Dimmer not dimming

[reb78]

I have just fitted a trailing edge dimmer. Fitted it with old filament bulbs as I had them handy and knew they would work. After a couple of hours a bulb blew. I stupidly put a halogen bulb in there that i had lying around - it didnt light, but now after replacing with a filament bulb that light wont dim anymore.

Have I ruined the unit? Any fixes or do
i need to replace? That will teach me to waste a day doing the lights in the dining room to make nice for tomorrow lunch time!!

 

[reb78]

Oh, just to add in case it matters, its a two bulb light and i had a filament and halogen in there at one point.

And this was the switch - https://www.mlaccessories.co.uk/pro...railing-edge-dimmer-square-edge-antique-brass

 

[brightspark]

the hal;ogen or the filament bulb blowing has probably knacked the dimmer . a comon fault they sometimes even knack 6 amp m,cb when they blow

 

[reb78]

Found a replacement module if needed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knightsbridge-10-200W-Trailing-Dimmer-VFR200M/dp/B07G8KC2WP#immersive-view_1671905296143

 

[reb78]

the hal;ogen bulb blowing has probably knacked the dimmer . a comon fault

Bugger. It all turns on now but wont dim. I'll order that module and replace it. Its a 3 gang switch.

 

[brightspark]

Bugger. It all turns on now but wont dim. I'll order that module and replace it. Its a 3 gang switch.

just buy a single module and fit it in the 3 gang plate

 

[reb78]

just buy a single module and fit it in the 3 gang plate

Will do. Just annoyed as i was doing it for tomorrow. I am ocd about lights and things working!

 

[reb78]

I presume its safe to use as just an on/off switch?

 

[brightspark]

I presume its safe to use as just an on/off switch?

yep

 

[reb78]

yep

Ta.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

It’s probably blown the three leggedy thing. If it has a type number on it, you could just order one off Ebay and solder it in.

 

[brightspark]

a new modules only about 8 or 9 quid

 

[reb78]

Ordered the same module already. Slightly less ****** off with myself now.

 

[reb78]

Another bulb just blew and took the dimmer out with it. I will get some dimmable leds i think!

 

[eddie49]

I seem to remember that as a boy I took a blown lightbulb to pieces ( in order to see how they work, as you do when you're about 8 years old ), and there was a tiny glass-cased fuse on each of the two wires leading to, and supporting, the filament. Do they not bother to make them like that any more?

 

[Kram]

A bulb blowing shouldnt bother a dimmer, if it was a newish one I would return it, as its not fit for purpose. I've never killed a dimmer yet and a pair of them were older than me.

We use varilight vpro dimmers now, to be honest they are the best I have found, as recommended on here but still shiet.

 

[brightspark]

A bulb blowing shouldnt bother a dimmer, if it was a newish one I would return it, as its not fit for purpose. I've never killed a dimmer yet and a pair of them were older than me.

We use varilight vpro dimmers now, to be honest they are the best I have found, as recommended on here but still shiet.

i get a fair few re fitting them .not saying i get a lot probs about 5 a year simlar to welding the contacts on a 10 amp switch after the bulb blew and ruined a 10 amp mcb as well , the amperage can be quite high

 

[eddie49]

Found some info about fused vs. non-fused GLS bulbs, and their effect on dimmers on the DIYnot Forum

"I can't speak for markets outside the UK, but of those TF lamps still for sale inside the UK, the good quality ones do have [ fuses ]. Sometimes it is written on the packaging: internally fused for safety.
When I started as a spark, GE lamps used to put on the box "fitted with ballotini fuse for safety".
I was told jokingly by the lecturer that the fuse was named after the Italian bloke who invented it, but found out some years later he was just pulling my leg... the "ballotini" are glass beads that surround the fusewire inside the lamp.

Indeed some dimmer manufacturers like MK used to put (don't know whether they still do as it's a while since I've bought one!) a warning in the box saying that lamps used with their dimmers had to be fused otherwise their dimmers would get toasted when the lamps failed.
Of course, in the good old days (oh yes, I remember them well...), MK and other dimmer manufacturers used to put fuses in the dimmers to protect them from failed lamps. Excellent idea. They don't do that now because they are penny-pinching."

And also:

End of Lamp Life

 

[Wedg1e]

Sounds like a failed triac.
I used to have a dimmer on my lounge light that failed simultaneously with bulbs blowing. After replacing the triac a couple of times I couldn't be 4r53d any longer and just put the switch back in.