two gang dimmer switch

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christo
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two gang dimmer switch

Post by christo »

Hi out there. I have a problem with a new dimmer switch - I dont know how to wire it! It is two gang each marked L1,L2 & squiggle arrow. I have four wires at the switch. One permanently live, one switched live and the other two go to the second light. The first light works ok but not the second. I assume that I mis-wired the link from the first gang to the second. I would be grateful of advice.
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ultimatehandyman
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Post by ultimatehandyman »

Not quite sure about the wiring :??

Are you replacing a one way switch or a two way switch with the dimmer?

What colours are all the wires?

What do you mean when you say that the other two wires are going to the second light?
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Post by ban-all-sheds »

Were both cores of the cable going to the other light definitely connected to terminals on the old switch?

If so then either one of them is also a permanent live, or the old switch was part of a 2-way circuit..


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christo
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thanks -further details

Post by christo »

Your are quite right - the one live wire was a part of a two way circuit.
What I wanted to do was to replace one light switch (in kitchen) with a dimmer. The two way circuit was in my garage - but this was disconnected by an electrician. The original change worked fine ie the dimmer switch worked correctly. I then had the idea of connecting another light and bought a two gang dimmer - thinking I could loop out another circuit from the live. Manifestly this is not the case. So the other two wires to which I refer are two operate the "second light" - I am rapidly going off this idea.
Tank you for your time in replying


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Post by sparkydude »

your idea will not work i am afraid mate, IF you have take a cable from the switch to the new light then unless you have a neutral at the switch which it sounds like you do not then it will not work,Think of the neutral as a drain , when the live has gone through the lamp it has to have a drain to send the current back through. Perhaps if you say the switch was originally a two way you could re organise the cores of the cables to enable a neutral to be present at your two gang switch to enable the light to work correctly.

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