How to dim light without using a dimmer

[Yukster]

A second lamp is a poor solution, due to the wasted heat, and the fact that when the second lamp fails, the main one won't work either.

The transformer option is far better. For only one lamp, something like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290731681595 would be adequate.

Thanks. How do I connect it? I'm guessing but do i connect the live wire (previously connected tot he lamp) in to the live main socket pin (plugged to the transformer), connect the neutral wire from the socket to the lamp live terminal and the light neutral goes stay as is. Is that totally wrong?

 

[RF Lighting]

Won't there be mains hum from any inductive load such as a transformer?

 

[333rocky333]

Thanks! what is a CLS lamp? I googled it but I'm still not sure which lamp i need.

think he may mean a GLS lamp

 

[Yukster]

Won't there be mains hum from any inductive load such as a transformer?

Which creates less mains noise/distortion, a dimmer or a transformer?

 

[Aragorn84]

Dont dimmers do horrible chopping up of the waveform?

A transformer would be less noisy i'd have thaught.

Any amplifier i've ever seen has a big transformer inside for the main power supply, so they cant be that bad!

 

[flameport]

Thanks. How do I connect it? I'm guessing but do i connect the live wire (previously connected tot he lamp) in to the live main socket pin (plugged to the transformer), connect the neutral wire from the socket to the lamp live terminal and the light neutral goes stay as is

If you wanted to use that specific item, a single unswitched socket would be fitted to the lighting circuit, that transformer plugged into it, and the new lamp plugged in via the socket on the front (a 2 pin US one, but the plugs are readily available).

Or a bare transformer could be obtained, placed into a suitable enclosure and the wiring permanently connected.

Either way, given your comment about connecting, it is something you would not be doing yourself.