Fitting a dimmer switch

brianblaze

So I'm replacing a normal switch with a dimmer switch, but there's no indication on the wires which one is L1 and L2... IE they're both brown sleeved copper wires. What's the best way to find which is which? Phase tester?

BrokenArrows

brianblaze wrote: »

So I'm replacing a normal switch with a dimmer switch, but there's no indication on the wires which one is L1 and L2... IE they're both brown sleeved copper wires. What's the best way to find which is which? Phase tester?

Honestly trial and error.

There are only two ways you can wire it. Try one, and if its incorrect then try the other.

You wont do any harm by getting L1 and L2 wrong.

brianblaze

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Honestly trial and error.

There are only two ways you can wire it. Try one, and if its incorrect then try the other.

You wont do any harm by getting L1 and L2 wrong.

Turns out there's only one live and then three neutral wires. I assume I'll need to cross over one with a separate wire from the live to the other side

brianblaze

brianblaze wrote: »

Turns out there's only one live and then three neutral wires. I assume I'll need to cross over one with a separate wire from the live to the other side

You'll probably have a live in, a live out (go together) and a switch wire (to the lamp).
Post a pic.
Physical space is what makes dimmers a pain.

aido79

brianblaze wrote: »

Turns out there's only one live and then three neutral wires. I assume I'll need to cross over one with a separate wire from the live to the other side

If you're seriously thinking of joining a live and neutral together then you really have no business doing this job.

As was said above post a picture because I find it very hard to believe that there's only one live and 3 neutral at the switch. The old switch wouldn't have worked if this was the case

brianblaze

aido79 wrote: »

If you're seriously thinking of joining a live and neutral together then you really have no business doing this job.

As was said above post a picture because I find it very hard to believe that there's only one live and 3 neutral at the switch. The old switch wouldn't have worked if this was the case

That was a suggestion from a friend TBH, I had my doubts once I read it back to myself! I'll grab a pic later and show what I've got!

punisher5112

The neutral need to stay linked so consider a connector block if adequate space.

You will have a live and switch live....

It honestly doesn't matter which port you fit to on the dimmer switch in most cases.

BrokenArrows

Both L1 and L2 only need to be used when you have multiple switches for the same light.

If you have 1 switch then you can use either of L1 or L2.

However there seems to be massive confusion as to what is supplying the switch.
If the cables are not correctly coloured then he needs to call an electrician.

brianblaze

punisher5112 wrote: »

The neutral need to stay linked so consider a connector block if adequate space.

You will have a live and switch live....

It honestly doesn't matter which port you fit to on the dimmer switch in most cases.

I've found the live with the phase tester, I'm just stumbling at how to identify the switch live at the moment. I've gotten one of the dimmer switches to work, but my confusion now is how to get the other to work.

Logic would dictate that the switch live should go to the corresponding port as the live is on the first switch, but not sure how to identify which is the switch live...

If that makes sense....

Which of probably doesnt!!

punisher5112

brianblaze wrote: »

I've found the live with the phase tester, I'm just stumbling at how to identify the switch live at the moment. I've gotten one of the dimmer switches to work, but my confusion now is how to get the other to work.

Logic would dictate that the switch live should go to the corresponding port as the live is on the first switch, but not sure how to identify which is the switch live...

If that makes sense....

Which of probably doesnt!!

Any photo?

If you are unsure but you know the cable that came out of previous switch that will be it. If it's in a mix of cables but you know 100% none are earth or neutral then try them in other port on new switch. Obviously cut power and trial and error it.

brianblaze

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Both L1 and L2 only need to be used when you have multiple switches for the same light.

If you have 1 switch then you can use either of L1 or L2.

However there seems to be massive confusion as to what is supplying the switch.
If the cables are not correctly coloured then he needs to call an electrician.

https://ibb.co/hD5vvFL
https://ibb.co/hfKd708

Here's the pics, the wire with the brown tape and my lovely thumb holding it is the live wire

punisher5112

brianblaze wrote: »

https://ibb.co/hD5vvFL
https://ibb.co/hfKd708

Here's the pics, the wire with the brown tape and my lovely thumb holding it is the live wire

Ok you need to link both L1 together with another bit of brown 1.5sqaure cable...

Unless you have 2 lives there and is there a switch elsewhere?

Its intirely possible there is 3 lives and a switch wire.

- oh its a two gang!
that changes everything .

brianblaze

brianblaze wrote: »

Turns out there's only one live and then three neutral wires. I assume I'll need to cross over one with a separate wire from the live to the other side

So, as it's a two gang, was this right?


I've wired lights before that were two gang, but they had the brown and blue wires, which was far easier, as there were two blue wires, this has me properly stumped

punisher5112

brianblaze wrote: »

So, as it's a two gang, was this right?


I've wired lights before that were two gang, but they had the brown and blue wires, which was far easier, as there were two blue wires, this has me properly stumped

There shouldn't have been any blue wires....

Brown is live and live only.....

That's not surprising though as some would use and colour cable for the strappers....

Forget everything about them blue cables as they are actually them brown cables right in front of your eyes....

brianblaze

punisher5112 wrote: »

There shouldn't have been any blue wires....

Brown is live and live only.....

That's not surprising though as some would use and colour cable for the strappers....

Forget everything about them blue cables as they are actually them brown cables right in front of your eyes....

I got that alright! Hahaha