Bizarre Issue with Chandelier Bulbs

notmuchgoingon86 · Feb 11, 2023

I purchased a chandelier from Aliexpress (China) that came with bi pin G9 LED bulbs (3W equivalent) (pic attached). I asked the seller if this was dimmable and he said NO the bulbs are not dimmable. Apparently China uses cheap non-dimmable bulbs. But the seller told me I could purchase dimmable G9 bulbs and pair them with a dimmer switch and it would work. When I use the bulbs the factory sent me and hook it up to a normal switch (no dimmer), the chandelier works fine. When I replace those bulbs with dimmable G9s, I hear a loud pop and the light doesnt work. I have not tried hooking it up to a dimmer yet, but what is going on?? Is the pop because I am not using a dimmer with the G9 bulbs? Should that matter? Anyone have a clue and how I might solve my problem to use dimmable G9s with a Lutron dimmer. If so, what Lutron dimmer should I use? Meastro or Diva or something else that can handle the low output of the LEDs when dimmed? Update, I ordered a different G9 dimmable bulb (dimmable) and with a regular switch it came on (no pop) but at a very very faint level. Will this change if I add a Lutron dimmer? Thanks.

westward10 · Feb 11, 2023

What happens when you refit the original bulbs.

davesparks · Feb 11, 2023

Are you using the correct voltage G9 lamps?

brianmoooore · Feb 11, 2023

Lamp in pic isn't a G9 - it's a G4, and most (though not all) G4s are 12 volts.

MJPD29 · Feb 11, 2023

Sounds live you've put mains onto a 12v fitting, check if there is a integrated transformer in the base

DefyG · Feb 11, 2023

This is a G9 lamp not the one youve shown.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Bizarre Issue with Chandelier Bulbs

Avo Mk8 · Feb 11, 2023

Maybe the chandelier has been made to accommodate g4 bulbs, and been fitted with 240V g4's!

, eg (these are 5W not 3W):

[Hot Item] G4 LED Bulb 220-240V 5W 33D G4 G9 LED Lamp China Manufacture

Model NO.: SBJ-LED-G4-2835-33D Color Temperature: Warm White Lamp Body Material: PC Power: 5W LED: High-power Lamp Holder/Base: G4

sbjlighting.en.made-in-china.com

in which case, is the chandelier safe to use? I suppose 4mm pin spacing is OK?
if so it may be difficult to obtain dimmable bulbs for it!

Edit - these mains G4's are available in UK on Amazon I see (but all un-dimmable)

MJPD29 · Feb 11, 2023

Interesting, I've never seen a mains g4 only 12v, not sure if I'd trust them.

notmuchgoingon86 · Feb 11, 2023

Avo Mk8 said:
Maybe the chandelier has been made to accommodate g4 bulbs, and been fitted with 240V g4's!, eg (these are 5W not 3W):

[Hot Item] G4 LED Bulb 220-240V 5W 33D G4 G9 LED Lamp China Manufacture

Model NO.: SBJ-LED-G4-2835-33D Color Temperature: Warm White Lamp Body Material: PC Power: 5W LED: High-power Lamp Holder/Base: G4

sbjlighting.en.made-in-china.com

in which case, is the chandelier safe to use? I suppose 4mm pin spacing is OK?
if so it may be difficult to obtain dimmable bulbs for it!

Edit - these mains G4's are available in UK on Amazon I see (but all un-dimmable)

I tried the bulbs below and they caused the loud pop I described. There is no transformer on this chandelier. Just wires for each arm with connects to two bulbs.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L91Y6LZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

notmuchgoingon86 · Feb 11, 2023

westward10 said:
What happens when you refit the original bulbs.

Original G4 bulbs (non dimmable) from China work fine. Chandelier works. If I had a dimmer attached the dimmer gets fried.

notmuchgoingon86 · Feb 11, 2023

MJPD29 said:
Interesting, I've never seen a mains g4 only 12v, not sure if I'd trust them.

There is no transformer. This is main to G4 LED.

notmuchgoingon86 · Feb 11, 2023

DefyG said:
This is a G9 lamp not the one youve shown.
View attachment 106085

Yes my error, I mean to say G4.

brianmoooore · Feb 11, 2023

Are there any markings on the original lamps?

notmuchgoingon86 · Feb 11, 2023

MJPD29 said:
Sounds live you've put mains onto a 12v fitting, check if there is a integrated transformer in the base

There is no transformer. Just wires from each arm on the chandelier which I have bound all together and hooked up to the main. These G4's from China work directly with mains, no transformer. Yet other G4 bulbs I buy which are dimmable do not work. They create a loud pop and the dimmer gets fried.

notmuchgoingon86 · Feb 11, 2023

davesparks said:
Are you using the correct voltage G9 lamps?

How do I know what the correct voltage is? I asked the Chinese factory they said they bulbs are 3W equivalents. They hook up directly to the mains. No transformer. They work fine. When I put in dimmable G4 they create a loud pop and if I have a dimmer attached it gets fried but the chandelier is fine, I can refit the original bulbs from China and it works fine. But I have to put on a regular plain switch, no dimmer.

Bizarre Issue with Chandelier Bulbs

notmuchgoingon86

Attachments

westward10

davesparks

brianmoooore

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MJPD29

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DefyG

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Avo Mk8

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[Hot Item] G4 LED Bulb 220-240V 5W 33D G4 G9 LED Lamp China Manufacture

MJPD29

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notmuchgoingon86

[Hot Item] G4 LED Bulb 220-240V 5W 33D G4 G9 LED Lamp China Manufacture

notmuchgoingon86

notmuchgoingon86

notmuchgoingon86

brianmoooore

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notmuchgoingon86

notmuchgoingon86

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