Dimmer Double 2 Way...... Help!!

[manylayers]

Hi

I'm not brilliant with terminology but will explain to my best ability...

My living room has two wall lights and a centre light.
There was one plate with two rocker switches - one switched the wall lights on and off and the other the ceiling light on and off.

As this was cracked I thought I'd replace it and had a "Dimmer Double 2 Way" handy which I thought would make an ideal replacement/upgrade.

Thinking it would be fairly straight forward I removed the cracked switch.

I've tried fitting the new dimmer a few times so far, with varying success. The first time - both wall and ceiling lights illuminated and the right hand dimmer dimmed them all together. The second - The left dimmer did nothing but the right works beautifully for the ceiling light but the wall lights don't work at all. Etc.

I won't ramble on any more except to say that the back of the dimmer has two of exactly the same units - one 'up' and the other one 'down' next to each other. Both have L1, L2 and a symbol something like a ~ [common i believe].

The available wires in the socket are two reds and one yellow.

Please let me know how should I wire it so one dimmer acts for the wall lights and the other for the ceiling light before the wife drives me mad!!

All the best and many, many thanks for all your expertise

Many :0)


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[starspark]

i think you may need a multimeter to bell out your wiring or at least someone competent!can u upload a picture?As it may very much be a bit of a guessing game but i would say the yellow is l1 in one switch one of the reds is common or ~ the other red is l1 in the other switch and u would require a small bit of cable correct colour red or brown between doubled up in the ~ and going to the other ~.
hope this helps

 

[riveralt]

I would start by saying that you should wire the dimmer switch up the same way as the original switch.

But it sounds like you didn't record where each of the wires went when you removed the old switch.
To start with and assuming that the switch only contains live and switch live. The live will go into common and a strapper (piece of brown insulated cable) will go from this common to the second common.
The two switch lives will each go into L1 in their respective dimmers.
The problem with dimmers is if you wire them incorrectly you could fry them.
Photographs of the wiring at the switch would be helpful.
I do hope you have an earth wire there as well.
Unfortunately, if you don already know, you will need to identify which conductor is live and which are switched live. For this you will need a multimeter and know how to use it.

 

[manylayers]

Hi Riveralt

Thanks for such a swift reply.

First and importantly, yes I do have an earth and it's strapped to the 'box'.

The original was wired as follows...

TOP:

'A 2Way' - RED
'A 1Way' - empty
'B comm' - YELLOW

BOTTOM:
'A Comm' - RED and short wire to 'B 1Way'
'B 2Way' - empty
'B 1Way' - the short wire from/to 'A Comm'

Does this help?

I naively thought the two REDs were the same/live feeds but I'm guessing I should've recorded which was which!?

Many

 

[riveralt]

The original was wired as follows...

TOP:

'A 2Way' - RED
'A 1Way' - empty
'B comm' - YELLOW

BOTTOM:
'A Comm' - RED and short wire to 'B 1Way'
'B 2Way' - empty
'B 1Way' - the short wire from/to 'A Comm'

These switches would have been set out as triangles - so I will try and convert to what you have now. Assume that A = Dimmer 1 and B = Dimmer 2.
A Common = Red with strapper to B1
A1 = empty
A2 = Red (the other one)
B Common = Yellow
B1 = strapper from A Common
B2 = empty.

As an alternative but on the assumption you know which conductor does what.

As I said I would normally wire this
A Common = Assuming Permanent Live (red) with strapper to B Common
A1 = red (the other one) as switch live
A2 empty
B Common = strapper from A common
B1 = Yellow (switch live)
B2 = empty

Personally I would try this with a two gang switch first rather than risking your dimmers.

 

[manylayers]

Thanks Riveralt

I will try this tomorrow and if I have no success get back with pictures [it's a bit late in the day now].

Many :0)

p.s. "a two gang switch" ?? - Is that [please excuse my ignorance] [once again] two on/off switches on a single plate?

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[riveralt]

p.s. "a two gang switch" ?? - Is that [please excuse my ignorance] [once again] two on/off switches on a single plate?

.

Yes a bit like this...
http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-2-gang-2-way-switch/16201

 

[manylayers]

As an alternative but on the assumption you know which conductor does what.

As I said I would normally wire this
A Common = Assuming Permanent Live (red) with strapper to B Common
A1 = red (the other one) as switch live
A2 empty
B Common = strapper from A common
B1 = Yellow (switch live)
B2 = empty

Riveralt

Ever so many thanks for your help.

I took all the wires out and followed your instructions [as quoted] and it worked perfectly first time. Had to guess which conductor was which but guess I got lucky! It's brilliant.

Thanks again from a very grateful

Manylayers :0)


ps. The 'wife' bit's a joke. Lol.

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[3Greens]

Many thanks for input on this dilema - I have a similar situation. Not wishing to hijack this thread I've noted your directions with thanks - I also have to fit a new double dimmer switch unit.
However my dearest has bought new wall light units from NEXT. They include earth wiring but on removal of the old metal wall light units there is no earth wiring only the red/black feed/return tails from the wall. Ive replaced the ceiling light as part of the set and there's an earth ok, and there's an earth in the dimmer unit. Am I OK to fit these new wall units without connecting the earth ?
Many thanks
3Greens

 

[Taylortwocities]

Am I OK to fit these new wall units without connecting the earth ?
Many thanks
3Greens

NO!!!

!I think you knew that would be the response?)

Do check the wiring to make sure that the earth conductor hasnt been just cut off - this often happens with older wiring. If you find one there it is only any good if it is properly connected to earth at the feed end, so you'll need a test meter to check it out.

 

[3Greens]

Yep I thought so. I was really putting off the inevitable of a bit of rave - the remaining block connector is just visible in the wall cavity with no spare to pull through.
Thanks very much for the advice
Cheers
3Greens

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What TTC said is crucially important.

If the earth conductor has been cut back that means that an ignorant tw@ has been working on your wiring. You really shouldn't place your and your family's lives in the hands of someone like that.

Even if you think you've got an earth, it needs to be verified.

 

[3Greens]

Thanks again BaS. Since we moved in its the only room remaining that hasn't had major rework. All new extension and other rework has had professional contractor in to sort - I was tasked with swopping over lighting units. But now I can get back onto my flooring while Jim the Sparky gets to work.