Please could someone give information on the effects of dimming an un dimmable transformer ie.for a 12v light fitting,does it shorten the life of the transformer/lamp.
Dimming an undimmable transformer
- Thread starter Zoonie
- Start date
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breezer
an undimabale electronic transformer will not dim. for the price i would get a dimable one
Thanks for the quick response,however the reason i asked is because i fitted such lights today in replace of other lights and there was a dimmer for the original (mains fitting),i couldnt see any information on the new 12v lights to say they could be dimmed and they werent the electronic type,allthough i did connect them to the dimmer before changing to a switch and they did dim...so could they be dimmed or would there be any sideeffects
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breezer
sounds like a dimabale transformer, its not the lights you have to worry about, its can the transformer be dimmed, yes in this case (so it would seem)
real torodial transformers (ie the things with a big core coiled in lots of wire) can be dimmed though you need to make sure the dimmer is capable of handling them (they present far more inductance than either dimmable electronic transformers or filiment bulbs)
I think plugwash hit the nail,it sounds like that type,thanks for all your quick replies
p.s is it true to say then if a transformer that isnt dimmable wont dim?
p.s is it true to say then if a transformer that isnt dimmable wont dim?
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breezer
Zoonie said:
I bet you havent got a torodial transformer
here is one. (big lump on left, blue things on right are capacitors) The reason i bet you havent is because of cost, now a days with all things being cheap, they are more than likely to have a cheap electronic transformer rather than a decent ("expensive") torodial transformer.
as for
you forget this is a public forum, i did tell you, if an electronic transformer is not dimable then you can not dim itZoonie said:
i guess that depends on your definition of not dimmable
a unit that doesn't claim to be dimmable may work fine
or it may fail to work in a non-destructive way
or it may dim fine for a while then cook either itself or the dimmer.
a unit that doesn't claim to be dimmable may work fine
or it may fail to work in a non-destructive way
or it may dim fine for a while then cook either itself or the dimmer.
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Big_Spark
Breezer, the picture you posted is misleading, that is a picture of a toroidal Tx, but it has a DC output and is thus not designed for use on LV lighting.
Torroidal or other similar wire wound Tx's give an AC output, and load for load are cheaper than electronic as they last at least 10 time longer.
Plugs observation about the dimmer being capable of supporting such Tx's is spot on.
If you have 300W of LV lighting attached to a dimmer, it will need to be rated at about 500W to ensure you do not get undue noise and heat build up. This will effectively mean a 600W rated dimmer as they tend to be 250W, 400W, 600W and so on.
Torroidal or other similar wire wound Tx's give an AC output, and load for load are cheaper than electronic as they last at least 10 time longer.
Plugs observation about the dimmer being capable of supporting such Tx's is spot on.
If you have 300W of LV lighting attached to a dimmer, it will need to be rated at about 500W to ensure you do not get undue noise and heat build up. This will effectively mean a 600W rated dimmer as they tend to be 250W, 400W, 600W and so on.
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breezer
i do agree, but it was the first on line picture i found (that was reasonable) , and also i did point out that the transformer is "the big lump on the left"
although it could be conceived as misleading, only any qualified person would notice that bit , this is a diy forum, and as such i wanted to show what a transformer looks like. next time i will search harder.
although it could be conceived as misleading, only any qualified person would notice that bit , this is a diy forum, and as such i wanted to show what a transformer looks like. next time i will search harder.
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Big_Spark
Daily Report Card:
Student: Breezer
Grade: Smarty Pants
Teacher: Mrs Breezer
Report:
Generally a good egg and helpful to other students however must search harder
Student: Breezer
Grade: Smarty Pants
Teacher: Mrs Breezer
Report:
Generally a good egg and helpful to other students however must search harder
breezer said:Zoonie said:
I bet you havent got a torodial transformer
here is one. (big lump on left, blue things on right are capacitors) The reason i bet you havent is because of cost, now a days with all things being cheap, they are more than likely to have a cheap electronic transformer rather than a decent ("expensive") torodial transformer.
as foryou forget this is a public forum, i did tell you, if an electronic transformer is not dimable then you can not dim itZoonie said:
I bet it did look like that... but with out the capacitors and they were expensive lights.
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breezer
bet it didn't
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