Dimmer switch

beachBOYken

beachBOYken

beachBOYken

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So Im attempting to do a few lighting jobs at present, just got an LED kitchen light to replace an old ceiling light with spotlights.

I have 2 light switches either end of the kitchen, the new light is dimmable.

Is there a certain dimmer switch I need to get if I need to replace 2 light switches with dimmers?

Or better case I could take one switch out and just put a blank plate in place and have one dimmer switch, in this scenario could I just get one way dimmer switch?
 
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Same light currently controlled by either switch? Commonly known as a "2 way" switch, the sort of setup for a light at the top of the stairs controllable either from upstairs or downstairs.

2 Way dimmers exist although I haven't used them personally, Screwfix offers LAP, BG and Varilight, all decent brands.

Another option would be to go with a smart setup where only one end actually controls the light and the other is a smart button sending messages to the other end, I've mainly done that in the past where I wanted to do something the wiring didn't already exist for.

EDIT: Dimmers are ususally "Leading edge" or "Trailing edge", generally you'd want "Trailing edge" for LED.
 
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uchuff said:
Same light currently controlled by either switch? Commonly known as a "2 way" switch, the sort of setup for a light at the top of the stairs controllable either from upstairs or downstairs.

2 Way dimmers exist although I haven't used them personally, Screwfix offers LAP, BG and Varilight, all decent brands.

Another option would be to go with a smart setup where only one end actually controls the light and the other is a smart button sending messages to the other end, I've mainly done that in the past where I wanted to do something the wiring didn't already exist for.

EDIT: Dimmers are ususally "Leading edge" or "Trailing edge", generally you'd want "Trailing edge" for LED.
Click to expand...

Good to know, yep it would be a 2 way switch, I might just put a blank plate on one of the switches maybe as one switch doesn’t really get used.
Thanks for the info.
 
It seems most dimmers are 2way as standard now, but just thinking could I have a 2way dimmer one end of the kitchen and keep the standard switch at the other end?
 
beachBOYken said:
It seems most dimmers are 2way as standard now, but just thinking could I have a 2way dimmer one end of the kitchen and keep the standard switch at the other end?
Click to expand...

Thats how my dining room is setup

Most are but you need to ensure dimmer is LED compatible its a different technique to dim an LED vs a traditional bulb
 
beachBOYken said:
It seems most dimmers are 2way as standard now, but just thinking could I have a 2way dimmer one end of the kitchen and keep the standard switch at the other end?
Click to expand...

do you need a modern house with a Live as well as neutral in the switch boxes to do that and avoid needing a dimmer at both ends, though ?

[ I can't see any wiring diagrams on google that show install - just the usual smart type dimmers which you could put near the rose that would provide the dimming via HA,#
and also need led bulbs that allow some current through the bulb to power them ]
 
jpaul said:
do you need a modern house with a Live as well as neutral in the switch boxes to do that and avoid needing a dimmer at both ends, though ?

[ I can't see any wiring diagrams on google that show install - just the usual smart type dimmers which you could put near the rose that would provide the dimming via HA,#
and also need led bulbs that allow some current through the bulb to power them ]
Click to expand...

No idea, talking of neutral wires the led ceiling light I’m getting doesn’t require a neutral wire?
Something about class 2 electrical classification.
 
beachBOYken said:
Might do that then, so say I switch on standard switch, it will be full brightness. I can then turn on the dimmer and set the brightness.
Click to expand...

Yep exactly how it works

Historically it wasnt advised to have multiple dimmers although not sure if that applies to LEDs, maybe if they are smart they would work independently

Actually not sure I get what your saying.

Say dimmer is set to 50%
Turning either switch on will set the lights to 50%

Either switch will turn te lights on or off, the level the dimmer is set to will be the same which ever switch your using
 
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Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Yep exactly how it works

Historically it wasnt advised to have multiple dimmers although not sure if that applies to LEDs, maybe if they are smart they would work independently

Actually not sure I get what your saying.

Say dimmer is set to 50%
Turning either switch on will set the lights to 50%

Either switch will turn te lights on or off, the level the dimmer is set to will be the same which ever switch your using
Click to expand...

Ah , not used a dimmer before so not sure how they turn on and off, so basically I can set it to a brightness on the dimmer then turn off and it will stay at that brightness next time I turn on be it the dimmer or standard switch?

Hope that makes sense,lol.
 
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beachBOYken said:
Ah , not used a dimmer before so not sure how they turn on and off, so basically I can set it to a brightness on the dimmer then turn off and it will stay at that brightness next time I turn on be it the dimmer or standard switch?

Hope that makes sense,lol.
Click to expand...

They do vary but recent ones I have you push the dimmer to turn it on and off and turn it to adjust the brightness

Very old ones were just a turn nob from off (0% in effect) to turn it fully the other way to hit 100%

Hope thats clear? :)

This for example is push on off, and has LED capability, in fact LED only which is a transition that seems to be happening
Edit (not LED only doh!)

 
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Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
They do vary but recent ones I have you push the dimmer to turn it on and off and turn it to adjust the brightness

Very old ones were just a turn nob from off (0% in effect) to turn it fully the other way to hit 100%

Hope thats clear? :)

This for example is push on off, and has LED capability, in fact LED only which is a transition that seems to be happening
Edit (not LED only doh!)

Click to expand...

That’s exactly what I was looking at, I will just need to check the back box depth first.
Thanks for the help.
 
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