Halogen lights

eamonnmartin · Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2003 5:16 pm Post Subject: Halogen lights

Can you use dimmer switches with Gu10 halogen lights? I have 2 fittings running off one switch which worked for a while but now it's only working very rarely and only at full brightness when it does. As you can probably tell I'm a complete novice with these things so any advice is gladly accepted.

Guest · Location: United Kingdom Thanked: 0 times

Not being familiar with the actual lamps you refer to
option 1)
If they are low voltage and running from a transformer.
Most normal dimmer switches can not run a conventional transformer with out going wrong (as yours appears to have) you need to have an eletronic transfomer which you can get from (also an electronic dimmer too)

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=10066&ts=55416

Option 2)

If they are mains fed lamps you may have over loaded your dimmer switch, in which case you will need to get a bigger one that can handle the total wattage of your lamps

If you are in America i would suggest you try a local electrical wholesaler

DNADECORATING · Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2003 10:08 pm Post Subject: Re: Halogen lights

THE GU 10'S ARE 12VOLT LIGHTS YOU CAN USE THEM WITH A DIMMER (IN YOUR CASE I THINK THAT YOU NEED A NEW SWITCH-HOW LONG DID THE OLD ONE ACTUALLY WORK FOR?)

Guest · Location: United Kingdom Thanked: 0 times

I am gratefull for the fact that you said the lamps are 12 volt, however just changing the switch (to an identical one) is only curing the problem not the cause. it is a popular misconception that a dimmer switch can run any light.

If you look at the link it does say it is "full dimmable"
there is also a dimmer switch made specifialy for "electronic transformers"

it is http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=18588&ts=66712

Lee1980sim · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:42 am Post Subject:

if you have 2 fittings running from 1 switch then you have probably overloaded the switch as most switches will only power one fitting you will more than likely need to replace the switch with a more powerful one or change your bulbs to ones that when all added up only come to the total wattage that the switch can handle (not an expect but daddy is lol

)

Pens · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:56 pm Post Subject:

Steve · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:23 pm Post Subject:

Wonders never cease to amaze . . . Lee has made 3 posts, one in reply to a thread MORE THAN THREE YEARS OLD! I mean, in what manner has he been exploring the forum????

I do hope eamonn martin solved his problem though.

Pens · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:38 pm Post Subject:

Lee1980sim wrote:

(not an expect but daddy is lol

)

Crafty.. With the advise given above - I doubt it

sdminus · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:57 pm Post Subject:

GU10's are NOT 12 VOLT.
neither are GZ10's

Gu and GZ 10 lamps have a max rating of 50 Watts each. they will not require high capacity switches. Ie if there is only 2 of the lamps a conventional 200 W or 5 A switch will be adequate

Scott