2 dimmer switches

[MartinQ]

Our lounge ceiling light has two switches - one at each end of the room. I want to install dimmer switches. Is it possible to use two dimmer switches? What happens when both are on minimum, or one is max and one min?

[finlo]

Normally you would fit the dimmer at the feed end though nowadays that might not still be the case.

[MartinQ]

I'm not an electrician, but one switch has 2 wires into the com connection, while the other has one. Both have one each into L1 and L2.

I assume the switch with 2 coms is the feed?

[MartinQ]

I thought "sod it" and tried it anyway.

I wired up both dimmers and with both at minimum the light is off. When both at maximum, there is some strange flickering but nothing tripping out.

I've replaced the dimmer with the normal switch at the terminal with one com wire, and all seems well.

[Aviz]

I have a dimmer either end of my lounge for the main light. Using these, as i can also control all my lighting from the couch

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Acce...

Using 1 Master, and a slave.

[oOTomOo]

MartinQ said:

When both at maximum, there is some strange flickering but nothing tripping out.

Are you using energy saving light bulbs? IME they really don't like dimmer switches - try some standard ones..

[MartinQ]

oOTomOo said:

MartinQ said:

When both at maximum, there is some strange flickering but nothing tripping out.

Are you using energy saving light bulbs? IME they really don't like dimmer switches - try some standard ones..

I am using standard bulbs. It's with 5x40W bulbs in a candelabra type light. It works fine with just one dimmer.

Thanks Aviz - I'll probably give the master and slave idea a go.

[Ganglandboss]

MartinQ said:

Our lounge ceiling light has two switches - one at each end of the room. I want to install dimmer switches. Is it possible to use two dimmer switches? What happens when both are on minimum, or one is max and one min?

In a normal 2-way switching arrangement, you should have a normal 2-way switch at one end and a 2-way dimmer at the other. The 2 way dimmer is a 2-way switch with a dimmer controller in the circuit. You set the light level by turning it and push it to turn it on or off. The light level will always be what the dimmer knob is set at regardless of whether you push the dimmer knob or the standard switch at the other end.

You can, as others have said, get electronic systems that work differently.

I strongly recommend you get a competent electrician to do it.

[Solitude]

Ditto above.
2-way switching supports dimmers on one side only.
HOWEVER, did a job a couple of years ago with remote control infra red 2-way dimmers (again remote only at one end) luckily i read the gumf before hand as they require an extra cable between.
Unfortunately they were installed before building works were over, and they got ruined by the lunkheads "pushing" the buttons, and the endless dust!!!