I am trying to figure which switches to buy for dimming on a 3-way circuit.
For a simple on/off I know I just need a master and a slave switch.
But for 3-way dimming, what do I get for the slave switch?
Also how does 3-way dimming work? Let’s say I use the master switch to dim the light to 75% by pressing and holding.
Can I then go to the slave switch and press and hold the switch if I want to dim it down to 50%?
I typically get switches and modules from Lowe’s (ge/iris z-wave)
blairdee2000:
Also how does 3-way dimming work? Let’s say I use the master switch to dim the light to 75% by pressing and holding.
Can I then go to the slave switch and press and hold the switch if I want to dim it down to 50%?
You can do this with GE dimmers. The GE dimmer switches and add-ons will allow dimming from either the master or add-on switch(es). Just understand that they are wired differently than standard 3-way switches.
I’ve decided to put this FAQ together to help those with questions about installing GE 3-way switches.
Definitions of terms:
Line: The hot wire from the breaker (usually black)
Neutral: The return wire for circuits (usually white)
Load: The wire that will be hot when the circuit is completed to your light (usually black)
Traveler: In existing 3-way wiring, this wire toggles hot between two switches. In a smart switch 3-way configuration, a smaller charge is looped through the add-on switch.
Some things to know:
3-way wiring for smart switches is different than standard 3 way wiring.
You cannot use dumb 3-way switches with most smart switches (You must purchase the matching GE add-on switch to wire with your GE smart master switch).
If the line is wired into the light fixture, you …
brenthaag
January 22, 2018, 3:23am
3
I have a couple HomeSeer dimmer switches with add ons and the add on works just like the main/master/real switch. The only drawback I see is that it doesn’t have the nice LEDs to show the dimming level or on status.