Dimmer switch problem

FOBG45ER · Nov 29, 2012

This seems to be an ongoing problem with my dimmer switch connected to a four candle centre light. I had problems with cheap switches blowing and follwoing advice from this forum I bought a more expensive Click Deco 1 Gang 2 Way 400W/VA Dimmer Switch. This has been working fine for a number of weeks until now. Two of the bulbs blew in quick succession and now the dimmer is stuck on full brightness whichever way the switch is turned. The bulbs were 40w each so wasn't over or underloaded accroding to my calculations.

Has this switch been put out of action? Any ideas if there might be an underlying problem with the electrics causing the bulbs to blow and does this cause dimmers to go wrong in this way? The switch was fitted by an electrician and he checked the light fitting at the same time with no problems found.

Any suggestions?

telectrix · Nov 30, 2012

when the lamps blew, it's quite likely that a large fault current was created for a very short time, due to ionisation of the gas inside the lamp. this frequently blows fuses, trips MCBs, and fries dimmers. solution is a new dimmer, i'm afraid, and replace the lamps with halogen candle bulbs or dimmable LED s.

Octopus · Nov 30, 2012

How deep is the back box? Could the dimmer module be getting too hot?

FOBG45ER · Nov 30, 2012

telectrix said:
when the lamps blew, it's quite likely that a large fault current was created for a very short time, due to ionisation of the gas inside the lamp. this frequently blows fuses, trips MCBs, and fries dimmers. solution is a new dimmer, i'm afraid, and replace the lamps with halogen candle bulbs or dimmable LED s.

I will look to replace current incandescent bulbs with halogen bulbs but they only seem to be produced in the clear version not the frosted version - is that standard? The dimmer switch did come with some sort of gasket so perhaps this should be used to create a bit more space in the back of the box as not much gap at present. Need to buy another dimmer switch then.

Any reasons why the bulbs seem to be blowing fairly frequently or is it just something I have to live with?

i=p/u · Nov 30, 2012

maybe underlyin fault somewhere in circuit.... buy decent lamps too to suit dimmer and follow manufactures instrctions on dimmer..

chrish_1977 · Nov 30, 2012

Hi there, just fitted a load of these dimmers to a house I have rewired. The gasket is just to stop the finish of the wall eating into the finish on the dimmer. Just had two 2g dimmers go down within a week of each other so it may be a dodgy batch as I have another one still going strong, it's got LED lamps (instead of gu10's) fitted and these are all working fine