I would like to have light dimmers and also be able to control from two places in a room. I believe if I simply wire two in parallel then the one set to the highest level will "win". I want either to have total control. I remember there were some light dimmer types that could also be pressed like a switch. Is it possible to have two light dimmers and be able to use either to control the lights, by means of pressing the button and making it "master" ?
Switched light dimmers to be used in parallel ?
- Thread starter akist
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Two way switches are not wired in parallel.
But you're right that two normal dimmers in a 2-way arrangement won't work.
You need a master-slave dimmer. Could be touch controlled, remote, both, have twiddly knobs - it's up to you. But master-slave is the vital aspect.
Please spend a bit of time learning how lighting circuits, 2-way switching etc, are wired, and how it all works, before you try to replace them. Electrical-installation-by-guesswork is not the best of ideas....
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Master and slave may seem to be in parallel, however not quite that easy, there is normally a extra low voltage wire between the two switches that tell the master what to do.
For a British electronic switch to work, the light needs to draw a minimum amount of current which is used to drive the electronics. Adding extra switches often means the current also goes up. Be it a PIR triggered, remote control, or dimmer, the lamp needs to pass some current to work the switch, so switch on a light, then remove and refit light bulb, and light is off again.
Non British switches may have a neutral connected and work different.
For a British electronic switch to work, the light needs to draw a minimum amount of current which is used to drive the electronics. Adding extra switches often means the current also goes up. Be it a PIR triggered, remote control, or dimmer, the lamp needs to pass some current to work the switch, so switch on a light, then remove and refit light bulb, and light is off again.
Non British switches may have a neutral connected and work different.
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