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Maelstrom

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#96861 5-Feb-2012 14:04
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Hey all,

I want to replace a light switch dimmer in my house (the dimmer is physically busted) and after taking it off the wall and getting ready to drop in a new one, all the instructions that came with the new one refer to more wires (of differing colours!) than I have coming out of the wall.

I've got two coloured wires coming out -- a red and a black, with a green wire folded backward and disappearing off somewhere.  In the old dimmer, the black went into 'loop' (along with one of the wires (yellow) from the dimmer component), red went into '2', and the other dimmer wire (white) went into 'C'.

For the new dimmer, it seems to expect FOUR inbound wires -- two referred to as 'power' (black and red) and two referred to as 'lamp' (again, black and red).

The black from power and lamp go into loop, the red from power goes into 2, the red from lamp (and one of the dimmer cables, also red) goes into 1, and the remaining dimmer cable goes into C.

So, in short, wtf?!?  If I have two inbound cables only (black and red) and two dimmer cables (both red), where should they go?

My guess is: inbound black to loop, inbound red to 1, one dimmer to loop and one dimmer to C.  This is based on the other dimmer configuration.

If it's any help the old dimmer is a PDL and the new one is an Arlec.

I'd be very grateful for pointers that might stop me wiring up a deathtrap :-)

Cheers!

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sen8or
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  #577529 5-Feb-2012 14:11
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if you don't know what you are doing, call in an electrician, don't mess with 240v!


actually, it may be a job that has to be completed by a sparky else you may not be covered by insurance if there is a fire as a result 



shrub
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  #577533 5-Feb-2012 14:15
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Dont waste your time with arlec as it will break very quickly (bunnings?).

insane
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  #577543 5-Feb-2012 14:55
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That sounds about right, seems in line with this guide : http://www.ehow.com/how_8052277_installation-arlec-dimmer.html



gregmcc
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  #577571 5-Feb-2012 15:38
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Sounds like the existing wiring is what is called '2 plated', basically the cable coming down the wall, a 2core +E, red is the live feed, black is the switched return to the light fitting.

1st step, isolate the appropiate circuit....better still go and turn off the main switch!

2nd step, So red would go to the 'C'  terminal on the light switch, (this is the common terminal)

3rd step, Next one of the dimmer wires (here is where you read the instructions and figure out which wires are the 'live' and the 'load' wires, the 'live' wire goes in to the '1' terminal (this is for 1 way light switching), i'm assuming that there is only one light switch for this particular light!

4th step, Next the load wire of the dimmer and the black wire are twisted together and put in to the 'L' terminal (basically a loop terminal, or just like a strip connector but built in to the switch).

5th step, re-fix the light switch to the wall

6th step turn power back on and test.

If at any point you feel you are out of your depth, get an electician, and I agree about the arlec dimmers, take it back buy a quality clipsal/HPM/PDL one

BTW go to www.pdl.co.nz, put dimmer in the search box, there is a list of different models, click on one, then select installation sheet and it shows some examples on how to install them.


Just had a look at the arlec web site, the install diagram isn't that flash, slightly better than a hand drawn diagram.


If you like PM me with your email address and i'll draw a picture for you and scan it


gregmcc
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  #577588 5-Feb-2012 16:39
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Here the way to wire it anyway


Handle9
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  #577610 5-Feb-2012 18:04
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sen8or: if you don't know what you are doing, call in an electrician, don't mess with 240v!


actually, it may be a job that has to be completed by a sparky else you may not be covered by insurance if there is a fire as a result 


+1 You will definitely not be covered by insurance if there is a fire as a result. IMO if you have to ask you shouldn't be doing this sort of work. An electrician will cost you a couple of hundred dollars including the part but it will be done properly and you'll get the correct type of dimmer (leading or trailing edge).

You can legally do some electrical work on your own house (ie not for profit ) but there are serious consequences to getting it wrong.

sbiddle
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  #577619 5-Feb-2012 18:38
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Handle9:  IMO if you have to ask you shouldn't be doing this sort of work.


+1

It only requires a simple mistake..




 
 
 
 

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Jaxson
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  #577630 5-Feb-2012 19:16
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We could tell you, and some have, but I for one am not going to.

As above, if you don't know what you are looking at then put it all back and get someone approved in. Whilst it's common to find DIY advice for computers, and electronics etc, very few of these areas will kill you.

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