mains halogen and dimmer load

[moneypenny]

Please can anyone help?

I would like to fit a mains halogen light in my work room the one I had in mind has 6 GU10 50W adjustable bulbs, is mains supply 240v and is dimmable.

Would this amount of light be adequate for a 12 square metre room, and would a 600w dimmer be sufficant or should I go higher? The local DIY stores only stock up to 400w and look at me as if I'm crazy asking for anything more. Is this type of lighting uneconomical or should I be going for the low voltage recessed even though the room has a flat roof?

Thanks

 

[Steve]

this amount of light will be plenty. halogens dont dim well. you could always take a couple of bulbs out instead.

But seriously, think back to when you would have had a 60w bulb hanging on a wire in the midle of the room . . . . now 300w seems excessive, doesn't it?

Dimming halogens is bad for the halogen cycle, and the upshot is, if done often, the filament will form a black deposit on the capsule as it evaporates, thus the bulbs will appear dimmer, even on full power, and the bulbs probably wont last as long.

For 300w, you will need a 600w dimmer, unless the dimmer says "rated for halogen loads" when you can use a 300w one.

If its a work room, consider fluorescent tubes (minus the dimmers ofc), they are much better at distributing the light and much more eficient (halogens make pools of light but dont spread it around)

A few things to think about.

 

[moneypenny]

Thanks Crafty..... that was helpful.