House lighting - wiring question
 

Up my stairs and landing there is not much natural daylight, so as part of the last bit of renovation my old house needs I've put in a whole bunch of those mains voltage halogen downlighters (10 of them in all).

Fine in the daytime, but a bit bright at night. So, I now want to fit a dimmer switch for them. .

I took the mains supply for the lights from the junction box (not the ceiling rose) that fed the original pendant light and then did away with the pendant. The light switches are the usual hallway/landing two way affairs with one switch at the top and one at the bottom of the stairs.

I had a quick look in Homebase (I only had 10 minutes before I needed to be somewhere else), but none of the dimmer switches had much info on them except for an installation card that was folded up in the pack that you couldn't read.

So, a couple of questions. Can you get dimmer switches that work in a two way circuit? I would only want one switch to be the dimmer. Second, I was fixated by the two-way question and didn't look to see if an ordinary common or garden dimmer can handle 500 watts worth?

Dimmers can be found in single or 2 way operation & they are typically rated at about 300watts. I'm sure if you hunt around enough you may find a 2 way one exceeding 500watts.

Yes, you can get them for higher wattages but they usually require a deeper back box. Also, if you only fit one dimmer the second (ordinary) switch would likely switch the lights on at full brightness. Go to a local electrical supply merchant.

[Edited on 15-2-2005 by Felix]

I hope you are'nt doing your own wiring now that Part 'P' has come into operation??!!;):D
Yeah you can get dimmers that can handle 500W.As suggested before,try at an Electrical Wholesalers,(plenty in the Bedford area) rather than B&Q,Wickes etc.
If you need a two gang switch for the hall/landing,you may have to buy a "grid" switch.(i.e one ordinary 1 way and one dimmer)These are switches that you can make up to your own needs.You buy the front plate and yolk or grid,then fit in whatever switches you require.Crabtree or MK make these.

I suggest that you change your 50 watt bulbs for 35 watt ones, you will not notice a great deal opf difference in the light output and you will find it easier to find a dimmer capable of handling 350 watts as opposed to 500 watts.

If you cant be arsed to trawl around the wholesalers,have a look in the Screwfix catalogue,I'm sure they have what you want.
www.screwfix.com

Part P permits the changing of fixtures and fittings without the need for a minor works certificate (self certification) or the involvment of a building control officer. So you can go ahead with changing socket fronts/light fittings/switches.
Not withstanding the fact that a qualified electrician would be carrying out the work (?).
I believe that there is a "probation" period upto 25th March, where you must complete any works started prior to 1st January if you are to avoid the Part P "entrapment".

Part P Q&A

KeefyB - don't run the lamps at dimmed all of the time, you will need to run them at full power every now and then just to keep the internal gasses/metals in vapour

Screw Fix 650va dimmer 1 gang 2 way

[Edited on 16-2-2005 by guest1]

[Edited on 16-2-2005 by guest1]

Part P? What the hell is that?

Nope, I'm not a qualified electrician as such, but I used to be a computer systems engineer working on mainframes. That included a lot of work on three phase stuff and complex wiring which I was qualified for....enough to cope with a lighting cicuit methinks, whatever Brussels may have to say about it.

Cheers for your help guys, I think we're sorted

Yes mate,I know.(I am a sparks!)
Its Jools with the dimmer query.:)

Apologies KeefyB, I'll get me coat (and a pair of glasses for when next on board).
There is no emoticon for blind as a bat - would it just be a circle wiv a mouth??