Replacing light dimmer switch, quick question about wattage.

[Xandros]

Hello. I have two lights in one room controlled by a dimmer switch, I put two 20w energy saving bulbs in the sockets a while back (special ones that work with dimmers), but they'd often flicker at lower light levels and after a while the switch stopped working all together.

I later found out about how these dimmer switches have a minimum wattage requirement as well as a maximum.

My question is, if I buy a dimmer switch that has a minimum rating of 40w, will that be OK with two 20w rated energy saving bulbs? Or should I look to get a dimmer switch with an even lower minimum watt requirement just to be on the safe side?

 

[riveralt]

My question is, if I buy a dimmer switch that has a minimum rating of 40w, will that be OK with two 20w rated energy saving bulbs? Or should I look to get a dimmer switch with an even lower minimum watt requirement just to be on the safe side?

Quite a lot of dimmers switches won't work with energy saving bulbs full stop.
If you buy a dimmer that has a min rating of 40w and buy two 20w bulbs then you might as well buy a standard switch because the lights will either be on or off.
Most dimmers have a range - to get the best out of the dimmer the total wattage should be nearer the maximum rather than the minimum.

 

[Xandros]

Well I had noticed with the old switch that there wasn't much range in the light level when adjusting it but there was at least enough of one to make a difference.

A minimum rating of 40w so far seemed to be the only dimmer I could find though. Most others I've come across are rated 60w and above which just aren't going to work. I'll keep looking but presumably I need one that is rated a lot lower than 40w for it to be at least vaguely compatible, even if it doesn't produce very good light ranges.

 

[Xandros]

I've come up with this.

Should do the trick.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I've come up with this.

Should do the trick.

There's only one way to find out!

PS This may help...

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/Systems/Dimmer_Selector_June_2011_A.pdf