250w or 400w power output on dimmer switch?

[Peeweefc]

Could someone confirm or correct me on this please?
Does the power output on the light switch refer to the total wattage from the lamps controlled by that switch? For instance a 250w switch could have no more than 5x50w lamps on it, a 400w switch could have no more than 8x50w lamps.
Thanks

 

[ericmark]

Not quite but near enough correct.

Many bulbs use more power on switch on than in use and so many dimmers in the instructions will stipulate the type of bulb or other device which can be powered from it. And may also down grade the maximum size with certain types of bulb.

In industry we have similar devices often called 4 - 20 mA where the first 4 mA is used to power the device. Dimmer switches in the main also need some power to work the switch the better ones declare both a minimum and maximum bulb wattage and if leading or lagging and with two way switching if a slave can be used.

The quartz bulb in theroy should not be dimmer but often are as it reduces the life of the bulb. They also seem to have rather a high current when first switched on so although a 250W dimmer would power 4 x 60W standard tungsten bulbs used with 5 x 50W quartz bulbs it may fail and since you in theroy should not use it with quartz bulbs they don't always tell you.

 

[JohnW2]

The quartz bulb in theroy should not be dimmer but often are as it reduces the life of the bulb.

I presume you are referring to halogen lamps/bulbs. If so, we've been through this many times before and, although information is a bit confused/confusing, I don't think what you say is correct. Dimming filament bulbs/lamps, of any type, generally increases their life. However, since they are designed to run at high temperature, it seems that the increase in life one sees when dimming a halogen lamp/bulb is not as great as the increase in life would one see with the same degree of dimming of a non-halogen filament lamp. That's how I understand it, anyway.

Kind Regards, John

 

[deadshort]

Could someone confirm or correct me on this please?
Does the power output on the light switch refer to the total wattage from the lamps controlled by that switch? For instance a 250w switch could have no more than 5x50w lamps on it, a 400w switch could have no more than 8x50w lamps.
Thanks

Led that's the way to go !

Kind Regards,

DS

 

[Taylortwocities]

Led that's the way to go !

Yes, but that has another challenge for dimmers. With GLS/halogen lamps etc, the issue is the maximum load that the dimmer can handle. as ooutlined by the OP.

With LEDs the issue is that many dimmers cannot operate unless there at least is a load appropriate for the dimmer.

So if you put 3 x 10watt LED lamps on most dimmers it will not work.
The dimmer may state something like 40W-250W.

There are so-called LO-WATT dimmers that are designed to work in this environment. The LED manufacturer may have a list of dimmers that workwith their products.

(The LED fitting/driver will, of course, need to be dimmer-able!)

 

[deadshort]

Just fitted 8x 8w GU10 Philips Led lamps with an Aurora 40w min load dimmer works a treat, no flicker or random flashing !

DS

 

[Peeweefc]

Thanks for the replies, my question is for 3 sets of 2 clear candle bulbs, my guess would be 400w dimmer switch but is there also a minimum power output that I should look out for?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Candle bulbs means nothing.

You need to tell us which wattage, what?

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks for the replies, my question is for 3 sets of 2 clear candle bulbs, my guess would be 400w dimmer switch but is there also a minimum power output that I should look out for?

That obviously depends upon the power of the candle bulbs/lamps. Six times the power of one of those lamps obviously needs to be lower than the maximum, and higher than the minimum, specified on the dimmer.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Peeweefc]

Sorry, i'll get the hang of this soon and give all the info at the start. 40w lamps. So 240w altogether. Is this too close to the 250w just in case they get changed for higher wattage in the future?
Thanks

 

[Taylortwocities]

250w is fine, get a 400w dimmer if you want to spend the extra ££.
Your lampholder probably says 40w maximum..

 

[JohnW2]

40w lamps. So 240w altogether. Is this too close to the 250w just in case they get changed for higher wattage in the future?

As TTC has said, a 250W dimer should theoretically be fine - but, personally speaking, 240W is so close to that maximum that I'd probably go for the 400W one - which, as you say, would also remain fine should you go for higher wattage in the future.

240W will be way above the minimum for any dimmer, so that's no problem.

Is this just for one room? 240W is not only a lot of light for one room (unless very large) but also represents a significant running cost. Have you considered energy-saving or LED lamps/bulbs, which would use much less electricity (but would possibly raise other dimming issues)?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Peeweefc]

Thanks guys for advice. Yes it is one room but it's an odd shaped room and the lights are on the walls, hence more lights. I was under the impression energy saving lamps weren't dimmable, is this correct or just something I've misheard/read somewhere? LED#s would be good but would this not require more electrical work?
Regards
Pete

 

[Taylortwocities]

Dimmable LED Candle Lamps

There are lots more available. No wiring needed, they just replace the existing..