Dimming mains halogen and tungsten filament on same circuit

[Nickcrossland]

Hi - I'm installing 4 x 50W mains halogen lamps in my hallway, wired in parallel from an existing ceiling rose. There is a also a 60W tungsten filament bulb 'round the corner' on the same circuit. Can one 450W dimmer switch dim the lot, or are there any complications with halogen and filament together?
Thanks!

 

[securespark]

Unless the dimmer is designed for TH loads, they should be derated 50%.

So, add up the TH load: 200W, and double it: 400W. Then add any other loads: 60W + whatever the existing ceiling rose you've tapped off is carrying.

Looks like you need a 600W dimmer minimum.

TLC have a 1kW dimmer on a single plate.

 

[Nickcrossland]

Great - thank you.

 

[breezer]

why install so many if you are going to dim them?

 

[Nickcrossland]

I don't think 4 halogen lamps is that many??

 

[Steve]

I don't think 4 halogen lamps is that many??

200 watts, where you would once have a single 60w lamp. . .

In fact an 11 watt energy saver would be plenty, and light the space more evenly than 4 halogen lamps.

You can now get energy saving lamps in the form of GU10 "halogen" spotlights. They give off a more even, and cleaner light than standard GU10 spots, and only consume 9 watts each. I have some in my bathroom, and am very pleased with them.

 

[Nickcrossland]

Thanks Crafty - I have had a look at these, but I thought the light was a bit cold and prefer the warmer colour of the halogens. The plan is to always use the dimmer, and I reckon they will be on at less than half their full power. Are there warmer GU10 LED's available? Presumably these can't be dimmed?

Cheers, Nick

 

[Adam_151]

I reckon they will be on at less than half their full power.

You might as well use a candle in that case then... half power would be very dim indeed, or if you mean half brilliance then they'll be consuming a lot more than half power, its important to realise that the two states do not coincide!

 

[ColJack]

then just buy 20W or 35W lamps you dimwit..

what's the point of putting 50W's in then dimming them to half brightness?