I live in an older house built in the mid-60’s, and I recently bought a Single pole dimmer switch to use for my dining room light. My old switch had the ground wire wrapped around a scew, and the other two wires wrapped around another singe screw. So I installed the dimmer where the old switch was, as per the directions. And to my amazement the dining room light didn’t come on, or dim or anything. now if that were the problem it would be simple enough -but no. The new dimmer switch now controls my refrigerator and not the dining room light! I used the same wires as the old switch, but now my fridge is being controlled by this dimmer switch, i can tell because it controls the light in the fridge. The fridge is plugged in to an outlet that is on the other side of the wall the dimmer is on. I am dumbfounded! does anyone have any advise? besides hire an electrician?
“My old switch had the ground wire wrapped around a scew” was it the grounding screw?
“and the other two wires wrapped around another singe screw” you are saying both wires were on the same screw?
Sounds like the two wires on one screw was the line passing thru and now it passes thru your dimmer. Also sounds like someone cheated on the original install, by
the way you describe it.
First off, what you describe as the “ground wire” is probably the load side hot feed from the switch. Then, as Brian said, your fridge outlet was powered by a hot tap at the other terminal.
Now…please don’t take this the wrong way…turn off the power at the breaker andcall an electrician…now!!! I think I know how you now have this wired and it’s not good. You can burn up the fridge compressor with the outlet on a dimmer and/or start a fire at the dimmer as it is not rated for the load of a refrigerator.
While we can guess what might be happening, it is only a “remote” guess and, as home inspectors, we do not offer DIY electrical advice to homeowners, especially when it comes to screwed-up wiring that we can’t actually see or test.
BTW…even if you were able to return it to the way it was, it sounds like you need some electrical upgrading. Ideally, a refrigerator would have its own dedicated circuit and not be plugged into a receptacle served by a lighting circuit.
Before you call an electrician I would suggest you unplug the fridge from the current outlet and run an extension cord to the fridge from another properly functioning outlet. As stated above a fridge compressor could be damaged by being on a dimmer switch.
The compressor has a thermal overload that will turn off because of the improper power supply.
I am more concerned about the wiring/switch situation in the wall. You may burn the house down or back feed electricity were it doesn’t belong! Obviously, you found a situation that was incorrect to start with. You are going to require the services of an electrician to get the refrigerator off the lighting circuit anyway so, “make it so number one”.
Sounds to me like the feed to that switch comes directly up from the receptacle on the back wall. I would venture to say you simply have the switch wired up incorrectly because if that switch always controlled the light in the dinning room and your only move was to replace the switch...something was miswired.
Look even the BEST electricians can miswire something...so don't take it personal...
You need to
1.) Shut off the power and verify with a voltage ticker or meter.
2.) Remove the new dimmer switch from the wall and make a note of ALL the wires sticking out…
3.) Now…once you have that and see all the wires sticking out…make sure NONE are touching each other…or the BOX as well if it is metal…
NOW- Here is the CAUTION…BE CAREFUL as being a instructor and moderator with DIY…I know 90% of the people are going to TRY this anyway so I figure I will explain and you be SAFE doing it…Electricity Kills…
1.) Once you have done # 3 above…Turn the POWER back on…
2.) With a voltage meter or ticker ( well assume you kNOW how to work one ) see which wire is HOT…constantly…
3.) NOW…once you determine WHICH is constant HOT all the time…Wirenut it…and push it aside…not back in the box…just aside…
NOW…POST here…what wires you have LEFT…and the model of DIMMER you have…
FYI- NACHI is NOT responsible for your DEATH in the event you PULL a bonehead move and NOT listed to my instructions…and Neither am I…SO BE CAREFUL…and since you attempted it once already we will assume you are going to TRY it again.
At any time you DO NOT feel comfortable around voltage…call a local electrician…this fix will not cost you more than $ 40-50 in service call fee.