ban-all-sheds said:
The only thing that puzzles me is if there are no blacks there, why did you write
The original switch was wired up with the two com terminals bridged and the live also entering one, and then the other two reds in L1 and L2 on different switches with the neutrals connected to the back box.
?
I can see why that puzzles you ban. I have changed switches before without a problem but because this was a double dimmer and looked more complicated to wire from the diagrams, I asked my father-in-law for his input. He fitted a shower (with no previous wiring in place) and replaced a fuse box in his own house (both very questionable for most DIY'ers as I have now learned on this forum).
Either he was tired when he looked at my wiring and mistook the green/yellow Earth for Neutral (
), or he doesn't like me anymore, but I bowed to his higher knowledge and took the Earth to a terminal on the switch!. I should have stuck with my own knowledge at that point, because I would have got through on that. I
know Earth is green/yellow just thought they must be sheathed wrong when he told me they were Neutrals as they were loose sheaths.
I will be recommending he have his electrics checked out by a sparky after this and won't be taking a shower there until it happens.
I know I look a complete idiot and will be laughed at, but I have learned a lot here and want to thank you all (again). I take on board all comments about doing my own electrics DIY and will only be changing switches in the future (as believe it or not, I replaced the dimmer with another which is working perfectly well (and is earthed properly
)). The pro's will be in for everything else (possibly including 2-way switching) unless I get me some formidable knowledge in the meantime.
Sorry for the long reply but I thought you deserved a thorough explanation to the thoroughly dismal reason for my problems.
ban-all-sheds said:
OK - it's an unusual cable, but single red & earth does (did?) exist.
ban, the house was built in the early 50's so does it sound like this could be the original wiring? Should I maybe think about getting it rewired? And thanks for all the help....