Electrics question

Diana · Electrics question

Anyone know anything about home electrics? The OH needs help...

He's replacing a dimmer switch with a conventional on/off switch, because he's put an energy-saving bulb in the light fitting. The problem is, he's not sure how to translate the way dimmer switches are wired to how on/off switches are wired.

At the moment, with the dimmer switch in place, there are two lots of three core cable coming into the backbox - one coming from the mains and one going to the light fixture. It's all common sense - the earth wires go to the earth terminal on the switch, the neutral (blue) wires ere linked together via a small piece of connector block, while the two live (brown) wires go to each terminal of the variable resistor that is the dimmer. Thus turning the dimmer increases or decreases the resistance on the live wire, dimming or brightening the light.

However, he's not sure how to take those two sets of wires and wire them correctly to a simple on/off switch, which has fours terminals marked earth, 1 (1way), 2 and Com.

The earth wires will go to the earth terminal of course, but what to do with the two sets of live and neutral wires?

Neither of us is took keen on him just 'giving it a go' - with the risk of burning the place down or something going bang (probably him) - so advice from anyone who actually knows what they're doing (Oi, I heard that - OH) would be very welcome.

Thank you

Diana

Don't worry, I've found the answer - sorry to have wasted anyone's time.

[Note to self - DIY means exactly that, not get the OH to do it!!!

]

Sassinak

LOL - Been there !!

Phil will do jobs, it's the planning and waiting time that I can't cope with.

Much to his annoyance I just jump in and do jobs and sort out the problems as they arise

PurpleDragon

Argghh! I was really hoping to read the answer to this question, as we are going to be changing our dimmers for proper switches soon.

I thought it would just be a matter of taking one off and putting another on, but now i find that isnt the case so I would love to know how to do it properly, please.

JamesB

thats ok, I wanted to answer the question anyhow!
if you just want a simple on/off switch then use com and either L1 or L2. its a double pole switch so u can wire two together if you want to switch from two locations if you wanted.
incidently, if you are buying the switches for new then you can just purchase a single pole switch (slightly cheaper) which only has 2 terminals so no confusion there.

James

Smooth Hound

surely if your dimming your bulb, your using less electric anyway, at least youve got the option of turning it up when you want to work on something, or am i just being difficult

Sassinak

I don't think that dimmers work properly with energy saving bulbs

PurpleDragon

No they don't work properly but the main reason I want to change is that my living room and dining room lights have 5 bulbs in each and every time the bulb goes, the switch fuse needs replaced and as they are 1amp fuses, it is a real pain in the bum to keep trying to keep a stock of them.

wildgarlic

You can now get energy saving bulbs that will work with dimmers.

SH has a point - does it work that way?

JumbleJim

Diana, I read your posting with fear and trepidation......I think that the contents of it illustrate exactly why it is illegal now to do your own wiring (has been for two or three years at least).....the very fact that you are asking and therefore unsure would seem to suggest that there is insufficient confidence and knowledge to do the job safely. Sorry if this sounds a bit brusque, it's not meant to, just very concerned. Know your limitations and leave potentially fatal stuff to the experts as far as DIY is concerned....but seriously, I am sure that it is a legal issue too now.

Diana

Thanks JJ, I appreciate your concern and for the legal info (didn't know that and will look into it)

JumbleJim

Diana, I was surprised to find that the proposed legislation hadn't been ratified in its original form....watered down to guidelines and significantly modified as you will see in this link:

http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electr...p:diy_electrical_work_and_the_law

However, DIY electrics would need to be inspected at some time or other (maybe at the time of a housesale) and depending on how much you have done, you may not be able to get an appropriate certificate from a qualified electrician. There is also the issue of house insurance being invalidated by work being carried out incorrectly by an unqualified person. At the end of the day, electrics are potentially dangerous and probably best handled by an electrician wherever possible.

Diana

JJ, thank you again for the info. It's so easy to fall foul of regulations these days.

JamesB

I did think of mentioning the legal issues when I posted but decided against it. I should also point out that you can submit a diagram of your proposed changes to the council for approval and still legally do the changes yourself once they have approved.

James

IainC

cornfed_pig

The following are not Part P notifiable:
Replacing an outlet (eg swapping an existing siwtch for another switch)
Repairs (eg replacing a length of cable with a new length of cable)
Improving earthing
Adding outlets to a circuit that is not in a "special location", eg kitchen, bathroom, etc.

The following are Part P notifiable:
Any work done in a "special" location, eg places where water is used, ie kitchens, bathrooms, etc.
New circuits, ie new wiring all the way back to the fuse board

Diana

Thank you for the clarification. It's all so flipping confusing - and they wonder why people get confused.