Replacing 2 way switch with 2 way dimmer. HELP!

Ironick

Good morning,

I am trying to replace a two way light switch system in a living room with 2 dimmers. I have bought 2 "1 gang" "2way" dimmers, but am having trouble fitting them, I am now doubting whether I have bought the right thing.
Both the dimmers have a L1,L2 and 'squiggle' wire points. The switches they are replacing have '1 way', '2 way' and 'common'.
One of the existing switches has 2 wires going in to the common point, and one into each of the other points. The other switch has one wire going into each.

According to this that I found: http://www.masterplug.com/Images/UserGuides/WiringAccs/Dimmer%20Switch1.pdf
I can only replace 1 switch with a dimmer? Is this the case? I guess itwouldn't be too bad if I had the switch by the front door as a normal switch.

I don't understand how to wire up the dimmers? Should the wires currently in '1way' go to L1, '2 way' to L2 and common to squiggle? Or will this end in disaster?

All help gratefully recieved! I should add that the current switches work perfectly well.

espresso

Ironick wrote: »

Good morning,

I am trying to replace a two way light switch system in a living room with 2 dimmers. I have bought 2 "1 gang" "2way" dimmers, but am having trouble fitting them, I am now doubting whether I have bought the right thing.

Right thing but only one required. Take one back?

Both the dimmers have a L1,L2 and 'squiggle' wire points. The switches they are replacing have '1 way', '2 way' and 'common'.
One of the existing switches has 2 wires going in to the common point, and one into each of the other points. The other switch has one wire going into each.

According to this that I found: http://www.masterplug.com/Images/UserGuides/WiringAccs/Dimmer%20Switch1.pdf
I can only replace 1 switch with a dimmer? Is this the case? I guess itwouldn't be too bad if I had the switch by the front door as a normal switch.

Yes just fit one of the dimmer switches.

I don't understand how to wire up the dimmers? Should the wires currently in '1way' go to L1, '2 way' to L2 and common to squiggle? Or will this end in disaster?

No that sounds correct. more info on two way light switching here

All help gratefully recieved! I should add that the current switches work perfectly well.

...........

shandypants5

Good info espresso....but WHY cant the OP fit 2 dimmers?
Surely the circuit would still be the same and whichever dimmer was "active" would do the dimming while the other was out of the circuit.?

espresso

shandypants5 wrote: »

Good info espresso....but WHY cant the OP fit 2 dimmers?
Surely the circuit would still be the same and whichever dimmer was "active" would do the dimming while the other was out of the circuit.?

Because the electronic dimmer circuitry would be in series, if two dimmers were fitted. Blue blob signifies dimmer circuitry.

Ironick

Many thanks, have just fitted the one dimmer.
I'm not sure if I could fit 2 using a master-slave system...don't really understand but have found a few resources to that effect. I'm nt sure I have the right components for that. This is just great for now though, I will take the other back to Wickes! I don't need a dimmer by the front door anyway.
Thanks again.
Nick

shandypants5

espresso wrote: »

Because the electronic dimmer circuitry would be in series, if two dimmers were fitted. Blue blob signifies dimmer circuitry.

Thanks...it looks SO obvious now.. dont know where I was imagining the blue blobs to be:rolleyes: ..
I think I was picturing them in the pair of parallel wires.:rotfl: