Motion Switch and Halogen Light

[jeetmistry]

Hi,

I've got a halogen light in my downstairs Loo (3 x 50w), and wanted to fit a motion switch so that it would turn on when the little kiddies walked in there. However from what I've heard most motion switches don't work with a halogen fitting.

Does anyone know if there is a motion switch that will work with such a fittings and how I can get around this problem.

Jeet

 

[breezer]

says who?

above is a 500w halogen lamp with pir

 

[jeetmistry]

So what do they mean when they say only suitable for incandscent lighting on not low voltage, halogen, energy saving or flourecent lighting?

 

[TicklyT]

Depending on what type of lamps you have. There are two types of halogen lamp in common use.

A 240 volt halogen lamp behaves in much the same way as a GLS lamp (ordinary light bulb), albeit with a higher start up current. To the switch they both look like resistive loads.
As a rule of thumb, selecting a switch capable of handling twice the rated wattage of the lamps should handle the start up current for 240 volt halogen lamps.

But a 12 volt halogen lamp is usually powered by either a transformer or a switch mode power supply. These present an inductive load that may damage the electronics in the switch.

Energy saving lamps often incorporate electronics in the lamp that again may damage a switch designed to handle resistive loads only.

 

[jeetmistry]

TricklyT,

Thanks that's really helpful. It make it much clearer.

One further question so this means that with my 3x50w bulbs I need a switch capable of handling 300w load?

Jeet