dimmer switches

[jim1000000]

hi
i recently bought 2 double dimmer switches to fit thinking it would be straight forward as i have done this before but suprise suprise it was anything but. the wiring in my house has 6 red wires which i was expecting but the dimmer switches i bought only have 4 terminals can anyone help
thanks

 

[breezer]

wrong dimmer take it back

you have a 2 gang 1 way, you want 2 gang 2 way
this assumes you can currently swithc the lights on from here ansd swicth them off from over there (i.e 2 places)

 

[333rocky333]

Although there is six wires how many terminals were in use on the old one

 

[breezer]

6 because the op said

only have 4 terminals can anyone help
thanks

 

[333rocky333]

A twin one way dimmer could have 6 wires and only use 4 terminals though
If the old one was being used as one way it may have two empty terminals.

 

[breezer]

yes i agree, but its not the way i read the post from the op

 

[333rocky333]

yes i agree, but its not the way i read the post from the op

Maybe you are right
But I have never known 4 two way circuits in one house.
Unless he has mistakenly brought one for each end of two circuits

 

[breezer]

there is allways a first time, but like you say, i bet he has brought one for each end.

jim1000000, 2 normal dimmers on the same cct will not work. they try and interact with each other, you need to have ordainariy switch at one end, OR go for a brand that has master / slave option

 

[jim1000000]

cheers folks got it sorted
thanks