B&Q Touch Dimmers

[Earthworm Jim]

Hi Chaps

I recently bought some B&Q touch dimmers to install in my dining room and I have just put them in but for some reason they dont seem to work.

All that happens is the lights turn on as soon as I put the power back on at the electrical box, but then its almost like its a duff controller. The instructions do say that they can work in a one way circuit (which I presume is just on and off).

Now there are 3 wire terminals marked:

1) Live
2) Slave
3) Load

Now I have followed the diagram and wired the red wire to live and the black wire to load and nothing to slave as in the diagram. Could it be that I have wired it all wrong? Or what, the only I can turn the lights off now is if I either disconnect the switch or turn the entire light circuit off.

[ChorleyMatt]

Is it the GET flat plate type? (3 small rectangular buttons in the middle of the plate)

If so, it may be a duff unit, we have two of these in the kids bedrooms (and the remote version in the living room). When a lamp blew recently it killed the dimmer, leaving the other spots permanently on. I had to buy the replacement as ours are out of warranty but if yours is a new unit they should exchange it no problem.

[Earthworm Jim]

Hi Matt

Its these ones

Varilight Intelligent Touch/Remote Dimmer Multi-Way White, IQI601M

It happens on both units I have in my dining room so not sure 2 units went at the same time (I have 2 light witches in my dining room, the previous owners were noobs when it came to wiring this place)

[ChorleyMatt]

Ah, a different type (this is the one I have, which I can never find on the B&Q website!) but it could well be the same fault - they're both the electronic type so I guess they all operate in the same way. From memory I'm sure you've wired it correctly so I'd suggest whipping round to B&Q for an exchange, they've been pretty good with me whenever I've needed to return faulty items.

EDIT: I've just read your bit about having two - are they on the same circuit? (ie: both switches could switch on and off the same set of lights, like you'd have top and bottom of your stairs - aka a two way circuit)

[Earthworm Jim]

I think I'll do that too then.

I do have another one so I can try that one and see, I bought 3 I hope its not all 3 that are duff ones.

[ChorleyMatt]

Try a normal switch at one end if they're both operating the same two way circuit, iirc you can't use two dimmers on the same circuit.

[Russtavo]

Originally Posted by Earthworm Jim

Hi Matt

Its these ones

Varilight Intelligent Touch/Remote Dimmer Multi-Way White, IQI601M

It happens on both units I have in my dining room so not sure 2 units went at the same time (I have 2 light witches in my dining room, the previous owners were noobs when it came to wiring this place)

Wow B&Q are expensive, you can buy the same unit for half the price at TLC:

1 Gang 2 Way 600w IQ Master Remote Touch Dimmer Switch - White

[Earthworm Jim]

OK, I fixed it and got it working, because they were on a two way circuit I had to add in some extra circuit breakers and that fixed it.