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

 

[Rybeast]

Plus, that's what it says on the box...

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

That little white sticker on the dimmer switch is the instructions it seems.
Should say how to wire it up.
In any case the thick grey cable with red bit down the middle really made me chuckle.
Maybe its all the cider i have drunk today.
I will say it as nobody else has.
Call a local electrician in.
It wont take more than half an hour to either tell you if your switches are suitable or if they arent then the solution and likely price.
But dont call on a sunday. That.might be a bit more expensive.

 

[Rybeast]

That little white sticker on the dimmer switch is the instructions it seems.
Should say how to wire it up.
In any case the thick grey cable with red bit down the middle really made me chuckle.
Maybe its all the cider i have drunk today.
I will say it as nobody else has.
Call a local electrician in.
It wont take more than half an hour to either tell you if your switches are suitable or if they arent then the solution and likely price.
But dont call on a sunday. That.might be a bit more expensive.

It's just irritating more than anything. It's supposed to be a pretty simple job, that for some reason is just proving to be a nightmare! I need to try and get the new switch in at some point very soon - I have no lights otherwise!

 

[Phil Thompson]

It’s a simple job for those of us who are trained and knowledgable on electrics.

You aren’t, therefore it’s not simple

 

[Taylortwocities]

Moral: before disconnecting anything, take a photo.
Or did you?

 

[littlespark]

I didn't realise there was a third terminal behind the sticker.
Is it exactly the same as the switch you are replacing?
The new switch has an earth terminal on it. Use it for the earth conductors.
Connect the red and black of the twin cable to the 2 terminals on show. That will give you light over the weekend, but not 2 way operation.
Terminate the 3 core cables safely into separate connectors and leave in the box behind the switch.

Monday morning, call a pro. Is there no forum members could help out with a home visit?

 

[Pete999]

Crikey, that fiestpic is it the finished connection, cus if it is you need to get an Electrician in to do the job prperly, come to that you need an Electrician any way.

 

[Pete999]

Crikey, that firest pic is it the finished connection, cus if it is you need to get an Electrician in to do the job prperly, come to that you need an Electrician any way.

 

[The Ghost]

Don't berate yourself about the difficulty in this configuration. Two way and three way lighting is one of the stumbling blocks in learning electrics. It as always is easy if you know how. However it may require the help of an experienced spark.

 

[telectrix]

that switch certainly looks as if it's only a 1 way. if so, it will never work.

 

[Rybeast]

I didn't realise there was a third terminal behind the sticker.
Is it exactly the same as the switch you are replacing?
The new switch has an earth terminal on it. Use it for the earth conductors.
Connect the red and black of the twin cable to the 2 terminals on show. That will give you light over the weekend, but not 2 way operation.
Terminate the 3 core cables safely into separate connectors and leave in the box behind the switch.

Monday morning, call a pro. Is there no forum members could help out with a home visit?

Well, it said on the website it was a two-way switch? But now I have it in person it says multi? There is a third terminal, however there doesn’t seem to be a screw behind the sticker to tighten...

Crikey, that firest pic is it the finished connection, cus if it is you need to get an Electrician in to do the job prperly, come to that you need an Electrician any way.

Think I said it wasn’t the finished product... I apologise if not!

 

[telectrix]

with switches, the same moulding is used for 1 way and 2 way., so a 1 way will have a 3rd hole but no terminal.

 

[Rybeast]

Some pictures... Will I need to exchange this switch in that case?

Link to the dimmer: Schneider Electric 300W/VA Single 2 Way Touch Dimmer - Painted White - https://www.homebase.co.uk/schneider-electric-300w-va-single-2-way-touch-dimmer-painted-white_p175150

 

[Richard Burns]

You need to replace the other switch with a retractive switch and connect the switched live from that switch to the RS (retractive switch) terminal.
Momentary ceiling pull cord switches are generally used for emergency call systems and have a red pull cord.

 

[Rybeast]

You need to replace the other switch with a retractive switch and connect the switched live from that switch to the RS (retractive switch) terminal.
Momentary ceiling pull cord switches are generally used for emergency call systems and have a red pull cord.

Right, ok. Thank you. I did ask in Homebase, but like me they said to ask on a forum such as this. The ceiling pull cord is definitely just a light.

 

[Toneyz]

It's just irritating more than anything. It's supposed to be a pretty simple job, that for some reason is just proving to be a nightmare! I need to try and get the new switch in at some point very soon - I have no lights otherwise!

Well, put the old switch back on for now.What was the old retractive switch for?

 

[Toneyz]

Thanks, Richard I can see what the OP is trying to do now.He will have to make safe one of the cores and is the pull cord retractive (mains rated)?

 

[telectrix]

change the switch for one with a remote control and ditch the pull cord over the bed. take the fob to bed.

 

[Adam W]

So, my set up is a little different to most people's.

There's your problem. Your 'setup' has been needlessly complicated with pull switches in the bedroom, retractive switches and thick grey cables with red stripes down them.
I'm guessing you're not replacing this dimmer like for like but compounding the problem by trying to get a fancier one in there.

At some point you're going to have to make a compromise, like getting the wiring altered or sacrificing the ability to dim the lights from the pull switch.

 

[Rybeast]

There's your problem. Your 'setup' has been needlessly complicated with pull switches in the bedroom, retractive switches and thick grey cables with red stripes down them.
I'm guessing you're not replacing this dimmer like for like but compounding the problem by trying to get a fancier one in there.

At some point you're going to have to make a compromise, like getting the wiring altered or sacrificing the ability to dim the lights from the pull switch.

Well, it hasn't been needlessly complicated. If I am having a bad morning and I'm unable to get out of bed and to the door to turn the light on, I need something with me on the other side of the room. I also never said I wanted to be able to dim the lights from the pull switch - just to maintain the ability to turn the light on and off from either side of the bedroom.

 

[suffolkspark]

take it back, get a normal 1 gang 2 way dimmer.

wire like this
red from twin cable into L1
black from twin cable into L2

red from 3core cable into common (C)
yellow from 3 core cable into L1
blue from 3 core cable into L2

and bring the cpc (earth) cables that are currently tucked in the back of the box and terminate them on the front plate where it shows

(ensure the pull cord is also wired red - c, yel - l1 blue - l2

 

[Adam W]

Well, it hasn't been needlessly complicated..

Well it has, otherwise you wouldn't have had to come on an electrical forum to ask how to wire this up. Ordinarily you wouldn't have this "thick grey cable with a red stripe" either.
The dimmer you've bought is wired differently to the switch you've taken out, and as mentioned you'd need a momentary switch on the other end. A 'standard' rotary dimmer would be wired in much the same way as the old switch, ie less complicated.

 

[Toneyz]

Well, it hasn't been needlessly complicated. If I am having a bad morning and I'm unable to get out of bed and to the door to turn the light on, I need something with me on the other side of the room. I also never said I wanted to be able to dim the lights from the pull switch - just to maintain the ability to turn the light on and off from either side of the bedroom.

In that case, just forget this retractive switching and get a 1
gang 2way dimmer suitable for the lamp(s)in the room.

 

[Rybeast]

Success!!

I’ve changed a plug socket tonight, which was an absolute nightmare. How do you all line up the screws well enough?

My lighting has had some success too. I managed to install the dimmer, it now works. I am able to turn the light off from my bed! The two-way switch is working! There is, however, something strange going on. Whilst the pull-cord at the bed does work with the dimmer switch, it depends on what’s happened as to whether the switches are going to work or not. Example - I tested to make sure the dimmer worked, it does. I then checked my pull-cord to see if that also works. It does. They don’t sync with each other though. Sometimes I can switch on at the dimmer, but not off at the pull cord. Similarly, I can sometimes seitch the light on at my bed, but not off at the dimmer... Any ideas/solutions?

 

[littlespark]

Tel actually had a good idea earlier in the thread that I missed.
Fit a remote controlled switch. Something cheap like lightwaverf.
Normal room switch works as a dimmer, and you can get a battery powered remote that looks like a switch, screw that to the wall next to the bed.

 

[Richard Burns]

Success!!

I’ve changed a plug socket tonight, which was an absolute nightmare. How do you all line up the screws well enough?

My lighting has had some success too. I managed to install the dimmer, it now works. I am able to turn the light off from my bed! The two-way switch is working! There is, however, something strange going on. Whilst the pull-cord at the bed does work with the dimmer switch, it depends on what’s happened as to whether the switches are going to work or not. Example - I tested to make sure the dimmer worked, it does. I then checked my pull-cord to see if that also works. It does. They don’t sync with each other though. Sometimes I can switch on at the dimmer, but not off at the pull cord. Similarly, I can sometimes seitch the light on at my bed, but not off at the dimmer... Any ideas/solutions?

The blindingly obvious solution is the information you have previously been given and ignored, that the pull cord is the wrong type for that dimmer switch. If you operate the switch with the existing pull cord then you should operate the switch twice, because the switch is only meant to be momentary so you should switch the pull cord on then off. for each operation you want. IfF you leave it in the wrong position you will probably burn out the dimmer over time as it is not designed for that use.

 

[a-z electrics]

Or firstly cut the wires near the switch terminals and Leave the bits in the old switch still having a bit of insulation left.. this last bit most important!

 

[Octopus]

My lighting has had some success too. I managed to install the dimmer, it now works. I am able to turn the light off from my bed! The two-way switch is working! There is, however, something strange going on. Whilst the pull-cord at the bed does work with the dimmer switch, it depends on what’s happened as to whether the switches are going to work or not. Example - I tested to make sure the dimmer worked, it does. I then checked my pull-cord to see if that also works. It does. They don’t sync with each other though. Sometimes I can switch on at the dimmer, but not off at the pull cord. Similarly, I can sometimes seitch the light on at my bed, but not off at the dimmer... Any ideas/solutions?

Ideas - yes , its not installed correctly.

Solutions - more fiddling is required.

or call somebody who knows what they are doing?

 

[Adam W]

I suppose this is the difference between a DIYer and a professional electrician - whereas the OP seems happy to congratulate himself on a 'partial success' there are others here who would argue that it doesn't work properly.

 

[Toneyz]

What colours and terminal markings are in the pull cord

 

[dksanders]

Just to confuse things more, they do make pull cord dimmer switches..... just saying

As has been said, get an electrician, someone who has been trained and knows what their doing before you end up hurting yourself, others, or causing a fire risk.