dimmer question

[jmac80]

hi all

want to change a switch in my mums house for her and heres the problem..

there is 2 ceiling lights and both have there own switch on the wallplate.
she wants to change it for dimmers...
i had a look at the back of it and it just confused me!
there is red/blue/yellow and earth coming from the wall...
here is a pics of the old and new:
http://friedhardware.net/images/j/
can anyone shed some light (boom boom) on where the wires will now go in the dimmer switch..

the ceiling lights are 2 groups of 3 with 40watt bulbs so each group is 120watts.

thanks all

 

[Spark123]

Nice and easy one
Join both of the C terminals together with a piece of wire along with the red wire. Put the yellow wire into the left terminal L1, the blue into the right terminal no L1. Connect the earth to the earth terminal.

 

[Adam_151]

Easy one this

On each switch, Com on the old is equal to C on the new, likewise A/B1 becomes L1 and A/B2, L2

So, red to one of the C terminals, jumper wire to the other one (try and terminate it a bit better than it is... may need a longer one)
Blue and Yellow (which each should have a bit of red sleeveing on!), go one each to the L1 terminals, if the wrong switch works the wrong light, swap them around

Remember the earth!

On the old switch the terminals on each switch were in a triangle and one was 'upside down', on the new one they are just in a line, but ones still upside down!, if that helps you picture it a bit easier?

 

[jmac80]

thanks guys for the quick replys.
easy when you know how
ok will do that for her tomorrow she will be well pleased!
ps: should you connect the earth to the metal wall box as well as the new socket or just straight to the socket?
does it make a differance?

cheers

 

[Spark123]

Personally I'd connect it to the switch and loop a new piece of wire to the back box. Also, if you have a piece of 1.5 red wire long enough to bridge the two commons as the original piece may be too short. To be pedantic you are also meant to put a small piece of red sleeve on the yellow and blue wires.

 

[jmac80]

thanks mate
will also put the red sleeve on the other wires also.
if your gonna do a job may aswell do it right

 

[Adam_151]

Love the catchphrase btw

Fly-fishing

 

[securespark]

That fly ought to fall flat on its face...

 

[jmac80]

Love the catchphrase btw

Fly-fishing

hahah
i can hear roy walker in my head saying "Riiiiiiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhhhtttttttttt"

 

[rjb]

Point I noticed. On your old back picture the red live conductor has copper exposed out of the terminal.

Not a good idea. When you put the new switch on only expose enough copper wire to make the terminal.

I don't have a signature as i don't have any wit or imagination.