Good lighting design adds real entertainment value to your home. Selecting the right light dimmers, not only adds entertainment value, it can also save energy, which saves money.

It is important to know some basics when choosing a light dimmer, so I hope you find this guide useful.

I will state at the outset, that this guide to selecting the right light dimmer is intended for UK and European residential properties only. The dimmers discussed in this guide will only work on European voltage.

There are two basic types of light dimmers; wire wound light dimmers and electronic light dimmers. The difference is in how they dim lights.

Wire wound light dimmers use a coil inside the unit, and when you dim the lights, part of the energy goes to the lamp and part goes to the coil inside the unit which is converted into heat which is wasted energy. This also makes them prone to get quite warm.

However, the main problem with wire wound light dimmers is that they buzz when dimming. This is because the coil inside the dimmer is converting the un-needed energy in to heat and that process causes it to buzz. This is not good.

Electronic light dimmers work very differently. To dim the lights, the electronics in the unit switches the power off and on to the lamp very quickly. So quickly the lamp just glows and your eye can not see it happening.

Using a simple example. In order for an Electronic light dimmer to dim the lights at 50%, the electronics with-in the unit switches the electricity off to the lamp for the same amount of time it switches the power on to the lamp, so its off for 50% of the time and on for 50% of the time. This process is happening 100 times a second. It also follows that if you want the lights dimmed to 25%, then the light dimmer switches the electricity off for 75% of the time and on only 25% of the time.

The advantage of this is that the light dimmer runs silent. No humming at all. The light dimmer also runs cool. And thirdly, as the light dimmer is dimming the lights, it is switching the electricity off for a percentage of the time, so it is saving energy, this saves you money.

There are other advantages with electronic light dimmers. One of these is that, as the dimming proccess is controlled by electronics, it is possible to have additional methods of operating the light dimmers. For example, it is possible to dim the lights using a hand held wireless remote control. So you can control your lights from your arm chair. I will discuss the use of remote controlled dimmers later in this guide.

To summarise, I do not recommend wire wound light dimmers as electronic light dimmers have many advantages.

However, there are two disadvantages with electronic light dimmers. The first is that they are more exspensive to buy than wire wound light dimmers, but this additional cost is recovered in energy saving and they last longer. Secondly, is that selecting the right electronic light dimmer is a little more complicated.

Rule 1 - do not exceed the maximum dimming load. Each dimmer has a maximum and minimum dimming load. This will be detailed on the unit when making your purchase.

Calculating the load for an electronic light dimmer is quite simple. All lamps are specified in Watts. Just total the lamp wattage figures of a circuit and that is the circuit load. For example, if your circuit has 8 down lighters, each one fitted with a 50Watt lamp, then your circuit load is 8 x 50Watts = 400watts. (Note this figure may also be shown as 400VA)

This is straight forward for down lighters, adjustable down lighters and wall lights.

However it is not so simple for 5Amp table light sockets as you don't know what lamp will be fitted or how many. It is unlikely that all sockets will have table lamps fitted to them. So you need to make a calculation for selecting the correct light dimmer. Therefore the correct rule is to allow 100Watts for each 5Amp socket on a circuit. So if you have 4 table lamp 5Amp sockets, that will equate to 4 X 100Watts = 400Watts.

If on the other hand you know you will be fitting some higher wattage halogen up lighters, these can be either 150Watts or 300Watts, then you need to include this into your calculation now.

Rule 2 - select the right type of electronic light dimmer for the lamp type - There are two types of electronic light dimmers on the market; one that will only dim incandescent or main voltage lamps, and one that will dim low voltage halogen lamps, as well as incandescent main voltage lamps.

The first type of electronic light dimmer is often called an incandescent dimmer, whilst the second type is often called a universal dimmer. If you only need to dim main voltage lamps, then use the incandescent dimmer. If you intend to dim low voltage halogen lamps you will need the universal dimmer. If in doubt, then choose the universal light dimmer.

Rule 3 - do not mix lamp types on a single circuit. Do not mix low voltage and incandescent mains volt lamps on the same circuit. This is a very important rule.

This next section looks a a few Electronic Light Dimmers, pointing out some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

The Lutron in-line dimmer is ideal for lighting make over as it simply plugs in to a standard UK 13Amp socket. You then plug the table lamp in to the dimmer.

Simple operation - a double tap switches full on
The are two buttons to dim up and dim down
1 pre-set light level - a single tap switches the lamp on to the last dimmed level

Where to use this in-line light dimmer

Ideal for bedside table lamps
Living room sofa side table lamps and floor up-lighters
Hall night-light function for table lamp

Some Technical Information

Load 40-300watts
Lamp type Incandescent and Tungsten Lamps
Connection fitted with 13Amp Plug and socket

Here you can read more about the Lutron Solina in-line dimmer with full fitting instructions

The Lutron Lyneo in wall incandescent light dimmer is ideal for lighting make over as it simply replaces an existing light switch. It just requires a 2 wire connection.

Slide the button up and down to dim the lights. When the slider is fully down, the lights are switched off.

2 way switching - It is also possible to wire the push button for 2 way switching. If you have a 2 way light circuit, that is you can switch lights off and on from 2 different switches, you can use this dimmer with a normal light switch. You will be able to switch the lights on and off from both positions, but only set the light value at the dimmer. (remember, the lights will only switch on to the pre-set light level according to the slider position )

Another design feature I like with this light dimmer is that the fixing screws are hidden. Once the unit is fitted to the wall, the front cover is then pressed in to place canceling the screw fixings. This adds a real professional touch

As with all manufactures Lutron offer a range of colour and metal finishes

Lutron Lyneo Colour Range



Some Technical Information

Single dimmer - 40-500watts
Dual dimmer - 40-250watts

Lamp type - Incandescent and Tungsten Lamps
Connection - 2 wire connection same as a light switch
Back box - fits into a standard UK 35mm deep back box

Here you can read more about the Lutron Lyeno electronic light dimmers with full fitting instructions

The Lutron Rania is a touch electronic light dimmer. This offers 2 way dimming capability. This means that you can switch and the dim lights from more than 1 position.

A good example is in the bedroom. You can fit a dimmer by the door as normal, and have 2 Lutron Rania Accessory Dimmers (slave dimmers) one each side of the bed. So now it is possible to switch and dim the lights from all 3 positions, the door, and each side of the bed.

Of course, if you don't have existing wiring to the bed side to switch the main lights in your room, you can use the wireless remote control dimmer version and keep the hand held remote control by the bed.

TIP You can use the IR hand held wireless remote control to teach an all-in-one learning remote control the IR codes. Then for example, in the living room, you have one remote control for the TV, DVD, SKY and the lights.

Lutron Rania Colour Range



The Lutron Rania light dimmer is available as an Incandescent only light dimmer or as a Universal light dimmer.

The Incandescent light dimmer will handle incandescent lamps and mains tungsten lamps.

The Universal light dimmer will handle low voltage down lighters as well as incandescent mains voltage lamps.

If you are unsure which to choose, always choose the universal light dimmer as this will work with both main and low voltage lamps

Some Technical Information

Single dimmer - 40-450watts
Dual dimmer - 40-250watts

Incandescent and Tungsten Lamps
Universal - low voltage and main voltage lamps
Connection - 2 wire connection same as a light switch
Fits into a UK standard 35mm deep back box

Here you can read more about the Lutron Rania electronic light dimmers with full fitting instructions