installing dimmer

canafind · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:35 pm Post Subject: installing dimmer

Trying to install dimmer in lounge. Currently 2 light are on 1 standard switch. The wiring inside the blue neutrals are joined in a little plastic junction (not sure whats its proper name is) and the live wires go to L1 and L2.
I have bought a single dimmer, and a double dimmer as I\\\'d prefer to control the lights independently. The double I wired the Brown lives to the live connectors top and bottom and the corresponding blue to the ~(with arrow) top and bottom. The lights would not then come on. I have not tried the single dimmer as I was unsure on the wiring. If this is the route I have to take to both neutrals go to the ~ and both lives go to L1. Not tried as I though this would short.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

breezer · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:58 pm Post Subject:

thank your lucky stars it didnt work, it would have gone bang

you seem to be saying you have 2 blue and two brown (since you said the 2 blue are in a connector) is this right?

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Steve · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:13 pm Post Subject:

RULE ONE OF LIGHTING CIRCUITS!!!!!!

Never EVER connect NEUTRALS to LIGHT SWITCHES!!!

Connecting neutrals to light switches will have 2 results:

1. Toasted switches
2. BANG!

You have 2 brown wires: LIVE and SWITCHED LIVE. The switch simply opens and closes a contact between them (or a variac and other sensitive controls in the case of a dimmer)

By connecting live and neutral ACROSS THE SWITCH you have probably fried its SENSITIVE ELECTRONIC innards.

Given there is only one feed to the 2 lights from this location, if you want to split them onto 2 switches, you will need to do more wiring.

canafind · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 7:43 pm Post Subject:

Thanks for the replies.
I have also the single dimmer which I could fit. How would I determine the live and switched live? and to which connectors in the dimmer do they attach?

Thanks

Taylortwocities · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 7:46 pm Post Subject:

On a dimmer it doesnt really matter. Convention says the live should go to COM (~) and the switched live to L1 but it'll work either way round.

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canafind · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 7:53 pm Post Subject:

Will try in the morning then when the sun is out and theres enough light to see!