advice - two wall nights and one dimmer switch wired wrong!

[Chris McK]

Long story short i had a friend helping me out with some DIY today and I have realised that he left the wiring like pictured. I have and voltage tester so i have worked out that the middle red wire is the live one.

Long story short they are now not working (i have tried some variations based on what i have read online but they just leave the lights on). I put them back to the way i found them wired - please see pictures (including the dimmer as i think he messed with that too. Can someone tell me what is wrong and how they need to be positioned/ connected?

and dont worry, i will never let him touch electrics again....

 

[westward10]

So does that dimmer fit to those cables and does it switch two lights at the same time.

 

[GBDamo]

I'm out, I hate lighting that's been messed around with.

I'd need to get my crayons and sketch book out.

Best of luck.

 

[Baddegg]

Oh dear god you need some new friends......

 

[Chris McK]

So does that dimmer fit to those cables and does it switch two lights at the same time.

atm none of the lights are working (current wiring in the picture) but when i tried to fix my friends mess i managed to get the lights on but the dimmer wasn't controlling them - if that makes sense

 

[Chris McK]

Oh dear god you need some new friends......

I agree! I did wonder why he left sharpish lol

 

[Chris McK]

I'm out, I hate lighting that's been messed around with.

I'd need to get my crayons and sketch book out.

Best of luck.

I have already tried, all be it with a pencil and some paper...

 

[GBDamo]

A competent spark wold have this resolved in under an hour.

I think I've figured it out but unfortunately explaining it falls foul of the forum "step by step guides" rule.

Also there are a few pitfalls with lighting circuits that mean it's not safe to offer diagnostic advice.

Generally the feed in should go through the switch then to each light fitting with the neutrals from the light fittings returning to the feed in neutral.

Your dimmer may need it's own neutral, note just because there is a black wire there it may not necessarily be a neutral, it could be an unidentified switched live.

And when someone has been in and messed the whole lot around it just becomes a PITA.

 

[telectrix]

time to get a local sparks. £40, coffee, and a grope of the maid. sorted.

 

[Chris McK]

A competent spark wold have this resolved in under an hour.

I think I've figured it out but unfortunately explaining it falls foul of the forum "step by step guides" rule.

Also there are a few pitfalls with lighting circuits that mean it's not safe to offer diagnostic advice.

Generally the feed in should go through the switch then to each light fitting with the neutrals from the light fittings returning to the feed in neutral.

Your dimmer may need it's own neutral, note just because there is a black wire there it may not necessarily be a neutral, it could be an unidentified switched live.

And when someone has been in and messed the whole lot around it just becomes a PITA.

Thanks, I tried making a 'loop' (from the mains in to the dimmer, to the first lamp to the second etc) but it just stayed on. Tbh i am a bit tired, so i will give it another go next week and if i can't get it to work i might just get someone in. What confused me was when i looked online it suggested grouping the 3 live wires together but then i couldn't figure out how the light switch would act as the circuit breaker.

 

[magnoliafan89]

" friend worked on it"......

 

[SparkyAndGeorge]

how many switches were on it previously and is one of them a two way switch

 

[Chris McK]

" friend worked on it"......

lol yep, even i have enough sense to take a photo of wiring if i'm changing stuff, my 'friend' obviously didn't

 

[Baddegg]

You need to stop referring to this person as a friend they not your friend they at home with lights that turn on AND off

 

[Chris McK]

how many switches were on it previously and is one of them a two way switch

only one switch before, they are bedside lamps that had their own switch, a dimmer and replacement lamps were added today, just obviously he ----ted up where the wiring went