Dimmer switch

[aes2011]

I have a 400w dimmer switch controlling 6 x 40w candle wall lights and 2 x gu10 spots- 50w in my cafe. The place was completely re-wired three years ago. The dimmer is in a bank of 4 single dimmers in the back office.The dimmer has burnt out 3 times.First time it blew the sparky noticed that the gu10 had been replaced by non dim able energy savers...Second time the dimmer switch basically melted and was smoking, bad enough to call out fire brigade to my restaurant.Third time the sparks changed the dimmer to a 1000w, and last night it blew again.....anyone have an explanation as to why this could be happening?

 

[malcolmsanford]

The first 2 times seem to have been solved and I agree that the 3rd one that was fitted was to a much larger capacity.

Dimmers do not like Halogen GU 10 lamps, when these lamps fail, it is literally putting a fault onto the system and that fault can damage dimmers, which maybe the case here, had a lamp recently failed? Especially poor quality dimmers, do you know the make of the dimmer?

Really it is impossible to fault find over a forum. You could try replacing the lights for a different type, rather than keep replacing dimmers, not only dimmers can be of poor quality, so can light fittings.

 

[telectrix]

replace dimmer switch with a 10A rocker switch. after any faults have been found/rectified.

 

[Groucho Mace]

you say four dimmer switches in a bank! well max rating would be 1000W total across all dimmers and that's if its a metal face plate, heat from dimmers will effect others, I too would fit a rocker switch ;-)