ways to wire the circuit, and how difficult it is to give feedback without hands on circuit testing... thanks for the efforts to help me despite my limited skills.
I’m outside my skills if I have to start pulling light fixtures in the house and testing circuits.
I know your electricians not magicians, but lemme try to answer the previous questions, add some additional information, and accompanying Pic’s to see if it make it easier to help me tease this question out.
Original wiring configuration; 2 pole Foyer light switch, and 3way porch light in a 2 gang box by the front door.
1) Yes; the Std 2 pole Foyer light switch and 3way porch light switch in the 2 gang is on the same breaker circuit.
2) The porch light appears the last light in the circuit is
A - ending in the last two 3way switches
- One 3way switch inside the foyer
- One 3way switch outside on the front of the house
3) Existing Std 2 pole Foyer light switch I’d like to replace with a dimmer
(Photo 1)
A - Two black leads to the back of the original 2pole foyer light switch;
B - One black tested hot.
C - No white traveler.
4) Existing Std 3way switch to the porch light
(Photo 2)
A - 1 black hot.
B - 1 red Lead (the only red lead in the gang box).
C - 1 white traveler.
4) Other Leads in the 2 gang Box
(Photo 3)
A - 5 white leads in the box;
- 4 white leads capped off together using a push connector.
B - 1 while lead to 3way switch for porch light.
C - 5 copper (green) grounds tied together
- Grounded to the 2 gang box;
- Neither of the switches were tied to ground wires.
New Dimmer Switch Installation;
1) - I pulled the old 2 pole Foyer light switch
- I separated the wires and used my non-contact voltage detector to identify which of the two black leads were hot.
2) I installed the nee dimmer in place of the Std 2pole switch
A - I transferred the black hot lead from the original Std 2 pole switch to the new dimmer switch black hot screw.
B - I installed the second black lead (no voltage present per my voltage tester to the new dimmer switch red load screw /
it Did Not power the switch LED indicator on
C - I switched the second black lead (no voltage present per my voltage tester) to the new dimmer switch white traveler screw /
It powered the dimmer switch LED indicator on
- It’s not sending current to the foyer light.
- The Leviton dimmer instructions do not state explicitly that the dimmer requires a white traveler, however the blogs and video’s I researched suggest all smart switches require a white traveler to operate
3) When I turn the breaker back on;
A - The new dimmer LED indicator is powered
On / Not sending current to the foyer light
B - The last 3way switch in the box still sends current to the porch light.
Based on this; does it seem possible add a
jump from the The white traveler on the porch light 3way switch in the foyer, to the adjacent new dimmer switch?
