What have I done!!!

[andyfl]

Hello,

I built two chandelier style lights today that I designed and was feeling good. I hung the first, fitted a dimmer and it works a treat. I hung the next one but I fitted a 400w dimmer when I only needed a 250. The lights came on but the dimmer would not dim or switch of the lights so I took it off. I just left the wires exposed but not touching while I fetched a new dimmer. I put the power back on and the lights are still on?

As you might tell by what I've written so far I am not an electrician There are only two wires. What can I have done wrong?

 

[DurhamSparky]

sounds to me like you have got the loop (perm feed) in where the switch wire should be!!

 

[Guest112]

agreed you have a feed from somewhere as durham mentioned must be the loop or permanrnt fee on the fitting, go to the fitting you should have a loop perm feed then a switch feed down to the switch and a switch wire from the switch controlling the fitting

BE CAREFULL WITH ELECTRICITY

 

[telectrix]

sounds like it. double check the connections at the fitting.

 

[cjp1]

The 400w rating of your switch is fine for a 250w load, as Durham says you have probably got your light fitting connected into the loop which is always live while the circuit is energised.
This is a common problem when people replace the celing rose with a fitting.

 

[Guest112]

yep listen to durham and cjp1 theres your problem sorted

 

[andyfl]

Hey. I was sitting wondering why no one had looked at my thread and here I have 3 answers! That's really great of you thanks. It's gone dark so I'll check the fitting in the morning. It will have to stay on all night Your answers make sense. I thought there were only two options in the ceiling rose. I should have looked with my glasses on! Isn't getting old great

 

[cjp1]

I tend to find people remove the ceiling rose they have all these cables poking out of the ceiling the switch drop is wired in 2 colour t&e the sleeving falls off of the switch wire so this now looks like a neutral all colours together in connector blocks they turn on the mcb switch on the light switch and the breaker trips.
or they remove the ceiling rose they have all these cables poking out of the ceiling the switch drop is wired in single colour t&e switch wire or singles all colours together in connector blocks they turn on the mcb and the light is permanently on and the switch does not opperate the light.

 

[DurhamSparky]

or they panic and stuff it all back together cause the missus will kill them then ring a spark saying it worked this morning!! whats happened

 

[Knobhead]

Sorry to pour cold water on the situation. But if you have connected the dimmer feed and return across the supply you’ve most likely fried it….. Sorry.

 

[cjp1]

or they panic and stuff it all back together cause the missus will kill them then ring a spark saying it worked this morning!! whats happened

And when you walk through there front door you trip over the box for the new light fitting

 

[DurhamSparky]

hahahah!!View attachment 8504View attachment 8505

apparently just stopped working!!!

 

[dianaaherne]

Hello,

I built two chandelier style lights today that I designed and was feeling good. I hung the first, fitted a dimmer and it works a treat. I hung the next one but I fitted a 400w dimmer when I only needed a 250. The lights came on but the dimmer would not dim or switch of the lights so I took it off. I just left the wires exposed but not touching while I fetched a new dimmer. I put the power back on and the lights are still on?

As you might tell by what I've written so far I am not an electrician There are only two wires. What can I have done wrong?

Hi there...


I think you cannot install the dimmer properly. So, you have to select a switch of the dimmer that has a rated capacity high enough and easily handle the combined wattage of all the bulbs in the chandelier added together.