Time delay switches.

[Agile]

I was asked to check the hall lights in a block of flats on three floors.

There is a TDS on each floor which controls ALL the lights.

The lights comprise a circuit of 200w of 12v bulbs supplied by a torroidal TXFMR. There are about 8 60w candle bulbs and a couple of 15w low energy fluorescents.

The total current load is 3.4A which is well within the 10A rating of the ELKAY TDS although the TXFMR has a considerable inrush current.

The TDS switches rarely last more than one year.

Is this make less reliable than others ir is it just that its being used in a situation which is more demanding than expected?

Tony

 

[ricicle]

Is the 10A rating resistive or inductive (10AX). If the lights are switched on and off quite often then the inrush of the Tx could shorten the life of the switch quite considerably.