Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Question for an electrician

[Dave G]

I've got a fault in one of my lights in my house,the current dimmer switch has stopped working and stays on permanantly,so I replaced it-a simple enough job,however, the new one doesnt work at all which has baffled me(havent tested it but cant imagine it to be completely broken),so I've put the old one back in and left the lights on all the time.
The light cluster has four small halogen bulbs and I've noticed one of them has gone out,is this the cause of the fault?,or would it be something else.

[Edited on 8-10-2005 by Dave G]

[Eamonn]

Some dimmers are sensitive to the amout of power being drawn through them, so a blown bulb may be having an effect.

Best to replace the bulb and then try again.

[rockhopper]

If one has gone you should change it asap as the others will blow soon. I know that some halogen lights cannot be dimmed.

[Dave G]

Bulb now replaced but the problem with the switch remains.
The dimmer has been used with these lights for over a year with no problems,whats confusing me is I'll get all or nothing with either switch,permanently on full with the old (no dimming)and nothing with the new.

[guest1]

Dave, halogens and dimmers.

First off replace the halogen bulb soon as.

Your halogens have to be compatible for dimming, usually this means an electronic transformer with suitable dimmer.
Your dimmer has to be compatible with halogens, usually this means an electronic dimmer with suitable halogens.

IF....you have used a standard dimmer with transformer halogens then you could theoretically have the halogens dimmed, although the life span of all components would be questionable. In other words, summats gonna go sooner or later.

The wattage of the light unit is the same as the sum of the lamp wattages. Suspect you have four 20W halogens which would mean 80 watts total (wattage load is same in low voltage or 230v mains), or 4x50W = 200W.
Some dimmers have a minimum load of round about 250W to 400W - check your new dimmer.

There really are different types of dimmers, so the new one you bought must be confirmed as compatible with halogens.

Also, some dimmers require a neutral connection - does your new dimmer need one and is it missing?

[Dave G]

Problem now solved,turns out to be a faulty unit,checked the new one Alan and everything seems to be compatible.
Thanks for the input guys,at least you made me go out and get new bulbs