Help needed with installing 2 Busch Dimmers
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maxabelard
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Help needed with installing 2 Busch Dimmers

by maxabelard » Sat May 28, 2016 3:04 pm

Double-Gang Dimmer and Dual Rocker Switch.jpg
Have just moved to Germany, and have a room with a double-gang system, the lower is a rotary dimmer which controls the lights in the kitchen, the upper is a double rocker switch that simply turns living-room lights on or off. So, I want to replace the double-rocker switch with dimmer as well. I went and bought the same type of Busch dimmer as the one that controls the kitchen lights and tried to fit it, the problem is that I now have the new rotary dimmer fitted, but when you turn it on, it switches both kitchen and living-room lights on. Moreover, it is dimming the living-room; and the other Dimmer for the kitchen does not dim, it only switches the light on or off. So I have two dimmers, one works as on/off switch for both Dimmers (don't want this, want them to be independent) and dims itself, but other Dimmer will not switch on/off independently and does not dim!!? The existing wiring was 1 black wire and 2 yellow wires coming into top double-rocker, and 1 black wire coming into rotary Dimmer. Between both dimmer and rocker was a single brown traveler wire crossing between. I have tried simply to replicate the wiring but to no avail. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. The kitchen lights ….4 x 30 watts. The living room light 4x60 watts
Notes on photos:
(i) Front view of Busch Dimmers: Original wiring was as the photo shows, except that the rocker switch on the left (now the new dimmer) had both yellow wires going to it (see photo). I changed this as dimmer were not dimming, and placed wire across to second dimmer, which briefly made both dimmers work. (ii) Front Overhead view of Dimmers: the orange wire in photos is in fact the Black wire (extended). (iii) The rear-view of the original Rocker switch (to Kitchen, no. 5 on block) had Brown wire going to Top Far Right (right of the ‘L’ ) next to which was the Black wire. I hope this explains things a bit better.
Many Thanks Max
Attachments
Front view of Busch Dimmers.jpg
Two Dimmers in Place.jpg
Wiring of Both Dimmers.jpg

ericmark
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Re: Help needed with installing 2 Busch Dimmers

by ericmark » Mon May 30, 2016 3:02 am

I would think you need a German forum, this one is British and our system may work with same voltage but we use a different system to control lights and wire sockets. German sockets in UK don't comply with our regulations.

maxabelard
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Re: Help needed with installing 2 Busch Dimmers

by maxabelard » Mon May 30, 2016 11:39 am

Hi ericmark,

Yes, you right it appears so. I was hoping you might be able to tell something of what is going on from wiring.

As far as I understand, only 1 of the rocker's is in use and controls the living-room light, and the dimmer controls the Kitchen. Seeing that there were 2 faceplates (Dimmer & Rocker) connected by a single frame I assumed that they both had their own live, but I believe that they are sharing the source live. So, my question now is, can I install 2 individual dimmers (1 already there) which both share the same live, without them interfering with each other? Thanks again for your help. P.s. I don't as yet speak German, so difficult with the Forums here; also my experience so far is that they are not too forthcoming with this info, and currently I am not in a position to pay the 300 bucks quoted by local Electrician.

ericmark
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Location: Llanfair Caereinion, Mid Wales.

Re: Help needed with installing 2 Busch Dimmers

by ericmark » Tue May 31, 2016 5:14 pm

RS Components it seems stock the dimmers you want to used so http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/ ... AuMd8P8HAQ the link should take you to an English instructions.

It would seem unlike UK systems both line and neutral go to the switch.

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