OT - Grumpy Old Man Thread

[utee94]

Like this:

[847badgerfan]

Regardless, I could not find the single dimmer on the old-style switches, so I decided to change out all the switches (and outlets) in my house to Decora.

That was a weekend job. Like, the whole weekend.

[847badgerfan]

Like this:

Exactly.

[MikeDeTiger]

Home Depot.

Mine is not a double switch - that is two switches in one box.

I don't think yours is a double either. Did you take the plate off yet?

Yes.  Looked like a single piece, but they're probably just touching.  I've replaced a lot of outlets, but never a switch and clearly don't know what I'm talking about.  

Explains why I can barely find any dual-switches, and none with dimmers.  

[847badgerfan]

On the left is a double switch I put in, to separate the fan from the ceiling light that goes with it. 

Sometimes you just want the fan only. I did this with some of my ceiling fans too.

[MikeDeTiger]

Those are almost definitely two separate switches, in one side-by-side box.

That should make getting a dimmer easier to find.  As long as I don't have to replace the box, I'm good.  

[847badgerfan]

That should make getting a dimmer easier to find.  As long as I don't have to replace the box, I'm good. 

I could not find the old style dimmer switches when I was upgrading here.

Admittedly, this was during Covid, when everything was had to find.

[MikeDeTiger]

I guess this would do it

Link

[847badgerfan]

Just make sure it will fit in the box. These dimmers have gotten more robust over the years.

[utee94]

I could not find the old style dimmer switches when I was upgrading here.

Admittedly, this was during Covid, when everything was had to find.

Any hardware or big box home store has the old style.  I've purchased several at Home Depot over the past couple weeks, changing them out at the rental where there was a mishmash of white, almond, and ivory.  Wall plates too.  They're all crisp bright white now.

[847badgerfan]

Any hardware or big box home store has the old style.  I've purchased several at Home Depot over the past couple weeks, changing them out at the rental where there was a mishmash of white, almong, and ivory.  Wall plates too.  They're all crisp bright white now.

I believe it - but Covid.

I'm still changing out things that I had to settle for during that time, which is along the lines of grumpy.

I just put in a new countertop and faucets in the master a couple of weeks ago.

[utee94]

Yeah supply chains were crazy screwed up during covid.  Especially for stuff coming from China which, unfortunately, almost all of our mass market electrical and electronic components do.

[utee94]

That should make getting a dimmer easier to find.  As long as I don't have to replace the box, I'm good. 

You should be able to pull out one switch at a time, it's just two screws, one at the top and one at the bottom.  Of course, there's also either two or three wires attached to that switch, and one of them is hot unless you've turned off power at the breaker.

The housing/box is nailed or screwed into a stud on one side or the other, back behind the sheetrock.  You shouldn't have to change it unless something catastrophic has happened.

[847badgerfan]

I have a Texas question. What is used to house the wiring? Or is it Romex there, like it is here?

Not having conduit was a shocker to me when I started opening things up. the only way to wire here is to go up in the attic and drop new wires in the walls. I miss conduit.