Dimmer switch

[Sarah]

Can anyone tell me how you install a dinner switch...ive seen a brass dimmer switch in Argos that i like and would like to put it in the sitting room, our house is a new build and when we tried to put up a new light fitting in the kitchen it was all over the place with 6 wires coming from the celing...all spray painted so we couldnt see the colours and the light fitting onl had 3 wire holes anyway! Apperantly its a new build regulation! So just wondering if putting a dimmer switch onto the wall will be a problem! Thanks again!

 

[sloggi]

installed a "dinner" switch myself bout 3 years ago, no diy skills previously! dont know about the wiring regs you refer to but dimmer switch installed ok - no extra wires knocking about!!!! There are instruction in the packet, got mine in homebase! make sure you turn off the lekky first!!

 

[Sarah]

Oops...just seen the spelling mistake..thanks! Cheers for the info, might take the switch off the wall first to have a look at it!

 

[nai]

the reason there were 6 wires is because they probably looped through that fitting onto the next one - common enough practise - i wouldn't say the electrics are all over the place because of that !

also if the wires are painted just trim a little of the plastic (grey?) sheath off and you should see the colours underneath - either brown/blue or earth (green/yellow).

fitting the dimmer switch should be simple - there will only be a live (and maybe earth) running through the switch and contacts are probably labeled L1 + L2 - just mark the wires as you disconnect and reconnect as they were on the new switch. - don't forget to turn off power before hand.