Replacing Light Switches - Standard to Dimmer Wiring

T

The Gent

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Hi,

I am in the process of replacing some standard light switches to dimmers but I'm confused by the wiring underneath the switch. One wire seems to be loose (circles in purple), one wire is attached to a bit of plastic and the L1 seems to have three wires going into it.

What do I need to do to hookup the new dimmer?

Regards

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Last edited:
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Hmm. L2 appears to have three wires going to it. Not L1!

I rather think that the TWO wires twisted together should be connected in to the piece of insulated terminal block. The item that you cutely describe as “a bit of plastic”.

Reconnect the wires before you change anything and check that the switch works correctly. Do this before trying to fit the dimmer.
 
Taylortwocities said:
Hmm. L2 appears to have three wires going to it. Not L1!

I rather think that the TWO wires twisted together should be connected in to the piece of insulated terminal block. The item that you cutely describe as “a bit of plastic”.

Reconnect the wires before you change anything and check that the switch works correctly. Do this before trying to fit the dimmer.
Click to expand...

Yes - that works when the loose wire is connected to the "bit of plastic" :).

So I take it it's a straight swap, L1 > L1, L2 > L2?

What about the COM wire? Where does that go to on the new?
 
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The com wire goes to arrow through a squiggly line terminal on the new dimmer switch.
 
the bare copper wires that should have green/yellow sleeving and be connected to the metal back box.

If they have been cut and cannot reach the metal front plate then you cannot have a metal fronted switch and be safe using it.
 
I have been in the trade all my working life and I cannot work out the loading of that dimmer :)

At a quess
Led
Incandescent
?
 
Am I bound by how they have been wired here or is there a better way I can set them up?
 
The Gent said:
80w R7S linear halogen bulbs * 7
Click to expand...
How many of those lamps are being connected to each dimmer?
The Gent said:
Am I bound by how they have been wired here or is there a better way I can set them up?
Click to expand...
Unless you know how they are wired now, and are prepared to completely reconfigure and rewire the whole thing then stick with it as it is.
Your problem is that you aren’t going to get three conductors in those small terminals. You’ll need to use some of those “bits of plastic” to do this. Wago connectors would be better.
 
Taylortwocities said:
How many of those lamps are being connected to each dimmer?

Unless you know how they are wired now, and are prepared to completely reconfigure and rewire the whole thing then stick with it as it is.
Your problem is that you aren’t going to get three conductors in those small terminals. You’ll need to use some of those “bits of plastic” to do this. Wago connectors would be better.
Click to expand...

Five lights on one circuit, two on another.

Definitely not prepared to reconfigure. I thought I was just going to pop the old switch off, new one on.
 
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