Short answer: for each room, count every light, fan and appliance you want to switch on its own. That number is the gang count of the plate at that spot. Add a dimmer only where you want adjustable brightness, and use a module made for fans for any ceiling fan. Have your electrician confirm the plan before you order.
Switch positions are easiest to settle while a house is still being wired. This guide shows how to count gangs room by room, where a dimmer helps, and which Swiss Home Automation plates fit each job, using only what is listed in our catalogue.
What “gang” means and which sizes we list
A gang is one switch on a plate: a 1 gang plate has one switch, a 2 gang plate has two, and so on. Our Glass Switches list Swiss Luxury plates in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 gang, plus Edge Series plates in 1, 2 and 3 gang. The Smart Switches range goes from 1 to 4, 6 and 8 gang.
How to count gangs, room by room
Stand at the door of each room and list what you will want to control from there: ceiling lights, side or wall lights, a ceiling fan, and any appliance on its own circuit. Group the items by the door or wall where you will reach for the switch. Each item is one gang; each dimmer is one extra position. The table shows examples only, because every layout differs.
| Room | What you might switch | Example plate |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Main light, bedside lights, ceiling fan | Swiss Luxury 3 Gang Switch and Dimmer |
| Living room | Several light zones plus a fan | Swiss Home Automation 4 Gang and Dimmer Switch |
| Small room | One light and one fan | Swiss Luxury 2 Gang Switch and Dimmer |
| Entrance or corridor | One or two lights | Swiss Luxury 2 Gang Switch |
| Dedicated appliance circuit | An air conditioner or geyser | Swiss Luxury Power Switch 20 Amp |
The 20 A power switch is a single large rocker with a red indicator lamp, and the listing notes that switches like it are commonly fitted on a dedicated appliance circuit. Your electrician decides what each circuit can carry. If a count lands on 5 gang, you can combine plates, or choose a 6 gang plate and leave one position spare.
Where two-way switching helps
Two-way switching lets a pair of switches control one light from two places. It suits staircases, long corridors and rooms with two doors, where you want to turn the light on at one end and off at the other. Because the wiring is more complex than a single switch, have your electrician plan it. Whether a given plate of ours can be wired this way depends on the module, so send the plate you have in mind on WhatsApp and we will answer.
Dimmers: lights and fans are different jobs
For lights, the bulb has to be dimmable. Not every LED bulb is, so check the pack for the word dimmable before you plan a dimmer around it.
For fans, an ordinary light dimmer should not be used to control a ceiling fan motor, and the usual advice is a controller made for fans. Our Swiss Luxury Fan Dimmer is a rotary dimmer listed for setting ceiling fan speed. On the combined plates, the listings say the Swiss Luxury and Swiss Aluminum 3 gang plus dimmer plates, and the 2 gang plus dimmer plate, have a dimmer that can be used for lights or fans, while the Swiss Home Automation 4 gang and dimmer plate has a fan dimmer with a fan symbol between plus and minus keys.
If you prefer touch keys, the Swiss Home Automation Light & Fan Dimmer has plus and minus keys, and depending on the version the centre key shows a bulb or a fan symbol. Match the symbol to what you plan to connect. The listings do not state a maximum load for the dimmers, so ask us for the rating before putting a large group of lights on one.
Glass or smart plates: pick one family per room
Plates within a range share a finish, so a room looks tidy if every position comes from one range. Glass plates come in Black, White, Grey and Gold on most Swiss Luxury items, and the Edge Series in Grey or Black. For a side-by-side look at ranges, read our guide to glass, matt, R-Series and smart switches. For voice control, read the compatibility guide first. The smart home setup guide covers planning a whole house.
Before you order
Send us your room list or plan on WhatsApp at +92 331 4444450 and we will quote the modules. You pay the product price plus a delivery charge, by JazzCash, Easypaisa, online bank transfer, in person, or cash on delivery. We deliver across Pakistan by courier. Our own electricians install in Lahore (in Islamabad, the electricians of our partner AVS Group do); elsewhere, use your own qualified electrician. Our warranty policy lists smart switches and glass switches at 12 months from the date of invoice, and makes installation by a qualified electrician a condition of the warranty. See also our shipping policy.
You can also see plates in person at the Lahore showroom (93-C CCA, Sector C, DHA Phase 6), open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm, closed Sunday. The Islamabad showroom is run by our partner AVS Group, with its own payment system.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decide how many gangs a room needs?
Count each light, fan and appliance you want to switch separately from one spot. That total is the gang count for the plate there; add one position for each dimmer.
Can I use a light dimmer to control a ceiling fan?
No. A standard light dimmer is not meant for a fan motor. Use a module listed for fans, such as the Swiss Luxury Fan Dimmer, or a combined plate whose dimmer is listed for fans.
Do dimmers work with any LED bulb?
No. The bulb must be dimmable, and not every LED bulb is. Check the bulb pack before you plan a dimmer around it.
Who installs the switches?
Our own electricians install in Lahore (in Islamabad, the electricians of our partner AVS Group do). Elsewhere, use your own qualified electrician, because installation by a qualified electrician is a condition of the warranty.
Browse the full catalogue, ask us on WhatsApp, or contact us.
