Problem with halogen light fitting

[WeeDavie]

We moved to a new home in January. In the dining room is a ceiling light fitting with 4 small halogen bulbs (Phillips G9) controlled by a dimmer switch. Up until last week it all worked perfectly. Then one evening there was a flash and the lights went out and tripped out the downstairs lighting circuit. I found that one bulb had blackened and was obviously gone. When I replaced the bulb the fitting still didn't work. I can't detect any other damage to the fitting. Could it be a problem with the dimmer switch? Can anyone advis eme please?

 

[RF Lighting]

Yep.

A failing lamp can destroy a dimmer switch, although normally they fail in a way which results in the switch part working, but it can no longer be dimmed.

The dimmer would be my first suspect.

 

[ricicle]

Some makes of dimmer have a small fuse located in a pull out at the bottom of the switch plate - check this as they can operate when a lamp blows to protect the dimmer !

 

[Golaboots888]

I was under the impression that you can't reliably use a halogen light (transformer inside) with a standard dimmer switch.

I was told the indictance of the transformer resists instantanious current change such as that provided by the thyristor in a dimmer switch.

Is that right?

We retrofitted a halogen on a circuit with a dimmer and it worked for a while before going pop, now just the on off switch works.

 

[WeeDavie]

Thanks to RF Lighting. I changed the dimmer switch for a new one today and the lights are now back working perfectly - until the next bulb blows I suppose. Thanks for the helpful advice.