RESOLVED:Chandelier not dimming - it’s not the switch…

[adamk83]

Hi! Wondering if anybody has a clue as to what may be going on. I had a dodgy dimmer switch that would sometimes not work (wouldn’t turn on, but it did dim) I have changed the switch with a new Varilight one. It’s a 2 gang switch, as was the old one, controlling 2 LED Chandeliers. Bulbs and wattage are correct and compatible with the new dimmer. The Left chandelier now no longer dims for some reason! Well it does but a tiny bit - hardly noticible at all. The right one is fine - I was sent a replacement dimmer switch as I thought it was a dodgy switch and same again! I have switched the chandelier cables and it definitely looks like it’s the chandelier causing the issue…is there a cable on the chandelier that specifically affects the dimming that may have come loose somewhere? Or any other ideas would be much appreciated! Thank you Adam

 

[ericmark]

Inside the bulb is a driver, that controls the power that goes through the actual LED this could be a simple resistance or capacitor, but could also be a switch mode device. The latter can auto compensate for any wave form chopping done by the dimmer switch.

 

[adamk83]

Inside the bulb is a driver, that controls the power that goes through the actual LED this could be a simple resistance or capacitor, but could also be a switch mode device. The latter can auto compensate for any wave form chopping done by the dimmer switch.

Thank you but It doesn’t seem to be a bulb issue…strangely seems to be something to do with the chandelier itself that has only started since I replaced the dimmer switch, very odd…and I’m certain it’s not the switch and I switched over to the other chandelier to test it and it dims perfectly…

 

[ericmark]

Low or extra low voltage bulbs?

 

[adamk83]

Dimmer allows 2 x 0-120w and each chandelier has 5 x LED 4w bulbs

 

[adamk83]

UPDATE: I had 1 sneaky Halogen bulb on one of the chandeliers. The chandelier that DOES dim properly. If I take the halogen out and replace it with an LED then that chandelier doesn’t dim. Which means the wattage of my led bulbs must be too low - I’m not sure why as this Varilight Dimmer is supposed to work 0-120w…

 

[Murdochcat]

Either swap to a hamilton LED dimmer module or swap the bulbs ?

 

[adamk83]

Thanks! I have resolved the issue now! Turns out, my switch didn’t come with the instruction manual which I just found online, this Varilight switch is programmable and you need to set the minimum and maximum brightness, which of course I had no idea about - sorry to waste your time!