Dimmable not Dimming!

[Rusty10]

Hi all

I finally mangaged to replace what was an old Dimmable Transformer with a nice new Dimmable Transformer...

However, all the spotlights (bar one, which i think has a faulty cable cos I changed the bulb!) come on but will not dim!

Erm, not sure what has happened!

Any help greatly appreciated

Cheers!

 

[securespark]

Damaged dimmer?

 

[breezer]

you dont have much luck with dimmers do you. you had a similar problem last year clicky

 

[Rusty10]

LOL

Yes quite right! Electrics and me are not on the same terms especially Transformers!

The transformer is new, so is there a seperate component that deals with the dimming side!

I'll try not to have any other issues with Dimming Spots!

 

[breezer]

most transformers are not a true transformer.

a true transformer is a oil of wire wound on a former then there is another coil on the other part of the former.

mains current in the primary coil creates a moving magnetic field in the secondary coil, this makes an electrical voltage / current. its called induction

that is why a transformer is so heavy. (its copper and iron) they usually last for years as there are no moving parts, and little to go wrong (except when they explode )

the ones you have are electronic transformers TBH i am not 100% sure how they actually work.

 

[Rusty10]

Many thanks for all your replies guys.

If the spotlight bulb blew would that possibly knock out the dimmer also? I guess if that was the case I would have to replace the dimmer switch?

Thanks again everyone!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

the ones you have are electronic transformers TBH i am not 100% sure how they actually work.

AFAIK they are a bit like switch-mode power supplies, where the input voltage is rectified, then put through an inverter which produces a high frequency AC voltage, which then goes into a transformer & output regulation stage. The reason for doing all this is that high frequency transformers are smaller & lighter than 50Hz ones.

Of course they lack the feedback regulation usually used in SMPSUs which makes them immune to input voltage variations over a wide range, otherwise you wouldn't be able to dim them.