Dimpull - Bathroom Pull Cord Dimmer

If you have a pull cord on the ceiling of your bathroom you can replace this with a pull cord that dims your lights. How fabulous is that???

This is a 250w trailing edge dimmer built into what appears to be a standard ceiling pull switch. By simple installation of this unit you can select any light level by simply pulling on the cord and holding until the desired light level is attained.

Okay so you want one but now your not sure what colour to buy? Don't panic because the unit comes complete with screw on covers and cord finials in white and chrome finish!


Maximum loads:
240v mains tungsten lamps - 250w

12v lamps - 175w (i.e. 1 x 150va transformer or 3 x 60va transformers.

Only use good quality dimmable electronic transformers.

Fluorescent, wire wound transformers and energy saving CFL lamps cannot be dimmed with this unit.

Note:This unit requires a neutral connection to operate so you will have to pick up a neutral connection from your existing wiring - your electrician will be able to advise you about this.

• Easy dimming solution for bathrooms
• Great for mood lighting the bathroom
• Provided with chrome and white ceiling plate
• Comes with easy instruction guide and available from stock

Specification
Width/Diameter	80mm
Depth/Projection	45mm
Wiring Details	Class 2 - Double Insulated - Requires no Earth Connection
IP Rating	IP21

Availability: Normally delivered in 5-7 days

A good solution if you get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Pull and hold and the light dims to a lower light level. It's easier on the eyes! Shaun, 16 June 2010 08:54:44

Does this pull cord dimmer come with both the chrome and white plate or do you have to specify which you require? The dimpull is supplied with both fascias

Can this be given a quick pull to switch on and off at the level last set, i.e. used as a normal switch by those not familiar with its operation, or does it have to cycle all the way? Yes this Dimpull fitting can be used as a standard light pull - i.e. switch the lights on and off. If you wish to dim the lights you continue to hold the cord in the down position (as though you were going to turn it off but don't let go) and the lights will dim, keep on holding and the lights will go up and become bright and so on until you let go at the desired level of light.

I have just had one of these installed and although it dims the lights, they never come to full brightness, so the bathroom is constantly much more shadowy. Can you suggest why this is - I have 4x50w low voltage bathroom downlighters, and before the dimpull was installed it was very bright. The maximum load on our unit for LV lights is 175 watts. You use the rating of the transformer when calculating the load i.e. 4 x 60va = 240watts. Your dimmer module is overloaded. You'd need to switch to a single 150va transformer and 4 x 35w lamps to operate in the range of the dimmer. Or remove the dimmer and go back to a standard on/off pullcord. Even when the pull dimmer's load is within it's range the lamps run at around 90% of their normal output.

Is this suitable where a bathroom fan is installed? Yes it can be used in a bathroom where you have a bathroom fan installed. When first switched on the output is near full, triggering the fan.

Can I use this light switch with any ceiling/wall lamp? All incandescent (filament) lamps will dim using this equipment. Please observe the maximum loading for mains filament (resistive loads) and low voltage filament lamps operating on a transformer (inductive loads). CFL and other types of compact fluorescent lamps are not normally dimmable. LED lamps may dim okay on this equipment but there are too many variables to give concrete assurance.

I am confused as to how the Dimpull may or may not work alongside a fan. I am buying a new fan anyway, so it is as much to get the right type. Advice I have read on these says that the fan works because the power when first switched on is enough to start it (I am assuming this refers to a timed one). But surely if the lights are dimmed the fan power is reduced?! Am I better off with separate pullcords (or is this the only way anyway?) All but the cheapest bathroom fan have a built in timer. Fans with a timer require two live feeds; one via the switched lighting circuit (pull cord in this case) and one unswitched live. When you use the pull cord a relay is energised in the fan. The fan then uses energy from the unswitched live to operate. When you switch off the lights the relay stays energised for a predetermined amount of time, then disengages and switches off the supply from the unswitched live. So by providing full current when the lights come on the fan will work. Dim the lights and the relay stays energised. Switch off the lights and the fan runs on it's timer for a period and then shuts off. If the fan operated on the a single live feed the fan would slow down when you dimmed the lights!

You say that the Dimpull can be used with a fan. The people at TLC Direct say it can't. Who should I believe? We have had one report in six years of a fan not working with a Dimpull - the fan model was an Airflow QT100T. No other fans have been reported to have a problem.

Is it 2 way switching? No this pull dimmer is only made for a 1 way lighting circuit as most bathrooms only have a single door and switch location.

If the switch is pulled & the lamps are at full power, then they are dimmed to, say, 50%. When turned off, I gather with just a quick pull, and then turned on again sometime later, will they initially light at 50%, or whatever they were set at when turned off, or will they light at 100%. The output always starts at 100% and is dimmed by holding the cord. There is no memory. Full output is required to initiate an extractor fan which are linked on the same circuit.

Does this product have a limited life as normal tungsten filament bulbs are phased out? Standard tungsten lamps will eventually be replaced with tungsten halogen lamps which are more efficient. These themselves will be replaced at some point with lamps that give more light and use less energy. The long term future is undecided as the technology behind LED lamps changes very rapidly. However lamp manufacturers are very keen to produce new technology lamps that will operate on pretty much all control gear (switch or dimmer unit) as this is where the rewards (high volume sales) are greater. So the future of this product can still be regarded as viable in the medium and long term.