Dimmer problem

[Gary67]

Hi there, I have two rows of five pendent lights, each with a 60w bulb, which are controlled by a 2 gang dimmer switch. The other day, one side of the lights went out, so I replaced the old one with one from Scre**x it's a 2G 2W 2 x 400VA. Worked fine, but I noticed that the light furthest away from the switch on the originally faulty row was significantly brighter than the others. Now that side of the new dimmer switch has also packed in.

Any ideas wou;d be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary

 

[Gary67]

UPDATE: Just checked and it turns out the 'bright bulb' turns out to be a halogen bulb! Would this be the reason for the switch blowing?

Thanks
Gary

 

[Gary67]

UPDATE: Duh! I meant to say a Low energy bulb, not halogen.

Thanks
Gary

 

[rebuke]

That's quite likely to be the cause - most energy saving bulbs cannot be dimmed (as in, even if you dim them they're likely to stay fairly bright as you saw). Unfortunately, by dimming them you basically end up with a load the dimmer really isn't expecting (I'm sure someone else can go in to the technical details), which can quite easily damage it by causing bits to overheat or whatever...

 

[Gary67]

Thanks for your help Rebuke. Changed over the switch & removed Low Energy bulb. That seems to have solved the problem.

I'll repost if the problem persists even with the Low Energy bulbs out.

Thanks again,

Gary
AMDG

 

[Steve]

How can you fit a CFL without realising?

 

[Gary67]

Hi Steve,

I realise it might seem a bit strange, but the lights in question are in a restaurant that I own. I am a plumber, and my wife runs the restaurant. I only really pass through the restaurant, and therefore don't have much to do with the day to day running of it, and as you can imagine, the staff don't call me if a bulb needs changed. So bulb pops, staff replaces it with a Low energy job, and zaps the dimmer.

Believe it or not, as a plumber I actually done a course and passed as 'part P' qualified!! I'd be the first to tell you that the course is a piece of nonsense, if you don't have the previous knowledge. It seems you pay your money you get your qualification! Dangerous! I still sub out most of my electrical work.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

Regards
Gary
AMDG