Dimmer switch wiring

[Gazza1959]

I am trying to replace an old style switch in my lounge that controls the ceiling lights and wall lights with a dimmer switch I bought yesterday. I have drawn the connections I see on the current switch and what I have on the new dimmer, but need some confirmation that my understanding is correct before actually doing it. I have created a word document and a pdf of this with information that explains the connections and can then email it.

Can anyone help me here?

Thanks[/img]

 

[Chri5]

Copy the doc and save via ms paint as a jpeg. Then post that in your gallery (images) on this site.

Why not attempt explaining the problem with a descriptive version.

Eg.
New switch has L1, L2, Com and old wiring is XYZ, the colours of the cores are X = red/ black/brown/blue/yellow/ green-yellow etc

 

[Gazza1959]

Thanks, just new to this forum and site and will add this to the gallery. I have a jpeg of it now completed.

It is now uploaded and I am sure once people can see the connections I have it will be easy. Problem is I have read a lot of articles that talk about L1, L2 etc... but these are not visible anywhere on the existing or new sockets.

 

[Gazza1959]

The image of the connections is uploaded so I assume people can now see this, but to summarise: -

I have an old type light switch which has two switches that supply the ceiling lights (2) and wall lights (4). On the back of the light switch there are connections at the top and bottom that are labelled A B B and A A B respectively.

These all have red wires and connected as follows:-

Top A - Single red wire from connector out through wall
Top A - Single connector wire to Lower Right B (Loop?)
Top Middle B - Single red wire from connector out through wall

Bottom Left A - Four wires from connector out through wall
Bottom Right B - Connector wire to Top Left A (Loop?)

On the new touch sensitive dimmer switch there are two identical connectors for the two switches but have an L, SW and an arrow with squiggly line over it which I believe is a common?

I just need to understand the transfer of the wires and to which connectors they should apply on the new one.

Please let me know if there are any problems accessing the image I created in my gallery that shows the physical connections and wires in a diagram.

 

[breezer]

The image of the connections is uploaded so I assume people can now see this, ...............

Please let me know if there are any problems accessing the image I created in my gallery

that's a drawing.


View media item 7140
To insert it in your post all you have to do is to copy and past the "net" code as i have done with your drawing

Welcome to the forums, and to add /amend a post you should use the

button you see in the top left. (it saves confusion)

 

[Gazza1959]

Ok, thanks. I can use ms word to create what I see on the switches and the wiring, just need to confirm my assumptions of connectivity with someone who is more knowledgeable on home electrics.

 

[Gazza1959]

Everyone out there....I would really appreciate your input on this as I would like to get this done in daylight tomorrow morning...it means I will also be in the good books with her indoors if I get it done!

 

[Taylortwocities]

Doesnt the dimmer include instructions that reveal the connections to L, SW and squiggly.??

My guess would be the live input (the wire with A connected to B) goes to the two Ls
The connections to the two sets of lights go each to one of the squiggly - but hopefully you've got the instructions....

 

[Gazza1959]

It does have some instructions but not that great and only shows a diagram for a different configuration with 'Retractive Press Switch 2 way Operation'. This is where is shows the SW being used, but it does not reflect my configuration though.

It was just a bit confusing and I was trying to apply some logic that the four wire connection was obviously the output to the 4 wall lights, that the connection from Top Left A to Bottom left B was a live loop to the other circuit for the Ceiling lights, therefore the only one left was a single output to the ceiling lights Top Middle B? Can one single wire output serve two ceiling lights?

 

[breezer]

Gazza1959 does not read what ever you write too well. since i said

....... to add /amend a post you should use the

button you see in the top left. (it saves confusion)

which I posted at Mon Dec 29, 2008 15:57

Gazza 1959 then posted at

Dec 29, 2008 16:07

and again at

Dec 29, 2008 17:30

so its a safe asumption he does not read what ever you type as it is meant to be read

 

[Gazza1959]

Gazza1959 does not read what ever you write too well. since i said

....... to add /amend a post you should use the

button you see in the top left. (it saves confusion)

which I posted at Mon Dec 29, 2008 15:57

Gazza 1959 then posted at

Dec 29, 2008 16:07

and again at

Dec 29, 2008 17:30

so its a safe asumption he does not read what ever you type as it is meant to be read

As per my first post I explained that I am new on this, however, I have not had a technical response from you as such, only queries over me adding posts that in my view are relevant but not exactly related to my previous post and hence not using the EDIT option.

To the contrary, I have read what has been written and appreciate anyone's constructive input.

 

[electronicsuk]

As per TTC's reply earlier in the post, it seems as if the wire you've marked 'live input' should go to L input on one of the dimmers, then also be linked across via a short length of wire to L on the second dimmer. The terminals marked with the squiggly lines are likely to be the switched outputs, so should go to your wall and ceiling lights respectively.

IIRC, the terminal marked 'sw' is used for wiring slave dimmers and therefore should be left disconnected, although you should refer to the instructions before making any connections.

 

[Gazza1959]

As per TTC's reply earlier in the post, it seems as if the wire you've marked 'live input' should go to L input on one of the dimmers, then also be linked across via a short length of wire to L on the second dimmer. The terminals marked with the squiggly lines are likely to be the switched outputs, so should go to your wall and ceiling lights respectively.

IIRC, the terminal marked 'sw' is used for wiring slave dimmers and therefore should be left disconnected, although you should refer to the instructions before making any connections.

Much appreciated and will look to do this tomorrow, I feel I can follow the logic of how this works having replaced the ceiling and wall lights already, but this did not seem to follow the convention I was expecting. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks.

Just an update and thanks to TTC and ElectronicsUK for their technical input, lights are up and working. Always nice to say thanks and show appreciation and I also used EDIT for this post. Wife now happy, but probably not for long though!