3 way dimmer as a single pole

[ritelec]

Please confirm. A customer wants the old fasion rotary dimmer. He is unclear if it's a single pole of 3way

Supply house as some old 3 ways around.

Like the newer combo singlepole/3way dimmers out , should I be able to use a old rotary 3 way in a single pole application or is there something different about the combos ??

Thank you.

 

[macmikeman]

It will work............ if you are using it to strictly dim incandescent or halogen lamps. Just tape up one lead of the two travelers or wire nut the end of it. CFL's and LED lamps maybe not so well.

 

[al hildenbrand]

It will work.

Agreed. A "push on, push off, incandescent only" dimmer is switched by a mechanical snap switch that is just like a simple threeway toggle switch. If you don't use the third terminal (lead) it acts like a single pole. Unlike the toggle, the push on, push off, is not "indicating" when in the ON position.

 

[ritelec]

Ok great ....
Now I know.

Thank you !!!

 

[kwired]

It is a SPDT switch with the dimming components in series with the common terminal.