Suitable dimmer switch?

[daverave7]

Hi All,

I'm looking for a dimmer switch to control my lighting (LEDs) in my living room. Essentially I have two lights with two switches (each switch either side of the room). The lights are either both on or both off. Is this one gang two way, or two gang two way?

I've had a look at one of the current switches and there's three wires going to L1 three, to L2 and three to C - I'm not sure why? Can someone recommend me a suitable dimmer switch that can replace one of the current switches and control both lights? Also any advice on wiring will be useful!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm looking for a dimmer switch to control my lighting (LEDs) in my living room.

Are they dimmable?

Until you establish that for certain, and find out what type of dimmer, there's not much anybody here can do for you.

Essentially I have two lights with two switches (each switch either side of the room). The lights are either both on or both off. Is this one gang two way, or two gang two way?

One gang, two gang, three gang...:

"Two-way" means you have two locations from which you can switch a light.

I've had a look at one of the current switches and there's three wires going to L1 three, to L2 and three to C - I'm not sure why?

Well, you really, really, REALLY should be sure.

Nobody is forcing you to do this - you are making a decision to do electrical work, so it behoves you to actually know how it works. Really know and genuinely understand.

• https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Lighting
  
  
• http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=electrical+circuits+101
  
  
• http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/House_Wiring_for_Beginners
  
  
• http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=uk+house+wiring+(basics+OR+101)
  
  
• http://kevinboone.net/electricity.html
  
  
• http://web.archive.org/web/20080213151445/http://www.kevinboone.com/domesticinstallations.html
  
  
• https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:books
  
  
• https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:index

Trying do do it without truly knowing what you are doing, possibly by hoping to follow instructions to put-this-wire-in-that-hole without knowing why is a foolish idea.

You have that many conductors at the switch because you have two lights and 2-way switching - it really is to be expected.

Can someone recommend me a suitable dimmer switch that can replace one of the current switches and control both lights?

Will you be happy with the situation where if you go to turn the lights on using the switch and not the new dimmer, they will come on at the level the dimmer has them set to, so if that's not what you want you'll have to go to the dimmer to change it?

Also any advice on wiring will be useful!

q.v.

Bear in mind that if you change how wires are currently connected to switches and/or each other you should not be surprised, or dismayed, if things no longer work the way they currently do.