New dimmer switch went pop

criptonite · Post by **criptonite** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:26 pm

Errr, connected a new dimmer switch for my living room light. I tested it before screwing the plate full on and it was fine. When I screwed it tight and turned the power on, it went pop. Have opened it up and cant see any exposed wires. Literally in the dark now.

The wiring was three core and earth with the yellow unattached on the previous light switch

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:31 pm

you must have connected live and neutral

what went bang the switch or the fuse/breaker

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:31 pm

It sounds like a wire has been trapped.

dimmers are much deeper than switches and so you may need a deeper back box fitting.

has the fuse blown for the circuit ?

criptonite · Post by **criptonite** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:34 pm

It was the switch that went bang. I think there's enough room but I will check again. Thanks

criptonite · Post by **criptonite** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:35 pm

Oh, and the fuse hadn't blown

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:35 pm

so are all the other lights working

could be a dud switch

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:37 pm

Is it a two way light switch?

I'm wondering whay 3 core has been used, but the yellow is not connected?

criptonite · Post by **criptonite** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:39 pm

All the other light switches are fine. Could I have got the live and neutral the wrong way round? I was a bit confused by the three core cable

criptonite · Post by **criptonite** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:40 pm

By two way, do you mean that it controls two lights?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:40 pm

How many wires are there and what colours are they?

criptonite · Post by **criptonite** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:45 pm

Its red, blue, yellow and earth. The yellow was trimmed back and unconnected to the old dimmer switch

criptonite · Post by **criptonite** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:49 pm

Just read a bit more, the dimmer is two way, I assume, because it has an L! and L2 terminal

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:49 pm

criptonite wrote:By two way, do you mean that it controls two lights?

Yes can you switch the same light on from two seperate switches?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:57 pm

You would need the yellow wire to make it work on a two way system.

Go to the other light switch and remove the screws, you should see a twin core and earth, the wires from this will be in L1 and L2

The three core and earth will be in common, L1 and L2

write down which colour wire is in which terminal, for example-

common- yellow
L1- Red
L2- Blue

Now go back to your dimmer and copy this exactly, so that you mimic the other light switch. So at the dimmer you will also have-

common- yellow
L1- Red
L2- Blue

criptonite · Post by **criptonite** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:06 pm

There is another switch on the opposite wall but it doesn't do anything. Must've been a 2 way switch in the past