FITTING CROME DIMMER SWITCH, WIRES EARTHING??

[keri77]

HI IME TRYING TO FIT CHROME DIMMER SWITH BUT FIND THE WIRES ARE BOTH RED 1 WITH GREY CASING (NOT RED AND BLACK) AND EARTH SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED TO 1ST RED WIRE SHOULD EARTH BE WIRED TO SEPARATE EARTH TERMINAL ON DIMMER? ALSO DO I NEED PLASTIC SHIELD FOR CHROME SWITH AS DOES NOT SAY..INSTRUCTIONS PRETTY BASIC.. HAVE NO CLUE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A SIMPLE SWAP?

 

[Chri5]

Wire switch with the 2 cores.

Use earth (with green yellow sleeving) to earth terminal and if back box is metal / has an earth terminal run earth from switch earth terminal to back box terminal.

Not really sure what you mean

ALSO DO I NEED PLASTIC SHIELD FOR CHROME SWITH

 

[jj4091]

What connections are on the dimmer ie does it say common or ~ & L1 & L2 & do you mean a finger plate when you say "plastic shield"? If so as chri5 says, connect the 2 wires to common or ~ & L1. You do not need a finger plate, if that is what you are refering to, but the dimmer face plate should be earthed if made of metal.

 

[keri77]

it has L and L1.. L being live, L1 being neutral and one for earth.. how would i separate earth wire it seems to be screwed to little box in wall and connected to red wire which i think is live?

 

[mo2]

plastic shield

Gasket?

 

[keri77]

think so as its metal didn't come with 1 just looking it up saw people mentioned it wasn't sure if nessesary

 

[jj4091]

I now presume you mean the thin clear plastic sheet that sometimes come with metal fittings, they are to stop fresh plaster causing corosion because it has not dried out enough. Leave the earth wires in the connector & add another one to connect to the earth terminal on the switch body.If the earth wire is connected to a live wire do not do anything else, call someone in who is qualified as this is potentially extremely dangerous & should be resolved properly

 

[keri77]

thanks for all the help got them fitted and working they look great
ps.. luckily earth wasn't connected to live!!!!

 

[sparkyspike]

Have you got a photo of this? If L1 is neutral and earth is connected to live it would be quite impressive!

 

[securespark]

Methinks the "neutral" is in fact a switchwire...