Most incandescent and halogen bulbs are compatible with dimmers, but generally CFL’s (or compact fluorescent lights) or those that are controlled by a transformer generally don’t, unless they are made specifically for use with dimmer switches. In this DIY guide we look at how to fit a dimmer switch in place of a standard light switch. Regulations for Fitting Dimmer Switches The very first job to do before doing anything else is to isolate the circuit you will be working on by turning off the MCB/RCD in your consumer unit or pulling out the fuse if you have a fuse box.

With the old switch out of the way, take your new dimmer switch and connect the wires in the same place as the old one; brown live to COM and blue switched live to L1 Once the power to the circuit and switch are isolated, the next job is to use a flat blade screwdriver to unscrew the 2 screws on the front of the faceplate. A leading edge dimmer cuts the front off of the second part of the wave cycle, where as a trailing edge dimmer cuts the second part of a waves cycle.Once correctly positioned, pop each screw through each hole and then screw it up tight, ensuring that it’s level. Step 6 – Test Switch There are numerous different types of modern dimmer switch, but essentially they can be broken down into 2 main types:

For more information on staying safe when working around electricity, see our electrical safety project here. What is a Dimmer Switch? Modern dimmer switches use this cycle to determine when to turn the light off. At the point that the switch from positive to negative happens there will be zero voltage and this is when the switch cuts the power. In accordance to the Building Regulations and the BS 7671 wiring regulations, if you are simply exchanging an existing standard 1 or 2 gang light switch for a dimmer switch then this is entirely possible to do on a DIY basis, as long as you have the knowledge to do so. LED dimmer module has auto-detect function for either leading edge or trailing edge with 5-150W load, 230-240V 50Hz Once done, put the 2 screws to one side and pull the faceplate away and turn it to reveal the internals on the rear of the face.Adding a dimmer switch to the lighting in a room can have a dramatic effect on the overall ambience of a room, allowing you to lower the lighting levels to create a much more relaxed environment. If the new dimmer switch has a metal faceplate then you will also need to connect the earth to the earth terminal on the faceplate. Control From Anywhere: Whether you're at home or on the go, the Lightwave app empowers you to control and monitor your lights from anywhere. Illuminate your space before you even step in or create the illusion of occupancy. With Lightwave, you're always in control.

our dimmer switches cannot be used in conjunction with each other. We recommend using one dimmer switch per circuit As we have now looked at what a dimmer switch is and how it works, it’s now time to see how they are fitted.

What is a Dimmer Switch?

Aside from the main differences in how they operate, dimmer switches are also available in several different operation: To get it to sit flat, you may need to give it a little wiggle so that the wires find their own natural resting place. The names refer to the way in which they control light levels. As mentioned above, modern dimmer switches work by rapidly cutting the supply of electricity to the light half way through it’s cycle when the current hits zero.