New Dimmer Switch & Halogen Bulb = Flickering Lights

[ambient]

Hi,

We wanted to switch to dimmable lighting in the nursery so i went to B&Q and bought a dimmable halogen bulb (seems you can no longer buy incandescant bulbs) and a dimmer switch SINGLE 1-WAY 400W (as opposed to the 250W).

So I installed the bulb and switch and whilst things work fine at low or high light levels in the mid range the bulb flickers.

Its a bog standard mains lighting circuit, one switch, one bulb. Did I buy the wrong type of switch or is something else wrong?

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[knowall]

Hi, you don't have a large enough load on the dimmer, that's why it's flickering. Fit a higher wattage lamp.

KA

 

[ambient]

Thanks for the reply and explanation. Will replacing the switch with the 250W one not achieve the same? I would prefer the room weren't any brighter.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Look on the back of the dimmer. It will say something like 60-400W
If your lamp is less than 60watts then there's your problem.

The 250W dimmer may have a lower threshold. It will be written on the back.

 

[Steve]

I would prefer the room weren't any brighter.

You just bought a dimmer switch!!!

As other have said you either need more load on the dimmer or a smaller dimmer - you can buy low-load dimmers now, down to 10 watts, designed for dimmerable LEDs, but will work with single halogen lamps.

 

[ambient]

Thanks for replies, I exchanged the dimmer for the lower 250W version but still got the same flickering issues.

In the end I just sourced a good old incandescant bulb and it now works fine.

Look on the back of the dimmer. It will say something like 60-400W
If your lamp is less than 60watts then there's your problem.

The 250W dimmer may have a lower threshold. It will be written on the back.

FYI

The 400W dimmer said 60 - 400W
The 250W dimmer said 60 - 250W

 

[securespark]

Most 250W dimmers start at 40W.

Your previous lamp was probably 42W, so an issue for the 60W+ dimmers.