Cut Sheet

Technical Article
Leviton Mfg. Co., Inc. Lighting & Energy Solutions
20497 SW Teton Avenue, Tualatin, OR 97062 1-800-736-6682 Tech Line: 1-800-959-6004 Fax: [phone] www.leviton.com/les
© 2012 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Subject to change without notice.
PL-PD-F007 Rev. 2 04/06/2009
Multi-Gang Dimmers, De-rating, and Face Plates
Product: Renoir® II Architectural Wall Box Dimmers
A
rticle ID: 20091214-DLB-RenoirII-01
Date: July 30, 2012
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REVISED
Summar
y
: One of the Renoir II dimmer line features is that you can install multiple dimmers under a
single face plate giving a unified installed appearance. This is called a multi-gang installation.
When you have a multi-gang installation, dimmers may require de-rating and a special face
plate may be required. This article discusses and gives guidance to these applications.
Information: When planning a multi-gang installation there are several factors which need to be considered:
1. What dimmer model do I need to control my load?
2. How many dimmers will be installed at the same location?
3. Are the installed dimmers, switches, remotes, etc. “narrow” or “wide”?
4. Do my dimmers have to be installed in a specific order?
5. Will my dimmers have fins broken or not?
6. Since I have a multi-gang application, do I need to de-rate my dimmers?
7. What size back box do I need?
8. What face plate do I need?
9. How can I ensure alignment of dimmers so that they don’t sag?
This article gives you enough background information to guide you through the decision
making process for each one of these items.
What dimmer model do I need to control my load?
This question is best answered by a review of the product data sheets. Critical information is
1. the amount of load, expressed in Watts, VA, or Amps,
2. the load type, and
3. the desired dimmer aesthetic.
How many dimmers will be installed at the same location?
The answer to this question is specific to each application. The Renoir II line supports
installations with 0-6 narrow dimmers plus 0-4 wide dimmers under the same face plate. This
is called a multi-gang installation.
Are the installed dimmers, switches, remotes, etc. “narrow” or “wide”?
Depending on the dimmer model and load capacity, the dimmers in use could be considered
“narrow” or “wide” dimmers. The terms narrow or wide refer to the width of the heat sink. A
narrow dimmer is 2.89” wide, and a wide dimmer is 4.7” wide. Wider heat sinks are required in
higher load capacity dimmers because more heat must be dissipated in order to keep the
dimmer operating correctly.
Reference the product data sheets to see which dimmers are narrow or wide.