1 gang dimmer

[lip123]

I have followed the instructions supplied with the dimmer switch however, the light does not turn off nor does it dim. Neutral goes to common and live goes to L2.

 

[EdwardCurrent]

Hello.

http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting:adddimmer

Is the switch part of a 2-way set up ? ( 2 switches control one or more lights).

If not,(2 conductors at the switch) ensure the circuit is not LIVE. Try the red in 'C' , and the other conductor in 'L1'.

Ed

 

[lip123]

Hello.
Is the switch part of a 2-way set up ? ( 2 switches control one or more lights).

If not,(2 conductors at the switch) ensure the circuit is not LIVE. Try the red in 'C' , and the other conductor in 'L1'.

Ed

No, its a single switch controlling one light. So you saying the live goes to common and neutral to L1?

 

[EdwardCurrent]

Hello.

(I don't think it's a neutral, I think it's a 'switch return').

A)Yes

Ed.

 

[lip123]

Hello.

(I don't think it's a neutral, I think it's a 'switch return').

A)Yes

Ed.

Tryed the red in common and the black in L1. Lights on, but doesnt turn off nor dim.

 

[rebuke]

What wires do you have at your switch - is it just a red and a black (and perhaps an earth), or are there other wires?

 

[lip123]

What wires do you have at your switch - is it just a red and a black (and perhaps an earth), or are there other wires?

Red and black. Theres no earth wire.

 

[rebuke]

In that case it sounds like you have a faulty dimmer switch. You can verify that the wiring is OK though by:

With the power off, remove the switch and terminate the two wires into separate bits of connector block.
Turn the power back on - verify the light is off.
Power off again, and connect the two wires into the same bit of connector block and power back on - the light should be on.

If that's all fine, and you've tried it in both com and L1, and com and L2, then it sounds like a dodgy dimmer - I'm assuming you don't have any other terminals on the dimmer?

Other thing to check, is that the light you are trying to dim is dimmable, as if it's a modern energy saving one then a dimmer won't be able to dim it, and it's possible that it stays lit when you dim...

 

[lip123]

In that case it sounds like you have a faulty dimmer switch. You can verify that the wiring is OK though by:

With the power off, remove the switch and terminate the two wires into separate bits of connector block.
Turn the power back on - verify the light is off.
Power off again, and connect the two wires into the same bit of connector block and power back on - the light should be on.

If that's all fine, and you've tried it in both com and L1, and com and L2, then it sounds like a dodgy dimmer - I'm assuming you don't have any other terminals on the dimmer?

Other thing to check, is that the light you are trying to dim is dimmable, as if it's a modern energy saving one then a dimmer won't be able to dim it, and it's possible that it stays lit when you dim...

I don't think the dimmer itself is faulty as I purchased a chrome dimmer previously, unaware there was no earth wiring. Again, with the chrome dimmer, the switch did not turn off nor dim the light. There are no other terminals on the dimmer other than Common, L2 and L1. The light is dimmable.

 

[breezer]

The light is dimmable.

so i take it, it does NOT look like below then?

so what does it look like?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Please advise

1. the rating of the dimmer (its written on it, something like 250watt)
2. what type of light you are dimming and the total load - are they downlight, how many, what power of each, do they have transformers.
Is it a low energy lamp?

 

[breezer]

could even take a picture.

how to add pictures is in "forum information"

 

[Steve]

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIT A METAL PLATE SWITCH IF YOU HAVE NO EARTH WIRING!

 

[davidl500]

I *think* that unless I've very much misunderstood, lips123 is referring to his/her new plastic switch, bought to replace the earlier chrome switch - following the advice on the other thread :-

I don't think the dimmer itself is faulty as I purchased a chrome dimmer previously, unaware there was no earth wiring. Again, with the chrome dimmer, the switch did not turn off nor dim the light.

 

[lip123]

I *think* that unless I've very much misunderstood, lips123 is referring to his/her new plastic switch, bought to replace the earlier chrome switch - following the advice on the other thread :-

I don't think the dimmer itself is faulty as I purchased a chrome dimmer previously, unaware there was no earth wiring. Again, with the chrome dimmer, the switch did not turn off nor dim the light.

Ill repeat myself again shall I, for those who have trouble reading. I had a chrome dimmer switch, which I exchanged for a plastic one as I had no earth wiring. Yawn.

Its a Lazer Triple Plate Spotlight.
Includes 3 x 50W GU10 LIGHTBULBS
DIMMABLE
230V

400W Dimmer Switch
1 Gang, 2Way-Push On/Off