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Thread: NEWBIE - Wiring Question

  1. #1

    NEWBIE - Wiring Question

    My home was built in the 1950's so it has old wiring. As far as I can tell I have no neutral wire at my switch. I purchased the light dimmer Lutron PD-6WCL which it says does not need a neutral wire to install. Installation instructions say to join the ground from wall to green on switch which is easy enough. Then it says to join the other two wires to the two on new switch but I only have one wire left in the wall. I only have 2 wires total in the wall switch. I am not sure what to do next. Thanks for any help.

  2. #2
    I only have a black wire and a white wire.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by LADodgerJeff View Post
    I only have a black wire and a white wire.
    If you only have one pair of wires in the box, and no bare copper wire, then you don't have either a neutral or a ground. You can try hooking those two wires to the two on the switch and leave the ground (green) unconnected, but it still might not work.

  4. #4
    That's what I figured. No Neutral and No Ground. I guess I will get it a try and cross my fingers.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
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    Metal or plastic box? If it's metal (and if it's that old it should be), try connecting the ground wire to the box itself.

  6. #6
    Plastic, Naturally. Nothing ever easy.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
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    If the box is plastic, then this switch was added later. They were not available in the 50s.

  8. #8
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    That's what I was thinking. If it's an overhead light, it was probably converted from a pull cord to a switch by running a switch leg out to the wall.

  9. #9
    After some research it looks like the house was built in 1959.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMG_0432.jpg  

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