Buying Switches And Dimmers
Written by: Admin | Date: Tuesday, 19th April 2011
When renovating a room, updating the installed lighting switches and sockets will do little to change its overall form but can add detailed refinements it previously didn’t have.  When shopping for switches, there isn’t much you need to learn but arming yourself with the information should help you make a much better choice.

Switch basics

Switching units can vary by the number of switches on the plate.  Some manufacturers refer to this as a gang.  A one-gang switch plate has 1 switch while a two-gang will have 2 available and so on.  The number of switches will depend on how many lighting fixtures you want it to control so take careful note of it.

A light bulb can be activated by a single switch or multiple switches.  This configuration is often referred to as “way”. A one-way switch setup means only a single switch controls the light. A two-way switch will have two available panels for controlling the lighting and so on.  A multi-way switch setup can be useful in some situations such as having two ways to control a bedroom’s main overhead light – one switch right by the door and another beside the bed, so you can turn it on and off without much movement necessary.

Some switches mounted on walls will give off a humming buzz every time it is turned on.  This is quite normal and usually varies with the type of switch unit along with the wattage of your lighting fixtures.

Estimates From a Local Electrical Contractor

Using Dimmers

If you want to create a dramatic change to a room without changing many of its visible aspects, installing a dimmer to provide varying levels of light can prove a more than capable upgrade.  Dimmer switches are relatively inexpensive and quite simple to install, while providing a versatile way to shift a room’s atmosphere at any time.

They are extremely beneficial in versatile rooms which should serve a wide variety of functions such as the living area (where the family can dim the lights to enjoy a movie or turn it up in full to have a family meeting) or the bedroom (where you can adjust the light for sleep, rest or reading).  Additionally, they help save energy, allowing you to use only the amount of light you need without waste.

Note though that you cannot use dimmers with fluorescent lighting.  If you prefer to have these energy-saving lamps as your main light fixture then dimmers are, unfortunately, out of the question.

Dimmer Switches

There are a few ways you can implement dimming lights in your home.  All should be relatively low-cost, easy to install and capable of providing full dimming functions.

Touch-Sensitive Dimmers

The “touch dimmer” is a switch that reacts immediately to a soft touch and automatically adjusts the lighting by pre-set stages (off, low, medium, high).  The “touch-dimmer” feature can also be installed on the lighting itself if you want a more modern flare.  In this setup, touching the actual light source triggers the change by way of induction.

Dimmer Switch

The conventional dimmer switches will consist of a rotating switch installed on switch plates.  Turning the knob will trigger the lighting change, depending on which direction you move (dimmer or brighter). 

Remote Dimmers

Remote-controlled dimmers are a great solution, allowing you to control the lighting intensity without having to come near either the switch or the bulb.  Additionally, a single remote dimmer can control multiple lighting fixtures in the house making them very flexible.  Most remote dimmer setups can also retain a memory of your favorite lighting settings.