Lights play an important role in setting up the ambiance and mood of a place. The amount of light in a place has a direct impact on our emotional state. While a bright white light can help us focus more while studying, a dimmer light sets our mood for romance. We need a varying amount of light in our homes for different purposes; this is where dimmer switches come into the picture.
Let us see how dimmer switches can actually brighten your life with the versatility they provide to the ambiance of your home.
What is a Dimmer Switch?
Dimmer switches are a simple electronic device that controls the brightness level of lighting. They are used to lower the brightness level of light by cutting the amount of electricity flowing through the circuits of light. This way they not only control the lighting environment but also conserve energy.
The dimmer switches are used in homes and offices to conserve energy and to set the desired ambiance. They can be connected to smart home systems and set to automatically adjust the lights based on the time of the day. One can set the timers once and enjoy the preferred brightness of light throughout the day.
Why Should We Consider Upgrading to Dimmer Switches?
Dimmer switches come with a number of advantages. Let us see a few reasons that make upgrading to a dimmer switch beneficial for us.
- Energy Efficiency – When dimmer switches dim or decreases the brightness of lighting, they do so by controlling the flow of electricity. This means you can conserve a lot of energy when you use dimmer switches to keep the brightness level low. This way you will not only be reducing your energy bill but also helping the environment with a little gesture.
- The Perfect Look and Feel – With the controlled system of lighting you can give your home the perfect look and feel every time. You need a dimmer light while watching TV or having dinner with your family. It gives a feeling of coziness. You will like to stay alert while reading or cooking hence a bright light will be needed. With dimmer switches, you can have the perfect look and feel every time at your home.
- Long Lasting of Life – Dimmer switches use lights optimally thus increasing the life of your lighting system. This is simply because the lights of your home or office won’t be working at their full potential when dimmed.
What are the Different Varieties of Dimmer Switches?
Though all of them function on the same principle, dimmer switches come in different sizes and designs. The choice between these varieties depends entirely on the user’s personal choice as all of them function similarly. There are 4 basic designs – integrated, touch screen, slide, and rotatory.
- Integrated Dimmer Switch – These are now most commonly used in smart homes and security systems. They are integrated with the lighting system and are often controlled using a wireless system. However, they can be operated manually too.
- Touch Screen Dimmer Switch – Another popular design is touch screen dimmer switches. They are installed on a wall of the room and add visual appeal with their modern look. They are very easy to use and operate.
- Slide Dimmer Switch – As the name suggests, these dimmer switch allows us to control the brightness by simply sliding a switch up and down or back and forth. They can also be installed with a button that slides the switch automatically.
- Rotatory Dimmer Switch – The most basic design of a dimmer switch is a rotatory dimmer switch where you turn up and down the brightness of a dimmer switch by manually turning a rotatory dial.
How to Install a Dimmer Switch?
Installing a dimmer switch is not a tough task if you know how to install any switch in your home. If you are not someone who is into electrical stuff, you can take the help of a professional. And, if you are a DIY person, you can try your hands on upgrading to a dimmer switch and we are sure you won’t face any difficulties.
Step 1: The first step in installing a dimmer switch is choosing the right switch according to your needs and preferences.
Step 2: Once you have bought a dimmer switch for your home, you can start by turning off the power and removing the old switch.
Step 3: For installing the new dimmer switch you will first like to connect the ground wire from your dimmer switch to a green or bare copper from the wall box. Do not forget to cap them with a wire connector cap once you have twisted and secured them together.
Step 4: Similarly connect the other wires of the dimmer switch with the wire in your wall box and close the wire box carefully. This is the time you tuck the wires in, tighten the screws of the wire box, and put back the wall plate.
Step 5: Now, you can turn the power back on and enjoy your lights with their newly found dimming powers.
