Dimmer Switch

[Rossini]

Hello there

I've been reading this forum for years throughout our renovation project, but this is my first ever post. Thank you for all the helpful advice received on here over the years.

I have finally come undone on something which I can't resolve and feel hugely frustrated by!

We are renovating a 1930's semi, and I am replacing a standard light switch with a dimmer switch.

The light switch is a Marbo 250W one way dimmer switch (B&Q), and the light is a 5 lamp DAR Vaudeville chandelier (each lamp having a 40W bulb).

When i wire up the dimmer switch, and first turn on, the switch works, and the dimmer operates smoothly and correctly. However, once the switch is turned off for the first time, when i turn it back on, i have either intermittent flickering, just the odd flicker, or no light at all. This worsens rapidly until the switch just doesn't work and the light remains constantly unlit.

I have repeated this by taking the switch off and putting back, again it works in first instance, and starts to fail after being switched off for the first time.

I have now also tried this with a Marbo 400W one way dimmer switch (after reading posts on here) and the problem is the same as above.

I'm completely baffled. In my mind:

1. It can't be the light, because i know this lights up when initially connected.

2. It can't be the connections in the back of the switch, because i have made sure these are secure when initially connected (and the light works when initially connected).

3. Something must happen when the dimmer switch is turned off for the firt time, that then stops the electricity passing through the switch when turned back on.

Any advice greatly received. I'm not sure my family will enjoy eating their turkey in the dark this Christmas!

Ross

 

[deadshort]

Are you 100% sure the light fitting is dimmable ? It sounds as if it's not.


Regards,

DS

 

[Rossini]

Hi Deadshort

Thanks for swift reply, how would i find this information out?

Below are the details for the light:

http://www.oceanlighting.co.uk/ceil...nal-ceiling-light-antique-brass-finish-p16121

Thanks agin.

Ross

 

[bernardgreen]

what type of lamps ( bulbs ) have you fitted, it they are 230v filament lamps then they should dim normally on almost any type of dimmer. If they are energy saving lamps then the lamp type and dimmer type have to be compatible.

The fitting appears to to be just lamp holders connected to the terminals in the ceiling rose so the fitting will not affect the operation of the dimmer. If the lamps were not 230 v that would suggest a "transformer" of some sort was built into the fitting and that would require a type of dimmer that was compatible with the type of "transformer"

 

[deadshort]

Hi,

You may just have a faulty dimmer switch. The flickering effect can be caused because the dimmer is being 'underloaded' but you would appear to have 5x40 =200w load on a 250w dimmer so, all should be well !

Try the dimmer on another light or take it back and buy an MK or Crabtree.

Regards,

DS

 

[Rossini]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have now tried three dimmer switches, and I get a similar result.

The dimmer/light works at the beginning, but after turning off/on a couple of times, or increasing/decreasing brightness a couple of times, the responsiveness becomes intermittent, and after a while gives up completely.

It seems as if the adjustment somehow causes a connection to break somewhere, but I just don't understand how this is possible. I am ensuring that the wires are screwed into the switch tightly, and when I remove the switch plate the wires are still securely in position.

Out of interest, if I touch the two wires together with the power on, without the switch, sometimes the light doesn't light up at first, and it struggles to get a good connection, once it has found a good connection, the light remains lit and there seems to be a good connection. Do you think the issue might be something to do with the conductivity of the wires?

Any help greatly received. I really want to keep this dimmer switch, and hate giving in, but I'm very close to doing so!

Thanks again.

Ross

 

[EFLImpudence]

Out of interest, if I touch the two wires together with the power on, without the switch, sometimes the light doesn't light up at first, and it struggles to get a good connection, once it has found a good connection, the light remains lit and there seems to be a good connection. Do you think the issue might be something to do with the conductivity of the wires?

In view of that, there would appear to be a loose connection somewhere.

Did it always work properly before the dimmer was fitted?

 

[Rossini]

I there

Yes, when it was a standard switch there were no problems.

Many thanks

 

[EFLImpudence]

Could one of the copper wires be broken inside the insulation?

Does one of the wires feel floppy at any point?