Switch / Button / Double Button / Dimmer / Eltako

Topic electrical. More precisely, it concerns the wiring of the ceiling spotlights. We have the following initial situation:

We have a living/dining area with an open kitchen of about 80 m². That means we also have several areas of ceiling spotlights. The living area, dining area, and kitchen area are the most important areas. For example, we have divided the ceiling spotlights in the living area into two areas (this results from our ceiling construction (conversion of a barn into living space)).

I will now explain the whole thing using the example of the 2 areas for the ceiling spotlights in the living area. These 2 areas should be able to be switched separately, which is why we have planned double rocker switches for this. By the way, all ceiling spotlights should be dimmable. This one double rocker switch for the living area can be found in 3 places in the large room. Now we do not want a dimmable double rocker switch, but a dimmable double push button. For this, one could have installed ELTAKOS in the distribution board (as far as I understand as a layman). We did not do that. Now there are UP Eltakos. The problem here is, one would fit into a normal UP box. However, according to the electrician, two would not. Can someone help us solve this problem? I hope I have explained it clearly so far. If not, just ask.

Hi wilsumer,
further information is missing for this. For example, how (with how many wires) was it wired from switch box to switch box. Where are the branches for the lights (both in one switch box or in different ones). It’s best to have this looked at on site by an electrician who can then tell you exactly what works and what doesn’t. However, if your electrician (most likely the one who wired it) already tells you that it doesn’t work, this will very likely be the case since he knows exactly how it was wired.

A NYM 3x2.5 cable was installed, meaning it has 3 conductors. The branches for the lights are in a junction box. My electrician says he doesn't know how that works, but that doesn't mean to me that it can't be done. That's why I wanted to ask here. We have had quite a few times on our construction site where a tradesman said it couldn't be done and later it could. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for tradesmen, but they are also only human.

. Now we don’t want a dimmable double rocker switch, but a dimmable double button. For this, one could have installed Eltakos in the switch cabinet (as far as I understand as a layman). We haven’t.

What speaks against retrofitting the required Eltakos in the switch cabinet now?

However you look at it. For operating multiple push buttons, you need a central point from which the dimming is done.

From this perspective, the dimmer should be installed directly in front of the spots, where the control lines come together. And not in the flush-mounted boxes behind the push buttons.

According to my electrician, retrofitting does not work because a) a cable with 5 wires would have had to be installed and b) we have no more space in the control cabinet