Ligthing Grid switch

i've got a long narrow living room with 8 downlights in (two rows of 4) on one two gang dimmer switch so the dining area can be lit and the tv area in darkness or vice versa. After her indoors has re-arranged the furniture it needs to be a bit for "flexible"

I was looking at and 8 way grid (either switch or dimmer modules) and using 1x1.5mm feed looped into each switch and the switched lives -all 8 of them to each fitting.

can i daisy chain the neutrals or should i run one back from each fitting and to save on the sheer bulk in the box can I strip T&E down to use as single core (100m of single core is way more than I need - oe want to spend!) assuming i use one to T&E to provide the earth.

total load is only going to be 8x35w unless I go LED -are GU10 led lamps worth it?

turningtim said:

are GU10 led lamps worth it?

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I can't help you with the rest really, but avoid the LED lamps like the plague, they're godawful

We bought some for our kitchen and living room thinking 'great these run at 2w apiece equivalent to the 50w/lamp we were using, that'll same us some power'

Put them in and couldn't see a thing, they were extremely directional. I think better ones do exist, but be prepared to pay...

turningtim said:

I was looking at and 8 way grid (either switch or dimmer modules)

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You'll go mental trying to dim 8 lights individually.

can i daisy chain the neutrals or should i run one back from each fitting

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Either.

and to save on the sheer bulk in the box can I strip T&E down to use as single core

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Yes, as long as you install it in conduit.

(100m of single core is way more than I need - oe want to spend!)

Click to expand...

Don't forget to allow for the cost of all the conduit.


Could you wire the lights in pairs, and have the loop in the ceiling? You'd only need one T&A and one 3C&E then (and some JB jiggery pokery in the ceiling void), and if you use 1.0mm² you shouldn't have a bulk problem. Also you'd get away with a normal switch, not a big grid affair.

Alternatively if you want flexibility, and different scenarios, you could use an automation system. (But not X10).

http://www.cyberselect.co.uk/range/1043

scene controller..

does 4 lights ( or banks of so use in pairs etc ), dimming, with optional remote switches..

fits 47mm double backbox and can be used with a remote.. ( get a learning one and set it so that turning the tv on dimms the lights etc.. ).

you can wire the lights in pairs, or 3 and 1 or 4 and 2 etc to suit your setup..

1 live wire in so no need to loop to the other switches..

you can buy single brown and earth cable for running just the switch wires as well as single blue and earth for running the neutrals.. ( 6241Y is the number of the cable..)

Thanks Guys, we (thats the royal "we") have reached a compromise of 4 pairs of lights, given its two rows of 4 that still leave plenty of options for wiring!