i have two light fittings in my hallway which work off two separate switches at each end of hallway. After connecting new light fittings, the light bulbs have dimmed dramatically, what would cause this to happen?

martina, April 2010

It sounds to me as if you have wired your lights in series like this -------L1------L2------ what you need to do is wire them in parallel like this
---------I---------------------------!
L1 L2
---------!---------------------------!
Look up these key words on the internet.
Alternatively bribe any school kid of 15+ passing to explain the difference.
Test - remove one light bulb and switch on - if the other bulb doesnt then work they are in series.
Could it be all is well but you have used lower wattage bulbs?

best wishes Nyge, March 2011

You have very probably miswired them and put the lamps in series rather than parallel - each lamp only seeing half the available voltage. You can prove this theory by removing one bulb - if in series then the other dim lamp will go out.

Call an electrician

Take care...

Peccavi, April 2010