2 way dimmer

[filly]

I am trying to wire up a new two way dimmer switch. I have 2 cables coming in, each with a bare earth cable, a black and a red. My switch also has a covered earth (green/yellow) coming out of it.

Each side of my switch has an L1 L2 and a third hole with ~ and an arrow going diagonally through it.

Any help on how to wire this up would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks all

 

[Steve]

you have 2 cables. one goes to one switch, the other one goes to the other switch.

red to ~
black to L1

You must sleeve those earth wires with g/y sleeving. Is it a metal switch? if so, the best thing to do is to connect the earths to the face plate. If not, connect them to the metal backbox terminal.

 

[filly]

Thanks a lot for that! My lights now work, but the dimmer does nothing at all?

 

[Spark123]

Not even turn the lights on and off when you press the buttons in?

 

[fireman22]

filly, how was sthe old 2 gang switch wired did you make a note?

 

[filly]

It was just an ordinary switch before and I did not make a note! I thought the instructions with the switch would be good enough! How wrong was I??

The lights turn on and off just fine but the dimmer does nothing at all!

 

[Spark123]

What type of lights are they? Are they normal 60w bulbs etc, halogen etc?

 

[filly]

They are candle bulbs! 60w

 

[Spark123]

I take it the dimmer is suitably rated for the amound of candle bulbs on each circuit, I would suspect the dimmer switches are broken.

 

[filly]

Beats me! I reckon I will just make do with lights that work on a fancy new switch. Thanks for your help on getting them to work as it will be dark soon!

Cheers guys

 

[Spark123]

How many 60w lamps are turned on from each dimmer switch? What does the rating on the dimmer switch say, i.e. 40 - 250w or 40 - 400w?

 

[filly]

I have 3 60w bulbs off each switch! It says 60 - 250w and 200 - 250v-

 

[fireman22]

was the old switch a one gang or two gang switch?

 

[filly]

My best description......
1 solid back plate
3 holes at top, 3 holes at bottom
top 3 labelled COM A, 1 way B and 2 way B
botton 3 labelled COM B, 2 way A and 1 way A

I can also tell which ones were used as The screws are still out,

On the top COM B and 1 way A were in use
On the bottom COM A and 1 way B were in use

 

[Spark123]

Sounds like everything else is in order, my 10p is on the dimmer switches are to blame.