Light switch and a dimmer as well - possible?

[essdee]

Hi, am a newbie here, found the site by accident - it's really helpful. I would like to put in a light switch (main light on/off) and on the same switch have dimmer control for other lights in room - any idea if I can buy such a switch from anywhere? Have looked in B & Q and Ebay, usual good sources, but not this time!
If anyone could tell me a retailer for such a project I would be grateful.
Thanks for reading this and for any help in advance

 

[baz1968]

Try an electrical wholesaler, my local City Electrical has what your looking for on the shelf. Make sure that the back box of the switch is deep enough to accommodate the dimmer control and also that the dimmer is correctly rated for the attached load.

 

[daytona]

havent seen one with a switch and dimmer combined,never really looked though tbh,usually do it in grid switch format.

basically you buy a yoke to take the switch and dimmer(these are separate modules) and just click into the yoke to give you the desired effect.you then buy a cover plate to go over it.this maybe why you havent found anything.

just go into a wholesaler and tell them what you want to do and they will sort the rest out.

make sure you follow the advice given in the post above mine , also earth the yoke

 

[very_pointy_ears]

Indeed - I've got a two gang box with 2 grid dimmers and an on-off switch in a 3 way plate.

 

[essdee]

Indeed - I've got a two gang box with 2 grid dimmers and an on-off switch in a 3 way plate.

Ok, thanks for telling me that, but where did you buy it from..? Thanks for all replies, all very useful and will be sending husband to the local City Electrical shop tomorrow!!
Thank you everyone for being so helpful to a newbie (and a woman at that!!)

 

[RF Lighting]

You can get them online if you like.

Save Mr. essdee a trip out

& & &

 

[333rocky333]

If you want to go for modules
You can also get push on/off switches
They look the same as dimmers but DO NOT DIM and just switch.

One of them and a dimmer on a two gang plate look nice.
Hamilton make them

If not as others said go for dimmer and normal style switch from the mk gridswitch range.
Both ways will proberly need a deeper box .

 

[333rocky333]

You can get them online if you like.

Save Mr. essdee a trip out

& & &

Is that Mk , do city stock Mk ,they don't round here
Will that dimmer be ok upside down

 

[very_pointy_ears]

Ok, thanks for telling me that, but where did you buy it from..?

Just walked into my local electrical wholesalers. Go to yell.com, enter electrical wholesalers into the business type and enter your town and it'll show you ones near you. Or you can buy online, as RF Lighting says.

Make sure you get a deep enough pattress to accomodate the dimmer.

 

[ColJack]

screwfix sell them.. order for delivery, or find the nearest local store..
http://www.screwfix.com/cats/A331912/Electrical/Switches-Sockets/MK-Grid-Plus

it also depends on the load you want to switch though.. screwfix only list 220W dimmers.. not so good for downlighters..

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Will that dimmer be ok upside down

Yeah - it's back-to-front that causes problems.

 

[very_pointy_ears]

Will that dimmer be ok upside down

Yeah - it's back-to-front that causes problems.

PMSL