Leviton  Decora Light Dimmer Switch Logo
Posted on Dec 22, 2010
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I just installed a Leviton IP106 Illumatech dimmer switch. It was replacing my existing rotary dimmer switch. The switch is a 3-way wiring job, with another 3-way toggle switch (no dimmer) on the other end of the room. The problem is: I can only turn the light on from the other toggle switch across the room. The "power" button on the new dimmer switch shows the lighted LED when the other switch is powered off, but when I try to turn the light on from the new dimmer, the button does nothing. However, when I turn the light fixture on from the other toggle switch across the room, I can then go over to the new dimmer switch and adjust the brightness with the slide...I just can't turn the light fixture on/off with the power button. I was sure to label all the wires and duplicate the connection from the old dimmer switch. Any ideas?

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  • Posted on Dec 22, 2010
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The Leviton IP106 Illumatech dimmer switch must be installed at the switch location where the hot feed exists. From your description your hot feed is at the regular 3-way switch location. Swap locations.

A

Anonymous

I test electrical devices.
1. Many arrive defective.
2. Other electronic home devices don't workBuy inexpensive circuit analyzer from home center and see if there is a problem on the circuit.
3. I am looking at the IP106 manual for trouble spots.
Let me throw out a list of things that might help or not.
The other 3-way switch does NOT require additional jumper wire, as many devices do.
The other 3-way switch has 2 brass screws and 1 dark screw. Traveler wires connect to brass screws and these wires travel to dimmer and connect to dimmer red wires.
Here's a way to identify travelers for sure > replace dimmer with ordinary 3-way switch and put travelers on brass screws and check that both switches work in all positions.

One peculiar thing I see in manual is 3-D illustration for 3 way installation doesn't exactly match schematic drawing located beneath 3-D illustration. However I believe the red wires are the travelers based on directions given for 2-way installation.

Step 6 and step 7 show how to test dimmer immediately after wiring the device. And show minimum brightness adjustment. If your instructions don't have this section. Manuals have illustrations and manuals are shown at Leviton:
http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=17189&minisite=10025
http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=35337§ion=17189&minisite=10025

I see also that load maximum is 500 watts for 3-way. Check total wattage load.
The dimmer is for incandescent ... which implies that it will NOT work for CFLs or LED
The last part of manual has troubleshooting which does not show your issue, but gives a tech support number 1-800-824-3005

Add a comment and let me know what final outcome is, for my notes and to help the next fixya person who needs help.

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You posted under Leviton rotary dimmer.
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559b446.jpeg
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