GU10 - 4 lamp spot light - Something odd...

[Dzzi]

Hi
My first post and i'd like to apologise in advance for the length of this post but i know how important it is to have all the information if you are going to help with a potential diagnosis.

A while back i fitted a 4 spot light gu10 bar type light and dimmer switch in my sons bedroom. While im not in anyway an electrician my Dad was and i am confident when dealing with the basics of replacing light fittings/switches.

Anyway all went fine, its been working for a year then on Sunday all the lights upstairs went out, the breaker (mcb??) had flipped and i pushed it back on with no issue, all lights back on except in my sons bedroom.

I know gu10's can be problematic so i thought, outside chance all 4 bulbs blew for some reason. My other Son has a similar light fitting, i took all the working bulbs out of his light and then tried the bulbs from the faulty light 1 at a time in this fitting 2 out of 4 failed to light.

I then took a known to be working bulb back to the light fitting that had the 4 none illuminated bulbs and tried it in each of the 4 holders one at a time, and nothing.

Other background info. I think my son has been leaving the dimmer on i.e. turning it right down and not switching it off by pressing it, or at least this is what my wife thinks he's doing.

The fitting is from screwfix (sorry if im not supposed to mention that) they no longer do it and im wondering if that is due to it going faulty after a while.

Ok so, I can understand 2 blown gu10's but why when i put a known bulb in each holder in turn does it now not work ?

I've not taken the fitting down as it's dark when i get home and i am concerned something outside my experience has happened here...so want to turn all the power off before i touch it.

Anyhow any advice or futher questions really welcomed as at the moment i can see myself forking out for a new light.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Dzzi]

now that is interesting i have noticed and moaned about a run of bulb failures in the kitchen etc, but hadn't considered that the tolerances would be that tight they would go within days of each other...
So in my case maybe 2 gu10's failed at the same time and fried the dimmer...

If anyone fancies commenting on the dimmer i linked to above i would be grateful.
The fact TLC have a dimmer specifically for GU10 lights seems to support the opions of the erstwhile forum members...

 

[Sparks-R-Us]

Hi Dzzi, have a look at the total specs of the dimmer here(http://www.varilight.co.uk/leaflets/varilight_catalogue.pdf) then make your choice...There is a new dimmer out(J1 series) which is Silent Intelegent(all loads including transformers and GU10's)...Home this helps

 

[Dzzi]

just a quick update, bought a new non dimmer type switch fitted it...all worked fine.
managed to get a replacement dimmer unit for the original one, not much cheaper but meant i could keep the original switch plate etc, which matches the other sockets in the room.

Thanks for the advice, i would have probably taken the light fitting down for a look first, so you all saved me sometime.
Cheers Gents.

 

[telectrix]

if it goes again, dump the dimmer, fit a 10A rocker switch and buy your son a pair of shades.

 

[oldtimer]

I had a tenant who said there something wrong with the electrics the lamps are popping at the same time in the kitchen but the funny thing is that the 2 in the alcove are fine. So do you switch the alcove on at the same time as the kitchen. No she said I hardly switch them on at all and you dont see them popping at the same time she said

Aye every day is a school day