Learn every day household repairs for the Single Parent family on SingleDad. Is your lamplight too bright? Learn how to dim your lamp light, easy as 1, 2,3...
Household Repair Tips for the Single Parent Family
| Author: By Jean Nayar for Home Sweet Solutions | Posted: 09/03/10 | ||
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Not every floor or table lamp comes with an integral dimmer, but you can easily attach a foot-control dimmer to a floor lamp or add an in-line cord-operated dimmer to a table lamp to enable you to adjust the light level for different functions or different times of day.
Dimmers also help conserve energy and save money on your utility bills. And they’re incredibly easy to install. Lamp-base dimmers, for example, screw directly into a lamp’s socket. Plug-in foot-control floor lamp dimmers plug directly into the wall and contain a socket that lets you simply plug your lamp into the dimming device. In-line cord-control dimmers can be attached to a lamp cord and require just a few basic tools to install. Here’s how to attach this type of device.
Supplies
Lamp cord dimmer
Utility knife
Diagonal cutting pliers
Wire stripper
Long-nose pliers
Screwdriver
Instructions
1. Select the position.
Unplug your lamp. Select the position along the cord where you want to add the dimmer switch to the lamp. (Choose a spot within easy reach of where you will be turning it on, such as from a chair or bed.)
2. Prepare the wire.
With a utility knife, separate the two wires of your lamp’s cord at the position you want to add the dimmer switch, about an inch or so along the groove in the center of the cord. Determine which of the strands of the cord is neutral and which one is hot by observing the insulation casing: The hot wire has smooth casing, and the neutral wire has ribbed casing. Using the cutting pliers, slice through only the hot wire at the center of the juncture where you wish to install your dimmer. Using the wire strippers, strip away about one inch of insulation from both ends of the cut hot wire.
3. Install the dimmer.
Unscrew and remove the cover of the dimmer switch. Place the neutral wire along the inside of the switch box, as indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions. Using the long-nose pliers, place the cut ends of the hot wire under the two terminal clamps and fasten them in place by turning the screws with a screwdriver. Replace the dimmer switch cover and screw into place.
4. Test the dimmer switch.
Plug in the lamp and turn it on to be sure the new dimmer switch functions properly. Then adjust the dimmer as desired.
Jean Nayar Jean Nayar is a journalist, the author of eight books on decorating and design, and the founder of TheHappyHomeWorkshop.com, a blog on decorating and home improvement.
wnyat - September 12, 2010
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