Light switch to dimmer?

i changed a light switch to a dimmer, everything works, but i was left with a spare wire (red), there was no place for me to put it in the dimmer, i had to black wires and a bare wire that i connected to the dimmer green wire, did i do everything right?
Light switch to dimmer?
If it is a 3-way switch, the red is most likely (if wired properly) what is referred to as a traveler. A traditional 3-way set up uses 2 travelers and a common. Assuming that it's wired properly, the easiest way ti identify these wires in the box would be locating the black and the red that are run together in the same cable, those will be your travelers, the other wire will be your common. Now that you have identified the wires in the box, it's time to read the instructions that came with the dimmer. Most of the dimmers I have installed use black and red (usually coming out of the device near the bottom) as the travelers and a blue wire (coming out near the top) as the common. But you must read the instructions for the device because it varies from brand to brand. After you can identify the wires on the device, connect the wires together and make sure the connections are tight and don't forget the ground (green to bare copper). Also, it's safest to work with the circuit turned off in your electrical panel. Don't forget that electricity can be dangerous; don't take unnecessary risks by working it live.



Good luck with your project. I hope I didn't get too technical in my description. If you still need some help, you can drop me an e-mail.
Light switch to dimmer?
sound like you had a 3 way switch in it at first, did it switch from two locations at first if so it probly dont now a three way dimmer switch will be needed for this.
Did you replace a 3-way switch?



That would explain the extra conductor. If it was on a 3-way lighting circuit, there will be another switch that you can throw; when you do, the dimmer will not work. If that happens, go buy a 3-way dimmer.



You do earn extra points for properly grounding the dimmer.



*****There is no such animal in a premises wiring system as an %26quot;Earth ground conductor%26quot;. The equipment grounding conductor is there to carry fault current back to the panel and trip the over-current device; not to take any current to %26quot;earth%26quot;. The Code clearly states that %26quot;the earth shall not be used as a grounding conductor%26quot;. When people try that, other people get killed. Just Google %26quot;Electrocutions%26quot;, and %26quot;Light Poles%26quot;. You will see why you should never do any electrical work if you do not understand the basic principals of bonding and grounding; or know how to install an effective grounding path within an installation.
ok was there 2 switches in that room,the red wire is a constant hot and the black was to the switch that broke the circuit the green wire is a earth ground wire,but hey if it works go for it