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Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Question & Answer Forum
I am replacing a dimmer with a smart one. Can I do some clean up in this back box?
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<blockquote data-quote="Chaoscontrol" data-source="post: 538526" data-attributes="member: 35987"><p>This backbox in my lounge has an old dimmer switch with a metal plate. Since it has no earth I was recommended to replace it, plus I want to use smart switches all around anyway.</p><p></p><p>I got my new smart switch (no neutral) but it's quite thick and there's a lot in this back box. </p><p></p><p>This back box has 2 red wires connected to the dimmer, and then a yellow cable connected from the switch to a joint covered with tape, where 3 more red cables end. No clue what that joint controls. There's no extra lights anywhere. If there was way before we bought the house, we don't know where and don't plan to use them.</p><p></p><p>My questions are:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Is the yellow cable doing anything? Can I remove it to remove clutter?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Is there any way I can clear some space? For example disconnecting the joint and taping each cable individually? Or is that really bad practice? (worse than leaving the joint there anyway) At the moment there's no way my switch fits here. I'm thinking on 3D printing a surround plate + spacer to add thickness to it, but it will need quite a lot of extra space and will look bad.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">All cables in there are red. Any other switch in the house is colour coded, it's just this one. Can I mark one of the 2 red cables being used with black tape that I have? Which one should be marked? The one coming from the light, or the other one?</li> </ul><p>Many thanks!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Chaoscontrol, post: 538526, member: 35987"] This backbox in my lounge has an old dimmer switch with a metal plate. Since it has no earth I was recommended to replace it, plus I want to use smart switches all around anyway. I got my new smart switch (no neutral) but it's quite thick and there's a lot in this back box. This back box has 2 red wires connected to the dimmer, and then a yellow cable connected from the switch to a joint covered with tape, where 3 more red cables end. No clue what that joint controls. There's no extra lights anywhere. If there was way before we bought the house, we don't know where and don't plan to use them. My questions are: [LIST] [*]Is the yellow cable doing anything? Can I remove it to remove clutter? [*]Is there any way I can clear some space? For example disconnecting the joint and taping each cable individually? Or is that really bad practice? (worse than leaving the joint there anyway) At the moment there's no way my switch fits here. I'm thinking on 3D printing a surround plate + spacer to add thickness to it, but it will need quite a lot of extra space and will look bad. [*]All cables in there are red. Any other switch in the house is colour coded, it's just this one. Can I mark one of the 2 red cables being used with black tape that I have? Which one should be marked? The one coming from the light, or the other one? [/LIST] Many thanks! [/QUOTE]
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I am replacing a dimmer with a smart one. Can I do some clean up in this back box?
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