dimmer switch blown by gu10 lamps

dcelectrical · Feb 9, 2013

has anyone notice an increase in the dimmer switch being blown by lamps, nothing to dowith over or under rating, as the lamp blows it does the dimmer, have a range of about 6 different dimmer manufacturers, anyone suggest different or reliable products.
cheers

Pat Tester · Feb 9, 2013

dcelectrical said:
has anyone notice an increase in the dimmer switch being blown by lamps, nothing to dowith over or under rating, as the lamp blows it does the dimmer, have a range of about 6 different dimmer manufacturers, anyone suggest different or reliable products.
cheers

If you read the installation instructions you will find they recommend or specify fitting of a suitable fuse (3A) between the lamps and the dimmer to protect it from the Gu10 lamp blowing. I fit grid system and mount fuse next to dimmer.

rantoftheday · Feb 10, 2013

That will look great!

Phillcbr400 · Feb 10, 2013

Inline fuse at your first lamp. It's still accessible an fits the purpose.

Darkwood · Feb 10, 2013

Also some dimmers have a de-rating factor to be applied when used with GU10's check the instructions that they are compatable at their rated wattage with GU10's

Elmer BeFuddled · Feb 11, 2013

apprenticesprky said:
That will look great!

I dunno, this looks OK.

[ElectriciansForums.net] dimmer switch blown by gu10 lamps

Marvo · Feb 11, 2013

I'm not convinced that a fuse would effectively prevent the output stage of the dimmer being damaged in the event of a short circuit current. A fuse wouldn't be anywhere near fast enough unless maybe if it was rated at <25% of the triac junction breakdown current and even then it might be hit and miss although it might prevent the other components overheating and being a fire hazard in the case of an overload.

I don't know how you could really add protection as a retrofit, the best thing would be an electronic 'clamp' or 'crowbar' arrangement but this would need to be designed into the dimmer from the ground up. Maybe a semiconductor fuse would be fast enough but they're not cheap so probably not viable. The best you can do is research and source a different dimmer that has short circuit protection already built in.

Bobster8 · Feb 11, 2013

I have done months of research on this
After getting stung for cheap Internet fake chip lamps
We bit the bullet and bought cob LEDs with Cree chips
We use decoled 6watt dimmable lamps
They work with Hamilton dimmers
You have to derate by 75%
Aurora do an led dimmer that also works with these lamps
We are a small contractor and we buy 100 lamps at a time as we feel that
They are the best we can offer right now
Fitted about 350 so far without problem but we do use separated circuits to avoid interference from
Other items such low voltage Transformers
Lutron dimmers will get you a 5 year guarantee for
these lamps no other dimmers will warrantee but the others have worked fine.
If you would like to try one or some let me know

Marvo · Feb 12, 2013

Bobster8 said:
They work with Hamilton dimmers
You have to derate by 75%

If you have to derate them by 75% to ensure reliability then there's a compatibility issue. Requiring a 400w dimmer to drive 100w of lighting sounds like there's an underlying problem.

dimmer switch blown by gu10 lamps

dcelectrical

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Pat Tester

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rantoftheday

Phillcbr400

Darkwood

Elmer BeFuddled

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Marvo

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Bobster8

Marvo

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