Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core & earth.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
.uk...
Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core &
earth.

It depends on the dimmer switch. If it only has two terminals for
supply/load, then
the answer is no.

/john

On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:54:17 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core & earth.


Yes, provided that it has a two way switch arrangement as well.

Some have this by alterately pressing the knob of the switch, for
example.

Obviously the dimming function will only be available for one end.

If you want something that does that, then it is likely to be the
province of one of the home automation sites which sell more
sophisticated lighting controller systems.


--

..andy

On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:54:17 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
mused:

Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core & earth.

Define 'normal'.

If by normal you mean '2 way', then yes. If by normal you mean '1 way'
then no.
--
Regards,
Stuart.

Lurch presented the following explanation :
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:54:17 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
mused:

Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core & earth.

Define 'normal'.

If by normal you mean '2 way', then yes. If by normal you mean '1 way'
then no.

It could be done by making the dimmer an extra switch position, in
circuit after the two way circuit, in other words - in the switch wire
to the light(s). That would provide lighting level control providing
the circuit was turned on first at one of the 2 way switches first.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 21:18:20 GMT, Harry Bloomfield
mused:

Lurch presented the following explanation :
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:54:17 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
mused:

Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core & earth.

Define 'normal'.

If by normal you mean '2 way', then yes. If by normal you mean '1 way'
then no.

It could be done by making the dimmer an extra switch position, in
circuit after the two way circuit, in other words - in the switch wire
to the light(s). That would provide lighting level control providing
the circuit was turned on first at one of the 2 way switches first.

That goes down as a bodge in my book. Far easier to just use a 2 way
dimmer, which does what you describe but in 1 unit.
--
Regards,
Stuart.

The Medway Handyman wrote:

Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core & earth.

Yup. If you want to dim for both ends however then you need a master /
slave dimmer set (see TLC). You can have many slaves to a master as well
if required.


--
Cheers,

John.

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| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
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"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
.uk...
Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core &
earth.

In general, yes. But unless it is a master-slave arrangement, then you could
be in the position that you can turn the light on and off from two or more
locations, but you always need to go back to the dimmer end to turn the
light up.

The only master-slave versions I've seen in the past, tended to be
push-button dimmers with the dimming circuit located up in the ceiling. You
could push up/down once to turn fulling up or fulling down, or hold the
buttons to cycle through the dimming range. These were used on flourescent
tubes and worked really well - on and off was always through a soft fade
up/down cycle.

-- JJ

On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:54:17 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core & earth.

Define "normal". Older ones wouldn't, the current production ones do
(and are labelled as such).

OTOH, modern dimmers seem to have negligible resistance to peak currents
during bulb failures killing them 8-(

On Mar 10, 8:54 pm, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
Will a normal dimmer switch work on a two way circuit? e.g. 3 core & earth.

--
Dave
The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

Hi

Have a look at the Varilight IQ touch dimmer range from TLC. They are
not much more expensive than a decent rotary dimmer and will do
exactly as you wish.

Regards,

Steve