Dimmer Light switches question?

bery_451

Hi

We have a dimmer switch that you can push to turn off or on as well.

The question is once the dimmer switch is turned all the way anti-clockwise then does that mean it is off and not live regardless if it's pushed off or on?

TheCyclingProgrammer

It will still be live.

bery_451

Ok the dimmer switch controls the wall light in the front porch. We took the roof off the porch for building works.

So will this live wire being now exposed to the weather/rain cause or spread further electrical problems in the house?

What do electricians normally do to un-live it? Or can we just use insulating tape to shield the wires to the bulb holder from the weather regardless whether its live or not? Of course we will turn off the electrical mains at the fuse box before doing anything.

TheCyclingProgrammer

The safest thing to do - with the power off - would be to terminate the wires in an appropriately rated terminal block housed inside an IP rated adaptable box or similar. If you have builders in to be honest I would have expected their electrician to make any fittings safe.

bery_451

Cheers for the quick reply, ok do you also want to terminate the wires at the switch location as well so terminating at 2 places instead of 1?

Shall I assume once terminated at 1 place like you stated then the wire does not become live anymore?

For worse case scenario if I did not follow your advice then what possible electrical problems can I expect soon or in the future?

TheCyclingProgrammer

My post did not explain how to make the wires non-live, it explained one method to make them relatively safe for the duration of your building work. Live wires should NEVER be left exposed.

Electrical problems are the least of your worries - this is a safety issue.

The wires are already terminated at the switch end - on to the switch itself.

The terminated wires will still be live, so I would label the enclosure clearly.

If in doubt, please consult an electrician or ask your builders to take responsibility for ensuring any exposed wires are made safe.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Just reading your original post again and it's occurred to me that from what you've explained that the live wires aren't fully exposed but are still terminated onto a indoor light fitting, but that the light fitting is not suitably IP rated for exposure to the elements?

If this is the case I would still do what I originally proposed. Remove the light fitting and terminate the wires in an IP rated enclosure until the porch is weathertight again and then refit the light.

I would also expect the builders to get an electrician to do this if they are unable to provide some temporary protection from the weather.

bery_451

Great thanks for the advice. Cheers,

bery_451

Yes I like to say that the reason I posted this thread because I was worried that the living room LED light bulbs were all flashing/flickering and the downstairs hallway and upstairs landing LED light bulbs were all doing the same.

It cant be by coincidence that all these LED light bulbs turned all faulty at the same time right?

The LED light bulbs in the living room are controlled by a dimmer switch however the LED light bulbs in the hallway/landing are not controlled by a dimmer switch but by a normal white on/off switches.

Currently all lights working fine now, maybe intermittent not sure.

What do you think possibilities that caused this problem?

KeithP

bery_451 wrote: »

What do you think possibilities that caused this problem?

A loose connection.

Probably due to the wiring/fitting being disturbed.

macman

Only if they are all on the same circuit, which is very unlikely-there would normally be at least two lighting circuits, one up and one down.
OP< which circuit is the porch light on?