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When I turn on a switch, for some reason once there was a glow that was enough to see by, and now that's what I expect to happen and what usually does.
Try shoulding, "MORE LIGHT!" as loud as you can. That usually works, if you can remember to do it.
The other night i was dreaming and i was in a dark basement with the TV as an only light source. It created a very shaded gray light in the room and when i went to turn on the light, the light itself didnt turn on but the room got more gray instead of dark. But that didn't make me lucid :/
EDIT:
Also, as an RC, I use the lgiht switch method but I also do it multiple times. Maybe it makes it more full proof :/.
I expect the mechanical failure in dreams is because our subconscious doesn't deal with arbitrary causal links very well. By that I mean the subconscious doesn't relate flipping the switch to the lightbulb turning on or off, as they are two separate objects within a dream.
Controlling light levels in a dream is easy (as many others have mentioned), however, if you use simple commands or will the light level to change.