DIMMER SWITCH

[AME]

In one of the bedrooms we have a slide dimmer. On the silver backing it reads

120VAC/60HZ
Permanent installed 600W max, 2 GANG 500W or Incand. Fixtures 3 or more GANG 400W
It goes to the top outlet across the room.

I have never heard of a ceiling and outlet on the same switch. Does that mean once the fixture is up the drive will only go to that? Meaning one is in lieu of the other, right? Maybe the ceiling has to be run on a pull chain? Remote? We want to put a permanent fixture for the ceiling.The fixture is a 2 bulb bowl style. How do you make the dimmer work with the fixture not the outlet?

Edited September 22 by AME

[Tom Raymond]

Hire an electrician.

[Jim Katen]

You must never have a dimmer controlling a receptacle outlet. Doing so could fry non-incandescent or non-resistant loads plugged into the outlet. Imagine how your computer would appreciate having its power supply "dimmed."

The mere fact that you have a dimmer controlling a receptacle outlet means that people who had no idea what they were doing were messing with the wiring. 

As Tom said, call an electrician. 

[John Kogel]

The correct light switch with a builtin dimmer should supply only your ceiling fixture.

It is typical to see split outlets with one side always hot and the other controlled by a normal light switch, especially in housing where the builders never installed a ceiling fixture.

It is also typical to see where Mr. Handy has messed around with the outlets and fixtures.