600W dimmer switch

[pietherabbit]

I have a double switch in my living room, one for a wall light the other for 3 ceiling lights. We have recently replaced the ceiling lights with 3 chandeliers. Each Chandelier has 5 X 40W bulbs.

This is VERY bright, we would like to replace the double switch with a double (preferrably) dimmer.

I believe this means I need a dimmer capable of 600W, but the highest I can find is 60-400W. Whilst looking for Dimmer swithces I have seen some that are rated as 800Va, what does this mean.

Where can I find a dimmer that is up to the job

 

[securespark]

All standard double dimmers are unsuitable, as their capacity is not high enough. You can get 1kW dimmer, but you'd need to fit an extra box for the second.

These high-rated dimmers need space to cool down, hence they are only one gang and require deeper boxes in some cases. You could use grid dimmers, but even then the mfrs limit the numbers sharing a box.

 

[breezer]

ah, but @ 40w they are probably not halogens so dimmer may not need de-rating

 

[RF Lighting]

ah, but @ 40w they are probably not halogens so dimmer may not need de-rating

Presuming that one switch of the double dimmer is going to be used to switch the three fittings (as I understand the post) then

5 x 40 x 3 = 600W without derating.

 

[pietherabbit]

Thanks.

No the bulbs are not halogen.

Looks like I will have to split the two seperate circuits so that they use different boxes. One dimmer will do the wall light (60w bulb) and the other will do the 3 chandeliers, which add up to 600W ( 3 X 5 X 40w candle bullbs).

I will look for a 1Kw dimmer and appropriate back box

If I have to use a deeper box then I will have to dig out more room from the wall. The wall is an internal supporting wall made of plaster board, an air gap and is only a single breeze block deep.

 

[plugwash]

cutting backbox sized holes in brick or block walls shouldn't have any significant impact on thier strength.