Replacing two-way switch with dimmer.

[Rybeast]

So, my set up is a little different to most people's. The switch I'm wanting to replace is a retractive switch, but the wiring behind the switch includes: yellow, black, blue, earth and a thick grey wire with a red stripe running the whole way down the middle.

I managed to get the dimmer working yesterday, however I could only turn the lights on and off from the same switch. The pull-cord by my bad wouldn't work. I swapped some wires around and put in the retractive switch again, but now it isn't working. I've replaced the dimmer switch as it needed to go back, but I'm just looking for some advice as to how it should all go together.

Is it even possible for me to have a two-way switch setup using a dimmer on one side and a pull-cord on the other? Where should each of the wires go, ideally? I know that there has to be a common wire, but the other light doesn't really show me anything!

 

[Rybeast]

This is the set up at the switch I’m replacing. Don’t worry - that isn’t how it was left!

 

[Rybeast]

And this is the wiring at the other light, along with the dimmer terminals

 

[Octopus]

It clearly says read instructions ..... have you ?

 

[Rybeast]

It clearly says read instructions ..... have you ?

Yes. They don't answer my questions.

 

[Octopus]

What does it say about 2 way switching?

 

[littlespark]

Your "thick grey with red stripe" is just a red with the grey sheath still attached. If you pull the cables out the wall a little, you'll see you have a twin-and-earth and a 3-core-and-earth.
Perfectly normal for a 2 way lighting circuit.

If the last pic there is your new dimmer, it doesn't look like a 2 way to me. It needs 3 terminals to be 2 way

 

[Octopus]

^^ you’ve spoilt my late night fun ....

 

[littlespark]

Sorry, Murdoch. Go for it!

 

[Rybeast]

There's a third space between the two