wiring hell!!!

[rico431]

HI
having a problem wiring a 2 way dimmer switch from a normal 2 way switch.I have another switch by my door<the other side of the room> which is only a 1 way switch but i can alternate the lights with th other switch. the problem is the switch by my door is not working any more but the other 2 way is.little earlier on i accidentally left the electric on and the blue wire on the 2 way switch touched the base plate and made a very loud bang and blew the fuse. i have replaced the fuse but still no joy. any help

cheers

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I have another switch by my door<the other side of the room> which is only a 1 way switch

If it's a 1-way switch then it's got nothing to do with the 2-way switching circuit.

but i can alternate the lights with th other switch.

Don't know what you mean.

the blue wire on the 2 way switch touched the base plate and made a very loud bang and blew the fuse. i have replaced the fuse but still no joy. any help

You may very well have destroyed the dimmer...

 

[retirednow]

Why was there voltage on the blue wire? That's supposed to be neutral isn't it? I know that one can get colour problems with two way circuits but I seem to remember seeing special wire (with a yellow wire in the cable) for jobs like this.

How many dimmers have you got? It sounds like one each end from your report. Most unusual. To make a two way circuit work you MUST have two way switches at both ends.

Best regards from David.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Why was there voltage on the blue wire? That's supposed to be neutral isn't it?

1) Not if it's a switched live in a T/E harmonised-colours cable.

2) Not if it's a strapper in a 3-core & earth old-colours cable.

3) Electricity is colour blind - it will happily run along any wire you like, no matter what colour the insulation is.

I know that one can get colour problems with two way circuits

"Colour problems"

but I seem to remember seeing special wire (with a yellow wire in the cable) for jobs like this.

3-core and earth isn't that special - in fact it's pretty common in 2-way lighting circuits...

How many dimmers have you got? It sounds like one each end from your report.

No it doesn't

having a problem wiring a 2 way dimmer switch from a normal 2 way switch

Most unusual. To make a two way circuit work you MUST have two way switches at both ends.

It can be done with 1 dimmer and 1 switch, but it might not work the way you want.