Wanted Advice please: fitting a dimmer switch (it's more complicated than it sounds)...

[Lunar Scorpion]

I have a room with two light fittings and a double light switch on the wall. There is also a pull cord that controls one of the fittings. I was wondering how it would all work and if there's anything I need to be aware of, bearing in mind the extent of my electrical knowledge is I can just about change a plug...

 

[Gramaisc]

1, Do you really want a dimmer switch? It will only works with old-fashioned tungsten bulbs, not modern low-energy types, except the new LED ones.

2, It's a bit more complicated than changing a plug.

3, The boxes behind light-switches tend to be very cramped and this can make re-wiring them a bit awkward - especially as dimmer switches can be a bit more bulky themselves....

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

It would be better, as this room is a bedsitting room (bedroom/dining room/lounge) in a studio flat so it's the only room other than the bathroom and kitchen. (Unless you count the hallway as a room...) So yeah, having different levels of lighting would be useful. I also have quite small hands.

 

[Gramaisc]

Mmm, the potential for disaster is enormous - http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/DIMMER_SWITCH.htm - the onus is on you. You would need a double dimmer to control the lights separately.

Do make sure the supply is off.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Mmm, the potential for disaster is enormous - http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/DIMMER_SWITCH.htm - the onus is on you. You would need a double dimmer to control the lights separately.

Do make sure the supply is off.

Thanks, and I will have a look.

When I was lying in bed last night after posting this I did thing that I should have added something like "(apart from flicking the lighting trip switch to off)". I'm assuming that's how I do it, yeah?

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Oh, it tells me on the helpful page that you linked to.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Had a sneaky peak (and possibly risked electrocution LOL), the back box looks to be about 2cm, minimum (more likely to be close to 2.5cm). Is that enough?

 

[littleme]

It will only works with old-fashioned tungsten bulbs, not modern low-energy types, except the new LED ones.

Err yeah, do be careful with the type of bulb you use, husband had a fit at me a few weeks ago after I stuck a low energy bulb in our dimmer style lamp.... I quite liked the flashing disco effect, but husband seemed to think it would blow the whole of the electrics!

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

I currently only have one lightbulb in for the whole room as the other one blew a few weeks ago and I seem to have misplaced my spare ones so looks like I will have to get new ones anyway! LOL

 

[Andreas Rex]

1, Do you really want a dimmer switch? It will only works with old-fashioned tungsten bulbs, not modern low-energy types, except the new LED ones.

I had some dimmers fitted by Neon Jay last year and the bulbs are GU10s...

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

I have standard hanging bayonet light fittings...

 

[Andreas Rex]

I have standard hanging bayonet light fittings...

I have too. They're new fittings, but I can't see that making any difference.

 

[tek-monkey]

Are they halogen or led gu10s Rex? I had to replace my halogens, just the downstairs lights used a kilowatt per hour!

 

[Andreas Rex]

Are they halogen or led gu10s Rex? I had to replace my halogens, just the downstairs lights used a kilowatt per hour!

They're just normal Gu10s in the 2 front rooms and LEDs in the kitchen.

 

[tek-monkey]

When I moved in the front room used 6, the kitchen 8, the little room off the kitchen 4 and a further 4 in the downstairs toilet - all 50w per bulb!

EDIT: I recently put 3w LED bulbs in the kitchen, much brighter than the CFL ones I'd been using in the rest of the house. They cost about £2 each though, so £16 just on bulbs.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Sorted! (I only need two bulbs - I replaced the hall one a while back and the bathroom and kitchen are flickery type bulbs.)
http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/light-bulbs accessories/general-electric-es-bulb-20w-b22-bc-quick-start/invt/0308911/

 

[Gramaisc]

I had some dimmers fitted by Neon Jay last year and the bulbs are GU10s...

GU10 could be tungsten halogen (OK), LED (OK, usually) or CFL (not OK).

There are dimmable CFLs, in three stages normally, but they don't need a dimmer-switch - the whole thing is a minefield now....

Sorted! (I only need two bulbs - I replaced the hall one a while back and the bathroom and kitchen are flickery type bulbs.)
http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/light-bulbs accessories/general-electric-es-bulb-20w-b22-bc-quick-start/invt/0308911/

That bulb that you've quoted will not be dimmable. ( <-- Apparently, this statement is wrong. See below )

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Oh, I made the stupid assumption that it saying it's suitable to be used with a dimmer switch means it's dimmable... Never mind

 

[Gramaisc]

Oh, I made the stupid assumption that it saying it's suitable to be used with a dimmer switch means it's dimmable... Never mind

Oh.! Whoops.

Well, maybe it is, then - they've always been unsuitable until recently - it is possible to do, but they've been difficult to obtain.

Hopefully, that really is one of them - I just assumed, without reading it, that Wilko's were unlikely to sell such an exotic thing...

According to this - http://www.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/emea/images/CFL_Integrated_Lamps_Brochure_EN_tcm181-12577.pdf - some 'special types' are now dimmable. I would be very interested to know how you get on with them.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Cool, just got to check it's okay with the landlord then quite handily, I should be able to sort myself out with a dimmer switch and bulbs for less than £15 in Wilko (assuming they've got them in stock).