Dimmer Switch 2 Gang Problem and Lightbulb

[platforminc]

Hi All,

I have just wired the dimmer switch, to a 2 gang dimmer switch, now both of the lights work, but the one closer to the kitchen is the one that I am having problems with, if I dim the lights to the highest then the kitchen bulb fails to come on, if I reduce the dim to midway or the lowest then the kitchen light comes on. From what I can remember, I don’t think I have used the com section of the wiring, but I will check when I get home today, can someone please explain to me what is happening here or what I have done wrong.

Thanks.

 

[Steve]

Both switches should have the COM connected.

 

[platforminc]

Both switches should have the COM connected.

Hi

Thanks for the Reply, i think i might have thrown away the instruction manual, but what is the COM for ? Is this Neutral or Live ?

Is there any diagram you can point me to, I have checked the stick section and the diagrams there look a bit confusing.

I dont want to wreck the whole thing by looking at a diagram that I dont understand, I hope you understand what I mean.

 

[Steve]

You wont have any neutrals at the switch. They are all lives. COM is normally your permenant live supply to the switch. L1 and L2 are switched lives. If you can remember how the old switch was wired, copy this. Otherwise, tell us what colour and how many cores you have and what wires they come from.

 

[platforminc]

Hi,


To bo honest, i was overconfident that it was simple wiring the L1 and Com since I done a 1 gang switch for a mate which worked fine.

Now, I do remember there were quite a few red cables, and a each for the plate. When I get home tonight, I will have a look and post my findings here.

Thanks

 

[platforminc]

Hi All,

I now have the pitures, in the back box, there are 2 green earts, 2 reds, and 2 blacks with a red sleeve, which I believe are the live ones.

At the back of the dimmer, there are L1,L2 and Com on both sides as its a 2 gang one, also written on each transformer is the following:40-400W
200-250V a.C

The lights that I have are as follows:

1) http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/n...refview=search&ts=1202764670996&isSearch=true

and

2) http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/n...refview=search&ts=1202764896918&isSearch=true

ight number 2 is the one, which when switched off, the kitchen light comes on, but when switched on and dimmed to the highest, the kitchen light will not come on.

I dont know what the problem is, I have fitted the normal ficke switch, and i am having thesame problems, now I cant work out whether its something that I am doing wrong or just something else, one other thing I must say is that in order for the lights to work, I have had to use a 15 AMP connector (http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Images/Products/size_3/TLCON15.JPG) instead of a normal round ceiling rose connector as these lights will not fit into a normal round ceiling rose. I followed same connections as the ceiling role, loop, L+,N- and Earth.

The picture of the wiring on the wall is here: <img src = "http://www.zenet.co.uk/socket.jpg">



[img][/img][code:1][/code:1]

 

[Steve]

Is either light controlled by another switch elsewhere?

 

[platforminc]

Hi

Its not controlled by any other switch anywhere, its just the 2 gang ones and a seperate one for the kitchen.

But it looks like the one in the lounge loops out to the kitchen one, and for some reason, all the lights cannot come on at once, as the lounge lights seems to be taking out all the power, i dont know why.

I used the 15 AMP connectors in the ceiling rose, could this be a problem

 

[Steve]

no the connecters wont be a problem.

was there a short linking wire in the old switch, linking two terminals?

If the answers no, you simply need to wire your reds to the COMs and blacks to the L1s.

If there was a linking wire, wire it back in between the COMs, and wire as above.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I have checked the stick section and the diagrams there look a bit confusing.

I think you should probably take that as a sign that this field of DIY is not for you.....

 

[platforminc]

Hi Guys,

I know someone must be able to help here. In the back plate of the lights socket, there are 2 cables coming from beneath of the back box, 2 cables coming from the top of the back box.

Each of the 2 cables has a red,black, green.

If we have a 2 way socket, can someone please explain to me which goes where.

Thanks

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The wiring diagrams in the For Reference topic, and/or the Wiki explain it perfectly.

They really, really do.

 

[platforminc]

Can you please point me to a link, so that I dont go about reading the wrong information.

Thanks

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Hi Guys,

I know someone must be able to help here. In the back plate of the lights socket, there are 2 cables coming from beneath of the back box, 2 cables coming from the top of the back box.

So that's 4 cables.

Each of the 2 cables has a red,black, green.

So that's 12 conductors:

4 red
4 black
4 g/y.

Your photo shows 2 of the reds and 2 of the blacks connected to the switch.

How did you decide which 4 to use, and which 4 to ignore, and what have you done with the ones you decided not to put into the switch?

Can you please point me to a link, so that I dont go about reading the wrong information.

Probably this one.

 

[platforminc]

Thanks for the reply, but there are only 6 conductors i am afraid, 2 seperate cables, one coming from up inside teh backbox, one other cable coming from down inside the back box.

Each of these 2 cables has 2 mini cables inside them, they are coloured as
follows:

Cable coming from beneath the backbox

1 red
1 black with red sleeve
1 green/yellow

Cable coming from the top of the backbox

1 red
1 black with red sleeve
1 green/yellow

Thanks