Adding a dimmer switch to a lamp

[zzzuppp]

I have an anglepoise type lamp, 110-240v 50-60 hz (max 60 w bulb). At the moment it has a halogen bulb but it should work with a regular 60w (screw-in type). It has a switch along the cable to the mains.

What I want to do is add a dimmer switch to the cable so that I can fade the lamp up and down. It doesn't matter if the light is still powered when dimmed, more important is to have an element of control over the fading.

I've seen a page of dimmer switches here:-
http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/controls.aspx?t=603

I'd prefer one that used a slider or rotary knob rather than a switch, but would any of those be suitable and easily added, or are they too powerful/dangerous? I'm no expert with electronics so would appreciate any advice.

 

[Iggifer]

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/item.aspx?&t=603&r=604&i=5554

you could use that one. it would just replace the existing switch, and more than likely. be wired in exactly the same way

 

[zzzuppp]

Thanks Iggifer-so even though it has a much higher potential wattage, it wouldn't be in danger of blowing the light?
And when you say it could replace the existing switch, does that necesssarily mean that you could only turn the light fully off by unplugging it?

 

[EFLImpudence]

even though it has a much higher potential wattage, it wouldn't be in danger of blowing the light?

No, the wattage is determined by your lamp.
The dimmer rating is what it can handle.
They have a minimum as well so make sure your lamp (60watts) is in the range.

And when you say it could replace the existing switch, does that necessarily mean that you could only turn the light fully off by unplugging it?

That one would but some have a switch as well.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I have an anglepoise type lamp, 110-240v 50-60 hz (max 60 w bulb).

Err....

Doesn't that imply that it has an ELV lamp, powered by a switch-mode PSU?

You can't dim that - it's designed to work at any voltage between 110 and 240, and still maintain the same output for the lamp.

 

[zzzuppp]

It's an IKEA Tertial lamp, coming without a bulb, and in the blurb they recommend 'LEDARE LED bulb E27 8.1W 400 Lumen'.

The bulb I have in it at the moment is
ES0806G7/E12 7W
120mA 290lm 2700K
AC120V/60Hz 1033

which is a C7 with an E12 base and 7 watt, I am told.

Would one of these work with it? -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1926E4G7XH3051E7TK61

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It's an IKEA Tertial lamp, coming without a bulb, and in the blurb they recommend 'LEDARE LED bulb E27 8.1W 400 Lumen'.

OK - it's not a light with a PSU - lord knows why Ikea quote that voltage and frequency range - anything less than 240V would be fine. If you wanted you could put a 12V DC lamp in there and run it off a car battery, as long as it was less than 60W. Or maybe 35W if they've used really thin wiring inside.

The bulb I have in it at the moment is
ES0806G7/E12 7W
120mA 290lm 2700K
AC120V/60Hz 1033

which is a C7 with an E12 base and 7 watt, I am told.

How can it be an E12 lamp if the holder is an E27? Is there an adapter?

Would one of these work with it? -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...KL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1926E4G7XH3051E7TK61[/QUOTE]
Do Ikea say whether it is dimmable?

 

[zzzuppp]

OK I might be wrong about the E12-I saw that online in answer to a question about the same bulb. It definitely says E27 on the bulb, and no, there are no adapters.
IKEA doesn't mention whether it's dimmable. It's not too expensive for me to give it a try-so which of the dimmers above would be best?

 

[JohnW2]

OK I might be wrong about the E12-I saw that online in answer to a question about the same bulb.

What about the "AC120V/60 Hz" bit - might you be wrong about that, too?

Kind Regards, John

 

[zzzuppp]

Oh whoops-you're right. This is why you should never copy things from the internet! (I did put the model number into Google, and that's what came up).

OK this is what my bulb ACTUALLY says on it:

7W 315lm45lm/w Model no. ES0806G7 E27 NSW24053
220-240V-50/60Hz 60mA

 

[ban-all-sheds]

IKEA doesn't mention whether it's dimmable. It's not too expensive for me to give it a try-so which of the dimmers above would be best?

IHNI.

Don't forget to factor in the cost of the dimmer to your "not too expensive" in case that gets damaged, and recognise that if it doesn't work it might be that you had the wrong dimmer, not that it can't be dimmed.

Maybe you should find a known dimmable LED lamp first.

 

[zzzuppp]

OK folks let's start again.

It doesn't matter to me what kind of bulb it uses, so long as I can dim the light up and down with an element of control. I've just tried an ordinary 60 watt (old-fashioned, non energy-saving) bulb in it and it works just fine.

So would either of the following two dimmers work with that setup (Ikea lamp w. ordinary 60w bulb)?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1926E4G7XH3051E7TK61

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/item.aspx?&t=603&r=604&i=5554

And, just out of interest, would they work if it had a lo-energy bulb instead?

 

[JohnW2]

So would either of the following two dimmers work with that setup (Ikea lamp w. ordinary 60w bulb)?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1926E4G7XH3051E7TK61
http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/item.aspx?&t=603&r=604&i=5554[/QUOTE]
Definitely yes for the second (40W-160W), with an 'ordinary' (old-fashioned incandescent) 60W lamp. Almost certainly OK (with a similar 60W lamp) for the first, although it doesn't state the minimum lamp size. Note that neither of these have an 'on/off' switch.

And, just out of interest, would they work if it had a lo-energy bulb instead?

No, not with an ordinary low-energy bulb. There are (expensive) 'dimmable' ones around, but I wouldn't be the one to say that any particular one of them would work with any particular dimmer!

Kind Regards, John