ATOT Electricians, Please help

[dmurray14]

OK guys, back to ATOT with more questions - this time, electrical. I got two new dimmers that require a Load, Ground, Hot, and Neutral connection. My old dimmers didn't need a neutral wire, they only had load and gound (I guess). I need to figure out where to get a neutral connection for these switches. I'm pretty sure there's one in the box, but not positive. Bound together are four white wires (there are 2 switches in this box). I am assuming that these are the neutral connections, and I guess the installer tied the two from the lights to the two from the box. Since both these new dimmers require neutral, should I just stick both neutrals in with the bunch, or do I need to somehow seperate them and find out where they go? Anything else that needs to be done?

Thanks for the help...

Dan

PIC

 

[Carrot44]

Go get yourself a book on basic house wiring before you blow something up!

Yes you got them labeled correctly but your Hot and Load are the same thing. Neutral is the return path for the Hot line. Ground is tied to earth ground out side your house somewhere. And alot of times Neutral is also tied to earth ground at the breaker box.

Also looks to me like you got a main feed coming in from the left and two feeds going out from the switch on the right.

Ken

 

[dmurray14]

Ken, thanks for the reassurance. Would I be ok just hooking the neutral in with all the other neutrals, or do I need to seperate them into their respective switches and lights?

THanks,
Dan

 

[Carrot44]

I don't know what kind of dimmer you are using but they don't usually require a neutral keep them as is.
the AC or hot flows in from the left thru the dimmer and it is a giant resistor that you can control the amount of AC that comes thru kinda like a sink faucet. Then it flows out the other wire of the dimmer to one of the exiting lines on the right.

Again it would be a good idea to go to the Library or a hardware store and look at basic house wiring tips or ask a rep at the store.

 

[Ornery]

Sounds like a three way switch to me.