Newbie after advice how to install dimmer switch

[Groove Rida]

Hello peepz
Im new so howdi to all sparkies and experts in ere, keep up the good work.
I want to tackle swapping a single light switch in my kids bedroom from standard switch to dimmer switch. I bought a dimmer switch, 25m back box and a dimmer led light bulb. All the videos ive seen and forums ive read, the brown or red live wire goes in the centre common terminal and the neutral black or blue wire goes in L1. Is this correct?
Now what has thrown me is the wiring instructions with the dimmer switch give contradicing information? Looks like live going in L2 and neutral in common terminal, this cant be right? See attached picture.
Pls advise thankz Ice

 

[westward10]

If you only have two wires at your switch both are live so connect one to Com and the other to one of the L terminals, doesn't matter which way round as long as one is in Com. Can you show a pic of the wires at the switch to confirm.

 

[littlespark]

Ok. For a start, you don’t have a neutral connected to a switch. If there’s a blue, or a black it should be sleeved with brown or red to distinguish it as a switched live.

Is there only 2 wires at the switch? A photograph of the existing switches connections would be handy.

One wire goes to com, the other goes to either L1 or L2.

Please isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before unscrewing the switch from the wall.

 

[westward10]

Snap.

 

[littlespark]

Crackle

 

[westward10]

Pop.

 

[westward10]

Is the new switch plastic or metal?

 

[Groove Rida]

Rice krispies! But i rather have a bowl of coco pops!
Plastic switch and ill check the existing switch and wires tom as evening now so dont want to switch the power off ;-)

 

[littlespark]

Just a little note.
Just because an LED lamp says it’s dimmable, it may not be with a rotary style dimmer switch.

 

[Groove Rida]

What u mean? Which bulb should i get then?

 

[chris gray]

And there may be a minimum load for the dimmer

 

[Groove Rida]

U guys are great help

 

[Taylortwocities]

U guys are great help

This question gets asked about 20 times a week, so it's easy meat.
The fun really starts with a three phase question, or how to wire a DOL starter for a pump, or when a plasterer removes something and doesn't mark the wires first......

But seriously, if you didnt get a dimmer that is specifically for LEDs, then you may have problems.

 

[Groove Rida]

It said suitable with leds. Fitted it and it works. Quick question is it normal for little faint buzzing sound from the switch when in use?

 

[chris gray]

Yes

 

[Groove Rida]

Ok kool 15w equals 100w bulb, dimmer was suitable to 400w so enough power . Its very faint if you put your ear to switch. All good thankz for your help guyz

 

[chris gray]

15w equates to 100w output but not 100w load. Did the dimmer give a mimmum load?

 

[Groove Rida]

Yes see attached

 

[Taylortwocities]

Then you are ok for that load.
Please don’t get confused by this

15w equates to 100w output but not 100w load. ?

Lamp manufacturers state something like this to give your average punter some idea of the equivalent light output. What they mean that the light output of their 15w LED lamp is similar to what you might be expecting from one of the old style 100w bulbs.

To try and get away from this comparison, lamps are quoted as LUMENS. This is the amount of light output.
This is better, because the LUMEN output of a 15watt warm white LED lamp is vastly different to the LUMEN output of a 15watt cool white LED lamp.