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Replacing a double lightbulb switch with a single dimmer switch

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  • 22-02-2018 1:30pm
    #1
    oxygen
    Registered Users Posts: 852 ✭✭✭


    hey

    Apologies, this might be too technical a question to answer without pictures or diagrams...

    When I got my house wired I got 6 down lights put in the sitting room. The electrician wired a switch with 2 switches on it, each turn on and off 3 of the lights. This is a bit pointless so I want to change it for 1 dimmer switch. Is this a big wiring job i.e. is is something I could take on myself? I've asked 3 electricians so far, who all said they would come out to look at it, but none of them did. Its too small a job.

    Also, can I install a dimmer switch on to any type of light? I want to pick up a pack of these this evening and change all 6 of them. What I have in at the moment are the old uneffeciant lights...

    https://www.aldi.ie/led-mini-globe-bulb-gu10-4w-10-pack/p/083046202461001


    thanks!


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    #2
    wait4me
    Registered Users Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭wait4me


    Make sure that whatever GU10 LED bulbs that you buy are dimmable - if you want to put a dimmer switch in to control them. The ALDI ones in the link are not dimmable AFAIK.


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    #3
    oxygen
    Registered Users Posts: 852 ✭✭✭oxygen


    wait4me wrote: »
    Make sure that whatever GU10 LED bulbs that you buy are dimmable - if you want to put a dimmer switch in to control them. The ALDI ones in the link are not dimmable AFAIK.

    thanks, I'll have a look at them in the store this evening...

    actually, you are correct, they are not dimable...
    https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/light-bulbs/aldi-gu10-spotlight-35w

    Same question still stands to any electricians who might know, I still want to replace a double switch with a dimmer switch


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    #4
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    oxygen wrote: »
    thanks, I'll have a look at them in the store this evening...

    actually, you are correct, they are not dimable...
    https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/light-bulbs/aldi-gu10-spotlight-35w

    Same question still stands to any electricians who might know, I still want to replace a double switch with a dimmer switch

    Its should be a simple job connection wise, no extra wiring is involved, just the combining of 2 switch wires together into one terminal of dimmer, and possibly feed and loop feed to be combined also into other terminal, if its not an end of line switch.

    A picture of back of existing switch with wiring still connected and its easier for anyone who might want to explain.


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    #5
    aido79
    Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 5,374 Mod ✭✭✭✭aido79


    As said above its a simple job. You just need to make sure that if you are getting LED's that the dimmer switch is compatible with the LED's as not all of them are. You will most likely need a trailing edge dimmer.


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    #6
    oxygen
    Registered Users Posts: 852 ✭✭✭oxygen


    Thanks guys, I'm going to look into that over the weekend


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    #7
    alan4cult
    Registered Users Posts: 1,583 ✭✭✭alan4cult


    Hey OP,

    It can easily be done yes regarding converting two switches to 1, the problem is the dimmer. if you use a standard dimmer the LED GU10s will flicker. To solve this problem you have two options:

    1. Use 5 LED bulbs and 1 halogen to hold the load of the dimmer.
    2. Buy a special LED dimmer e.g. a Varilight V Pro, little bit more expensive.


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