Fan/Light Dimmer switch

[mattyboy]

I have a two gang light switch outside my bathroom, one of which controls the light and one controls the extractor fan. I want the light to be a dimmer switch, but i know that the fan can only be off/on. I only have room for one light switch box on the wall. I have bought this dimmer switch thing off ebay with no instructions - it looks like a regular dimmer switch except it has a picture of a fan on the knob. I was led to believe this would allow an on/off for my fan, and a dimmer for my light, but on the back I only have a L1 socket and a C socket.

Surely with only two terminals I can't do what I wanted?

Hopefully someone can help!!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

No, you can't, you've been misled.

If you only have room for a single switch plate, you'll have to use a grid-plate system.

You can get 2-module grid plates:

And then you stick in a dimmer module and a switch module:

Robert's your father's brother.

 

[mattyboy]

Damn ebay, but to be fair the guy wasn't totally sure himself. ur, anyone want to by a dimmer?

That sounds fantastic, thanks for your reply and the pictures, where can i get those? Is there anywhere online?

Also, if were to plug both fan and light feed wires into the same terminal in the dimmer, would both light and fan dim in unison, or would there be lots of sparks(!!) (the common is fed from a fuse box thing)

 

[plugwash]

you should stick to just one brand for a grid assembly as there is no standard id personally advise MK (which is what bas pictured)

note: you will need a deep box probablly a 40mm

dimmer
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK4501.html

switch
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK4881.html

2 gang plate
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK3632.html

2 gang grid
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK3702.html

the grid screws into the backbox
the switch and dimmer clip into the grid
and then the frontplate screws onto the grid

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Also, if were to plug both fan and light feed wires into the same terminal in the dimmer, would both light and fan dim in unison, or would there be lots of sparks(!!) (the common is fed from a fuse box thing)

Err - the whole point of doing this, and the reason that we're suggesting 1 dimmer module and 1 switch module is that you can't put the fan on a dimmer. You yourself said "I want the light to be a dimmer switch, but i know that the fan can only be off/on"

You use the dimmer module for the lights, and the switch module for the fan.

You may have a common permanent live running to the switch & dimmer (i.e. live feed to one, then a short bit of cable strapping it to the other), but the output from the dimmer only goes to the lights, and the output from the switch only goes to the fan.

 

[mattyboy]

No, you're quite right, I was just wondering (especially as the dimmer has picture of a fan on it i wondered if it was suitable for dimming a fan wthout burning out it's motor!)

Thanks for your links, you've been most helpful. Now i've found these boards I may well be back in the future!!

 

[mattyboy]

Hang on, why are all those bits about £1-2 each except for the dimmer bit that is £26?!

 

[plugwash]

you will almost certainly be able to find a cheaper supplier of the parts if you can be bothered looking phoning wholesalers etc

dimmers are always one of the more expensive wiring accesories becase of their relatively complex active cuircuitry and the fact they are a relatively low volume product