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Light Fitting and Dimmer Wiring


Posted by Daniel Rubie on August 12th, 2003 11:00 AM

I recently bought a new (metal) dimmer switch and a new light fitting from Homebase and I can't get the lights to work properly. The first problem is that I have 5 wires from the ceiling - Two black, two red and the earth. The light fitting instructions state that it should be black to black, red to red and earth to earth (using a simple connector block) but this just keeps blowing the fuse. On one occasion, the light did come on but then when I went to turn it off the fuse blew!

If I connect it so that the reds go to the reds, the earth to the earth and one of the blacks to the the black then the light is permanently on and if I then change the blacks, the light is pemanently off. I have tried adding a black wire to the reds (in the thought it may be live) but this again causes the fuse to blow.

The second problem is the dimmer switch, at the moment I have the red wire connected to the L1 port and the Black wire to the port. The casing is earthed but I have not earthed the actual switch - is this necessary and could it be root of my problems?

Damn that Homebase - any help would be appreciated!

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