Having nightmare with twin switch for spot lights

[m0bov]

Hi guys, I decided to fit a dimmer in place of a switch plate, here is the setup:


Bedroom has 12 spots, split into 6 onto each switch, so a double switch. There are two three core cables, Red, Black with Red sleeve and Earth.

I removed the red/black from the COM and the red from L1 on both sides, I reconnected to the dimmer and pop, the RCB goes.

I refit the old switch, pop it still goes.

I have fitted the Red to the COM and Black/Red to L1 on both sides, I can get one switch to work one row, the other switch blows the RCB again.

Any ideas? Obv I'm doing something wrong but bit frustrated as I am simply trying to get back to where I started.

Thanks all (go easy!)

Jim

 

[333rocky333]

Have you somehow grazed the insulation on the wire, so its touching the metal box.

 

[m0bov]

Hi, its a dry lining box, I can't see any damage at all. Its all done up tight. As a sanity check, should it be Switch (red/black) to L1 or COM and is that the same on both sides?

 

[m0bov]

All fixed, c**ked up the connections, after a pizza and cold drink, went back and spotted straight away, all sorted.

 

[terryplumb]

Come on ,own up what did you do wrong !!

 

[m0bov]

Ok, so on the back of the old one, the L1, L2, COM are grouped above each other, on the dimmer they are a different way round, I must of cross them over to L1 and COM from the other pairs lol. Anyway, its all sorted now, rushing it after work, should have waited till weekend.... At least I fitted all 12 LEDS now, just need sunglasses till I can get the dimmer on.

 

[333rocky333]

Are the Leds and the Dimmer compatible

 

[m0bov]

Yes they do work!

 

[winston1]

. At least I fitted all 12 LEDS now, just need sunglasses till I can get the dimmer on.

In that case you've got too many and wasted money.

 

[m0bov]

Really? So what i just leave the fittings with no bulbs in or maybe mix leds with normal bulbs. Duh!

 

[winston1]

Really? So what i just leave the fittings with no bulbs in

Could do I suppose.

or maybe mix leds with normal bulbs. Duh!

That would not solve the problem, normal bulds are just as bright and consume much more energy.

 

[m0bov]

I am going to refit the dimmer this weekend, just to check, I take the cable from COM and L1 and replicate this to the dimmer?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Doesn't matter how you connected the conductors - they are all live/switched live, no neutrals, so whilst you could easily connect them in ways which didn't work, I can't see how you could have created a fault which would trip a breaker.

BTW - ignore any pointless prat who pops up complaining about live/neutral terminology.

 

[m0bov]

Ta for that, the fault I managed to create myself was the fact there are two feeds for each 6 lights. Both using same coloured cables, Red, Black/Red and Earth. So I managed to to mix the L1 with a Com from the other feed. I only noticed when I pulled the two lots of three core out further and spotted it.

Anyways, they are working now, pretty sure the switched feed is in COM and the Live in L1.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Ta for that, the fault I managed to create myself was the fact there are two feeds for each 6 lights.

Ah - sorry. Somewhat ironically give my warning about terminology complaints I was using "fault" in the sense of abnormal currents, not "mistake".

Are the two sets of lights on different circuits and different RCDs or RCBOs?