Electronic Dimmer not working for me

[brian3222]

Hi, I thought this would be easier...any help appreciated.

I bought a Gang 2 way universal electronic dimmer switch to replace the standard light switch in the sitting room. The dimmer is the touch-button type with an LED light. It has 3 connections - "L", "Sw" and "~ (with arrow". I have 2 wires plus the earth. The 2 reds are the Live Supply and the Switched Live - connect the two wires and the light works - simple, right? So I connect the Live Supply to "L" and the Switched Live to "~ (with arrow)" as per the instructions...not a dicky-bird!! I thought the switch was faulty so I got a replacement, same thing. Am I missing something? Should electronic dimmer switches have a neutral as well?

 

[flameport]

What type of lamp (light bulb) are you using? CFL / energy saving fluorescents won't work with dimmers.

 

[securespark]

What did the instructions say?

 

[ColJack]

swap the reds round.. the live needs to be in the live not the ~/~.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Your "~ (with arrow)" is your common, this should be connected to the live supply and the other red to L1

 

[nozspark]

Is it a touch dimmer... like a Varilight one??

If so then is you earth connected and continuous back to the CU / MET?

 

[ColJack]

Your "~ (with arrow)" is your common, this should be connected to the live supply and the other red to L1

in what world?

~ with an arrow through it is the symbol for variable output.. L ( not L1 ) is the symbol for Live...

some switches do have the ~ without the arrow through it which indicates AC feed.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It shouldn't matter anyway, which is "in" and which is "out", as the current direction changes 100 times a second.

 

[ColJack]

it does as it's electronic and needs a live feed and earth to power the electronics ( some take IR too so are permanently powered ).

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Mega bad form, surely, to use the earth as the return path for the control circuitry?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

in what world?

~ with an arrow through it is the symbol for variable output.. L ( not L1 ) is the symbol for Live...

some switches do have the ~ without the arrow through it which indicates AC feed.

I stand correct

 

[nozspark]

Mega bad form, surely, to use the earth as the return path for the control circuitry?

Don't know how they work, but some brands will not work if there isn't an earth present at the switch.

 

[LoveRocket]

Live to L
Switched line to Sw
Nothing to ~

 

[LoveRocket]

Mega bad form, surely, to use the earth as the return path for the control circuitry?

You are right, but it's no worse than a SMPS filtering to earth. We're talking microamps on a dimmer.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You are right, but it's no worse than a SMPS filtering to earth. We're talking microamps on a dimmer.

The former is an inevitable consequence of what the filter does.

The latter is deliberately poor design.