I just bought an older home (1959), and it has some odd light switches.
The button is a tap button, and just seems to vary the brightness. The slider seems to turn the lights off and on.
The lights installed when we moved in didn't work, so I replaced them with dimmable LEDs (since I assumed the slider was a dimmer). But it doesn't seem to be a real dimmer.
Has anyone seen these before? and if so, is this the expected behavior?
I'm tempted to just replace them with something standard honestly.
Best Answer
Better replace those LEDs with incandescent lights.
I recognize that switch. It is an X-10 brand, WS467 Dimmer module.
Here's the manual.
This switch can be controlled in person with your finger, or remotely with a plug-in or wireless controller. Hopefully the seller left behind some controllers for you. Otherwise you'd need to buy one to take advantage of remote control.
Basically the larger top momentary pushbutton is the normal on/off control. The smaller bottom toggle is to 'lock' it off so that nobody can turn it on remotely.