“Gang” describes the number of switches on the plate. They are sometimes called rockers, throws or dimmers, depending on how they operate, but still they just refer to the number of light switches on the plate. It is possible to get more, but it is very uncommon to have more that three in a domestic setting – this would be called a 3 gang switch.
If you have a dimmer switch they are described in the same way; a 1 gang dimmer switch will have a single dimmer on the plate, and a 2 gang dimmer switch will have 2 dimmers and so on.
A 1 gang switch will control a single lighting circuit, and with a 2 gang switch you can control two lighting circuits, and so on. However if you need two switches to control a single lighting circuit, such as in the case of at the head and foot of stairs so you can switch the lights on and off in both places, you need to understand a 2 ‘way’ switch.
It is also possible to install or fit a variation on the theme by combining dimmer and “throw” switches on the same plate. You are then able to set the light to the required ambiance and turn it on and off. The ambiance setting is remembered by the switch but can be altered just like any other dimmer.
