I should know better, but...
Today I bought some bargain-priced dimmable LEDs at Elex. We have a four-spot fitting in the kitchen, run via a Clipsal dimmer about 10 years old. No idea if it is a leading or trailing edge.
Fitted the LEDs, turned the dimmer on - a brief flash of light and the MCB tripped. Put the halogens back in, reset the MCB, and all worked fine. At this point the senior moment ended and I realised the dimmer is rated for 40 - 400 W, the LEDs 4 W each. Fitted just one 50 W halogen instead of one of the LEDs, and the same happened. Then I tried 3 halogens and one LED - tripped again!
Now I know I should have checked the dimmer was a trailing edge type, but I'm surprised the LEDs could trip the MCB. I'm also a bit surprised the dimmer survived the abuse. I would have expected flickering or just no output at all, but not a surge of current sufficient to trip a B6.
The supplier checked the LEDs were still working and gave me a refund, but can anyone suggest why the surge of current? It's puzzling me!
Today I bought some bargain-priced dimmable LEDs at Elex. We have a four-spot fitting in the kitchen, run via a Clipsal dimmer about 10 years old. No idea if it is a leading or trailing edge.
Fitted the LEDs, turned the dimmer on - a brief flash of light and the MCB tripped. Put the halogens back in, reset the MCB, and all worked fine. At this point the senior moment ended and I realised the dimmer is rated for 40 - 400 W, the LEDs 4 W each. Fitted just one 50 W halogen instead of one of the LEDs, and the same happened. Then I tried 3 halogens and one LED - tripped again!
Now I know I should have checked the dimmer was a trailing edge type, but I'm surprised the LEDs could trip the MCB. I'm also a bit surprised the dimmer survived the abuse. I would have expected flickering or just no output at all, but not a surge of current sufficient to trip a B6.
The supplier checked the LEDs were still working and gave me a refund, but can anyone suggest why the surge of current? It's puzzling me!