Dimmer switches

Lou123 · 13 Apr 2004

The dimmer switch that I have recently purchased only has two holes - L1 and COM. Which wires do go into these holes, and where do I put the third wire...?
Thanks!

dingbat · 13 Apr 2004

Did you want this switch to work as two-way? If so, you need a two-way dimmer.

Big_Spark · 13 Apr 2004

dingbat said:
Did you want this switch to work as two-way? If so, you need a two-way dimmer.

Dingbat, it may be a looped live though ...

Lou, what colours are the cables in the switch?

If they are RED, YELLOW, BLUE then it is most likely two way

If they are two reds and a black, then it is one way

If they are two blacks and a red, then it is likely one way with two lights attached

Bear in mind that there will also be a green/yellow sleeved conductor in the cable, this will be the Earth connection, so if this is the third cable you speak of, it attaches to the back-box of the switch, if the dimmer switch is metal, a link must be made from the terminal in the box to the earth terminal on the switch faceplate.

dingbat · 13 Apr 2004

FWL_Engineer said:
dingbat said:

Did you want this switch to work as two-way? If so, you need a two-way dimmer.

Click to expand...

Dingbat, it may be a looped live though ...

But in that case the original switch would have been one-way (or two-way used as one way). From the information in the original question it sounded very much like the original switch had three terminals in use and the new one only two. As always in these cases more information is needed in order to help... I was hoping Lou123 would have come back with more to go on before I got into listing all the options.

(Also, I have seen many two-ways wired in T + E plus a red single)

Lou123 · 20 Apr 2004

hello Dingbat and FWL
Thanks for your responses. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner with more info.
The original fitting was a one way dimmer and I am replacing with a new one way dimmer.
The cables in the switch are black, red and green/yellow. There is another green/yellow cable that is attached to the back of the casing that is in the wall.

So: I think from your emails that the black and red cables fit into the L1 and COM holes.

Please could you clarify for me where the two yellow/green cables should go?

Thanks again!

plugwash · 20 Apr 2004

if the plate is metal it will have an earth terminal which you should connect the 2 green/yellow wires to

if the plate is plastic and has no earth terminal you should remove the shor green/yellow wire from the terminal in the box and connect the incomeing green/yellow wire stright to the box earth terminal

unphased_spark · 20 Apr 2004

lou123

FWL Wrote

Bear in mind that there will also be a green/yellow sleeved conductor in the cable, this will be the Earth connection, so if this is the third cable you speak of, it attaches to the back-box of the switch, if the dimmer switch is metal, a link must be made from the terminal in the box to the earth terminal on the switch faceplate.

This is all the explanation you need

securespark · 20 Apr 2004

Unfair, u spark, the bold text has relevance, too.

Lou123 · 21 Apr 2004

Thank you. I'll let you know how I got on. If you don't hear from me, you'll know that I didn't...

unphased_spark · 21 Apr 2004

Secure

I thought FWL pointed out quite clearly the CPC situ and I highlighted his text in bold type not sure why you think my comment was unfair ?

securespark · 22 Apr 2004

Maybe a misunderstanding...

I thought the text of FW's you had highlighted in bold was unneccesary.If this is not the case, then apologies are forthcoming!!

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Dimmer switches

Big_Spark

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