lights will come on but the dimmer will not dim them, tried to swap out the switch this did not work

kelbel, July 2009

A dimmer switch contains a variable resistor but is slightly more complicated - it takes a 'snapshot' of the sine wave at a certain point dependant on how much voltage you want and hence how bright the light, and therefore can't be used to control dc lights.
Most flourescent lamps can't be dimmed.

If there are 3 terminals on the dimmer then yes, connect to common (may be depicted by a wavy line) and either L1 or L2.

Adam, August 2009

ok, all a dimmer switch is, is a variable resistor. you should have connections L1, L2 and common. you should be connected to common and L2

will, August 2009

What kind of lights?

Adam, July 2009