Lighting wiring question

DominicB · Apr 6, 2017

Hi just a quick question,

I have a room that has a dressing area, the main room has it's own set of downlighters on one two way switch and the dressing area it's own set of downlighters on another two way switch. Both in the same backboxes, two gang two way.

My problem is that the load cable for the dressing area is in the dressing area and the load cable for the main room in the main room. I want to add a 2 gang dimmer switch in the main room that can dim the leds in both areas but looking at the manufacturers instructions the load side of each must be in the same backbox.

Is this the case?

[ElectriciansForums.net] Lighting wiring question

telectrix · Apr 6, 2017

you need to fit 2 dimmers. one to each set of lights. check with manufacturer of the LEDs as to which dimmer is suitable usually trailing edge with a min. load equal to or less thanthe sum of the wattage of eah set. varilight are a favourite choice.

westward10 · Apr 6, 2017

So you have a two gang switch you want to straight swap with a two gang dimmer?

DominicB · Apr 6, 2017

westward10 said:
So you have a two gang switch you want to straight swap with a two gang dimmer?

Yes it's a two gang two way and the load for 1 gang is on the other switch.

telectrix · Apr 6, 2017

click do a modular switch arrangement where on a 2 gang you can have rocker and dimmer just by swapping out the modules.

DominicB · Apr 6, 2017

telectrix said:
click do a modular switch arrangement where on a 2 gang you can have rocker and dimmer just by swapping out the modules.

modules look a little bit ugly can you get push buttons but just a switch and get a dimmer module next to it?

westward10 · Apr 6, 2017

Ah I see you want a two gang switch but only one of the switches is to dim?

telectrix · Apr 6, 2017

the click ones don't . they look loke ant "normal switch.

HandySparks · Apr 6, 2017

If the diagram in the OP is from the dimmer manufacturer, then you can see that it doesn't matter whether L and SL are connected at the dimmer or at the two way switch. I'd be pretty certain that a 2 gang dimmer will work fine.

davesparks · Apr 6, 2017

OP, if I have understood you correctly then you will be fine to fit the two gang dimmer as you planned, it doesn't matter which end of the two way circuit your live and switched live are connected to.

As I have understood the OP he is asking whether the L and SL have to connect to the dimmer module as it appears in the diagram or whether they can connect to the switch at the other end of the two way.