Replacing two-way switch with dimmer.

[suffolkspark]

take it back, get a normal 1 gang 2 way dimmer.

wire like this
red from twin cable into L1
black from twin cable into L2

red from 3core cable into common (C)
yellow from 3 core cable into L1
blue from 3 core cable into L2

and bring the cpc (earth) cables that are currently tucked in the back of the box and terminate them on the front plate where it shows

(ensure the pull cord is also wired red - c, yel - l1 blue - l2

 

[Adam W]

Well, it hasn't been needlessly complicated..

Well it has, otherwise you wouldn't have had to come on an electrical forum to ask how to wire this up. Ordinarily you wouldn't have this "thick grey cable with a red stripe" either.
The dimmer you've bought is wired differently to the switch you've taken out, and as mentioned you'd need a momentary switch on the other end. A 'standard' rotary dimmer would be wired in much the same way as the old switch, ie less complicated.

 

[Toneyz]

Well, it hasn't been needlessly complicated. If I am having a bad morning and I'm unable to get out of bed and to the door to turn the light on, I need something with me on the other side of the room. I also never said I wanted to be able to dim the lights from the pull switch - just to maintain the ability to turn the light on and off from either side of the bedroom.

In that case, just forget this retractive switching and get a 1
gang 2way dimmer suitable for the lamp(s)in the room.

 

[Rybeast]

Success!!

I’ve changed a plug socket tonight, which was an absolute nightmare. How do you all line up the screws well enough?

My lighting has had some success too. I managed to install the dimmer, it now works. I am able to turn the light off from my bed! The two-way switch is working! There is, however, something strange going on. Whilst the pull-cord at the bed does work with the dimmer switch, it depends on what’s happened as to whether the switches are going to work or not. Example - I tested to make sure the dimmer worked, it does. I then checked my pull-cord to see if that also works. It does. They don’t sync with each other though. Sometimes I can switch on at the dimmer, but not off at the pull cord. Similarly, I can sometimes seitch the light on at my bed, but not off at the dimmer... Any ideas/solutions?

 

[littlespark]

Tel actually had a good idea earlier in the thread that I missed.
Fit a remote controlled switch. Something cheap like lightwaverf.
Normal room switch works as a dimmer, and you can get a battery powered remote that looks like a switch, screw that to the wall next to the bed.

 

[Richard Burns]

Success!!

I’ve changed a plug socket tonight, which was an absolute nightmare. How do you all line up the screws well enough?

My lighting has had some success too. I managed to install the dimmer, it now works. I am able to turn the light off from my bed! The two-way switch is working! There is, however, something strange going on. Whilst the pull-cord at the bed does work with the dimmer switch, it depends on what’s happened as to whether the switches are going to work or not. Example - I tested to make sure the dimmer worked, it does. I then checked my pull-cord to see if that also works. It does. They don’t sync with each other though. Sometimes I can switch on at the dimmer, but not off at the pull cord. Similarly, I can sometimes seitch the light on at my bed, but not off at the dimmer... Any ideas/solutions?

The blindingly obvious solution is the information you have previously been given and ignored, that the pull cord is the wrong type for that dimmer switch. If you operate the switch with the existing pull cord then you should operate the switch twice, because the switch is only meant to be momentary so you should switch the pull cord on then off. for each operation you want. IfF you leave it in the wrong position you will probably burn out the dimmer over time as it is not designed for that use.

 

[a-z electrics]

Or firstly cut the wires near the switch terminals and Leave the bits in the old switch still having a bit of insulation left.. this last bit most important!

 

[Octopus]

My lighting has had some success too. I managed to install the dimmer, it now works. I am able to turn the light off from my bed! The two-way switch is working! There is, however, something strange going on. Whilst the pull-cord at the bed does work with the dimmer switch, it depends on what’s happened as to whether the switches are going to work or not. Example - I tested to make sure the dimmer worked, it does. I then checked my pull-cord to see if that also works. It does. They don’t sync with each other though. Sometimes I can switch on at the dimmer, but not off at the pull cord. Similarly, I can sometimes seitch the light on at my bed, but not off at the dimmer... Any ideas/solutions?

Ideas - yes , its not installed correctly.

Solutions - more fiddling is required.

or call somebody who knows what they are doing?

 

[Adam W]

I suppose this is the difference between a DIYer and a professional electrician - whereas the OP seems happy to congratulate himself on a 'partial success' there are others here who would argue that it doesn't work properly.

 

[Toneyz]

What colours and terminal markings are in the pull cord