Dimmer on 2 way lighting.

[The Medway Handyman]

Am I right in thinking you can fit a dimmer switch to a 2 way
hall/stairs/landing setup - as long as only one switch is a dimmer &
t'other normal?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

[The Natural Philosopher]

On 07/03/13 20:56, The Medway Handyman wrote:
> Am I right in thinking you can fit a dimmer switch to a 2 way
> hall/stairs/landing setup - as long as only one switch is a dimmer &
> t'other normal?
>
>

yes.

You will curse the day when your wife says 'the light isn't working
dear' and you leap off the bog to discover she hasn't turned the dimmer
up at the far end of the hall.


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

[Bob Minchin]

The Medway Handyman wrote:
> Am I right in thinking you can fit a dimmer switch to a 2 way
> hall/stairs/landing setup - as long as only one switch is a dimmer &
> t'other normal?
>
>

Yes

[Graham.]

On Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:56:40 +0000, The Medway Handyman
<davi...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

>Am I right in thinking you can fit a dimmer switch to a 2 way
>hall/stairs/landing setup - as long as only one switch is a dimmer &
>t'other normal?

That's true about conventional dimmers with a potentiometer but there
are *bound* to be more elegant solutions that can be controlled from
multiple points. Someone will be along to tell us I'm sure.

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[Andy Burns]

Graham. wrote:

> The Medway Handyman wrote:
>
>> Am I right in thinking you can fit a dimmer switch to a 2 way
>> hall/stairs/landing setup - as long as only one switch is a dimmer &
>> t'other normal?
>
> That's true about conventional dimmers with a potentiometer but there
> are *bound* to be more elegant solutions that can be controlled from
> multiple points. Someone will be along to tell us I'm sure.

You can get master/slave dimmers e.g.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLIC1254.html
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/Systems/TouchRemote.htm

which can be toggled or dimmed from multiple points

[John Rumm]

On 07/03/2013 20:56, The Medway Handyman wrote:

> Am I right in thinking you can fit a dimmer switch to a 2 way
> hall/stairs/landing setup - as long as only one switch is a dimmer &
> t'other normal?

Yes and no... ;-)

With a "normal" two way dimmer switch, yes you use one plus a normal
switch. However its not an ideal situation since when you are the wrong
end and someone left the other end on minimum, its as good as not being
able to turn the light on.

The more refined solution is a Master / Slave dimmer pair (TLC do them).
Then you can turn them on and off and adjust the brightness from either
end. (you can also have multiple slaves on one master to give three or
more position switching.


--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

[Graham.]

Ah, that's interesting, I photographed this at my daughters new house.
Same product, different branding on the RC.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3zvt/8538343552/in/photostream/lightbox/

It's just being used a stand-alone switch and RC, I didn't know they
were so versatile, and the price is very nice too.

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[The Medway Handyman]

On 07/03/2013 23:53, John Rumm wrote:
> On 07/03/2013 20:56, The Medway Handyman wrote:
>
>> Am I right in thinking you can fit a dimmer switch to a 2 way
>> hall/stairs/landing setup - as long as only one switch is a dimmer &
>> t'other normal?
>
> Yes and no... ;-)
>
> With a "normal" two way dimmer switch, yes you use one plus a normal
> switch. However its not an ideal situation since when you are the wrong
> end and someone left the other end on minimum, its as good as not being
> able to turn the light on.
>
> The more refined solution is a Master / Slave dimmer pair (TLC do them).
> Then you can turn them on and off and adjust the brightness from either
> end. (you can also have multiple slaves on one master to give three or
> more position switching.
>
>

Normal dimmer would prolly work in this application.

In our small hall we have a 3 gang switch, one for the outside light,
one for a single downlighter in the hall, and the third for four
downlighters over the stairs & one on the landing.

SWMBO goes to bed earlier than I do, and turns off the landing/stairs
lights - otherwise it shines into the bedroom through a glass panel over
the door.

Problem is, if I go for a pee or when I go to bed, the stairs are in
darkness.

Don't really want to have to chase out the hall wall to fit a bigger 3
gang switch box - which I assume I'd have to do to fit a master/slave pair?

[polygonum]

On 08/03/2013 08:25, The Medway Handyman wrote:
<>
> Normal dimmer would prolly work in this application.
>
> In our small hall we have a 3 gang switch, one for the outside light,
> one for a single downlighter in the hall, and the third for four
> downlighters over the stairs & one on the landing.
>
> SWMBO goes to bed earlier than I do, and turns off the landing/stairs
> lights - otherwise it shines into the bedroom through a glass panel over
> the door.
>
> Problem is, if I go for a pee or when I go to bed, the stairs are in
> darkness.
>
> Don't really want to have to chase out the hall wall to fit a bigger 3
> gang switch box - which I assume I'd have to do to fit a master/slave pair?
>
>
>

How about one of the cheap and readily-available battery
presence-detecting LED lights? No need for a switch. Comes on if dark
and sense you.

Or fix the real problem. Reinforce bladder.

--
Rod

[Owain]

On Mar 8, 8:25 am, The Medway Handyman wrote:
> SWMBO goes to bed earlier than I do, and turns off the landing/stairs
> lights - otherwise it shines into the bedroom through a glass panel over
> the door.

Perhaps SWMBO could run up a little curtain for the glass panel? It
might take her mind off ceiling fans if you kept her busy.

> Problem is, if I go for a pee or when I go to bed, the stairs are in
> darkness.

LEG nightlight.

Owain

[Tim Lamb]

In message <aptmba...@mid.individual.net>, polygonum
<rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> writes

Or paint over the glass in the bedroom door?
>

--
Tim Lamb

[Dave Liquorice]

On Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:25:54 +0000, The Medway Handyman wrote:

> SWMBO goes to bed earlier than I do, and turns off the landing/stairs
> lights - otherwise it shines into the bedroom through a glass panel
> over the door.

Train SWMBO'd to sleep without it being pitch black.

Naw that'll never happen, cover panel with blackout material.

--
Cheers
Dave.

[Brian Gaff]

Electrically yes assuming both bulbs in a system are compatible. I used to
have one some years ago now but removed it as it was not really much use to
me any more!

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"The Medway Handyman" <davi...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9a7_s.724$eU7...@fx24.fr7...

[Brian Gaff]

This sounds like a great use of a radio dimmer to me.

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active

"The Natural Philosopher" <t...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:khav14$vlt$1...@news.albasani.net...

> On 07/03/13 20:56, The Medway Handyman wrote:
>> Am I right in thinking you can fit a dimmer switch to a 2 way
>> hall/stairs/landing setup - as long as only one switch is a dimmer &
>> t'other normal?
>>
>>
> yes.
>
> You will curse the day when your wife says 'the light isn't working dear'
> and you leap off the bog to discover she hasn't turned the dimmer up at
> the far end of the hall.
>
>
> --
> Ineptocracy
>

> (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to

[Adrian C]

On 08/03/2013 08:25, The Medway Handyman wrote:
>

> SWMBO goes to bed earlier than I do, and turns off the landing/stairs
> lights - otherwise it shines into the bedroom through a glass panel over
> the door.

Fit one way glass?

>
> Problem is, if I go for a pee or when I go to bed, the stairs are in
> darkness.

Strip of LEDs running down the stairs at floor level, or perhaps under a
stair rail?

Or repaint part of the stairs with special paint, available in yellow ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5_pcaXJIo8

--
Adrian C

[S Viemeister]

We have a few motion-sensor LED lights in the halls and stairwell - just
enough light to see your way at night, not enough to bother sleepers.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 00:43:18 -0800 (PST), Owain
<spuorg...@gowanhill.com> wrote:

>> Problem is, if I go for a pee or when I go to bed, the stairs are in
>> darkness.
>
>LEG nightlight.

Liquid Emitting Gnome?