replacing a dimmer switch with a single pole toggle switch?

first of all you should not be controlling your fan with a dimmer switch are you in GB

BILL
July 2009

You are in the US I guess - Black is Hot - A simple, single pole switch has Hot going in on one terminal and when the switch is thrown, Hot coming out on the other terminal - The switch interrupts the Hot (Live) wire.

The White/Common/Neutral wire never connects to a single pole switch but usually does to a double pole switch.

If there's an Earth wire, in the UK it usually connects to the metal wall box the switch id fixed into - if the switch has a metal front plate that too often has an Earth terminal.

I am not surprised that the dimmer is singing to you - I don't think they're designed to run motors.

Peccavi
July 2009