Dimmer Question

[darrenh]

I have 9 * 50 Watt down lights running off what would appear to be a 250 Watt dimmer. The maths tells me this is not a good idea.

Will this be ok short term (was like this when I moved in) or shall I change it ASAP.

PS Can you get dimmers for 450 watt?

D

 

[ZenStalinist]

I would reccomend you change it when you can, and that you don't use the lights for too often in the meantime.

You can get 450 watt dimmers, and even 1000 watt dimmers. These dimmers are suitable:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VL1000.html
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK1501.html

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Are these mains voltage lights, or 12V?

 

[darrenh]

They are 50W spot lights - about an inch wide......

 

[securespark]

What do the lamp pins look like? Thin and same diameter all they way along? Or more chunky with nipples on the end?

(DON'T!!).

 

[darrenh]

they are two little pins witht he same tiny diameter - they are the ones that require their own transformer.

 

[brown-nought]

Eureka 12v ... 1 Inch wide.

12v halogens derate the dimmer, or put another way -

60VA transformer (per 50w light) give 540VA which is too big for a 450w dimmer (never mind 250w!). I belive the TLC website has a table showing the correct dimmer rating for halogen lights.