Wiring Fibaro

[Liquidchild 2]

Folks

I have finally got around to getting an electrican to look at wiring my fibaro kit... However it turns out I may have a (serious) issue! My lights all appear to have the live wire running directly to the switches and then a switch wire is taken from the switch to the light circuit. However it would appear fibaro expect the live wires to run directly to the light circuit (which I know is fairly common practice!)

So I was wondering...

• Has anyone else had a similar issue and if so what did you do?

• has anyone located the dimmer modules behind a lightswitch, was there any overheating issues etc.?

Thanks

S.

[martijnt 3]

If the cabling that goes to your wall switch sits in a pipe, you can add a neutral wire to it and insert your zwave switches behind the original switch.

If you have your switching cabling plastered into your wall you do have a problem indeed. But in that case you can switch to using Aeon Labs zwave switches that allow you to use the two wires that now go to your switch for exactly just that - to connect your existing light switch to the Aeon Labs switch. Look them up, especially the manual.

In my home in The Netherlands i had to run some additional neutral cabling into some places. You will probably have to do something here and there, so good luck.

[j.nowacki 5]

Our Dimmer do not need neutral wire to work. It can be connected with just 2 wires. Proper connection diagram was attached. Sometimes FIBARO Bypass may be needed if bulb is low-power one. Liquidchild could you please describe what you exactly have problem with? Our modules are designed to work behind switches, and installation you described look quite standard.

Please login or register to see this attachment.

[Liquidchild 2]

Guys

Thanks for the reply.

Firstly, just to clear up my current house wiring....

In my living room (as an example), i have 4 lighting circuits (2 dimmer, 2 LED), all these circuits are wired back to a single 4 gang switch. Now the live feed (and neutral - though not sure the neutral is used - could be wrong however), to these circuits comes directly from the fuseboard into the 4 gang lightswitch, there is then a number of wires (running up the wall), into the lights.

So my first thought would be to put the unit behind each switch, though my initial concern here is any potential fire hazard i may be creating! They backboxes of the switches are 35mm deep and already pretty packed with wiring so i am slightly concerned about placing another unit behind them given the potential heat that may come from the unit (fibaro dimmer) during its operation and the potential for that to melt any close by wiring etc. Perhaps I am being too cautious here if these units where designed for such a purpose but i want to be sure, as there will be very little air circulating behind the switch to provide any cooling... and i know in normal dimmer lightswitches there will be some residual heat created given the nature of a dimmer (i.e. it contains a coil).

My other option was to remove the switches completely from the rooms and just have the units placed in where the switch once was, with a blanking plate to cover them - not an ideal solution however as it now means that that my house will have to be controlled via my ipad!

[Starbug 0]

If you are in anyway unsure of the wiring I would recommend you get a qualified electrician to do the install.

In terms of the dimmer modules the most I have installed in a single gang backbox was a single dimmer and in a double gang back box is 2 dimmers. Im my experience the dimmers get a lot hotter than the relays. I personally would not be comfortable with any more. For the relays I have installed 3 relays in a 45mm deep double gang backbox. Ive pulled all mine out though now as currently moving house.

Maybe you should look at installing the dimmers in the ceiling at the lights assuming you have enough wires back to the switches.

[Liquidchild 2]

If you are in anyway unsure of the wiring I would recommend you get a qualified electrician to do the install.

In terms of the dimmer modules the most I have installed in a single gang backbox was a single dimmer and in a double gang back box is 2 dimmers. Im my experience the dimmers get a lot hotter than the relays. I personally would not be comfortable with any more. For the relays I have installed 3 relays in a 45mm deep double gang backbox. Ive pulled all mine out though now as currently moving house.

Maybe you should look at installing the dimmers in the ceiling at the lights assuming you have enough wires back to the switches.

Hi Starbug - it would definately be an electrician doing the work - while i am reasonably confident in that area, i will still be getting him to do it. Unfortunately my understanding is that wiring in the ceiling won't be an option as the live feed runs to the lightswitch, but it is good to know you have placed them behind the light switch without any issue, i.e. overheating etc...

[j.nowacki 5]

Liquidchild, you can mount dimmer behind switches without concern. They are compatible with EN 60669-2-1 which also states requirements for such way of placing your device. Electrical installation also allows use of FIBARO Dimmer, with diagram i attached before. However if want to use it with LED lights, be sure to use proper bulbs, also FIBARO Bypass may be needed. Of course if you are unsure about installation you should consult certified electrician for advice.

[Liquidchild 2]

Liquidchild, you can mount dimmer behind switches without concern. They are compatible with EN 60669-2-1 which also states requirements for such way of placing your device. Electrical installation also allows use of FIBARO Dimmer, with diagram i attached before. However if want to use it with LED lights, be sure to use proper bulbs, also FIBARO Bypass may be needed. Of course if you are unsure about installation you should consult certified electrician for advice.

Thanks - this is good to know.

My biggest issue in this regards i think will be my 4 gang switches, as fitting 3 Fibaro units behind it might be hard, but thats another issue that hopefully the electrician can deal with!

Please login or register to see this image.

/emoticons/default_icon_razz.gif" alt=":-P" />

[jonny 0]

From my experience, its much easier to get the modules in a 45mm+ back box. depending on the depth of the terminals at the back of the switch face plate.