Dimmer Switch Problem.

[Griff500]

Hi All,

I am gradually replacing all my upstairs lights with down lighters, I am simply disconnecting the old ceiling rose pulling the wires through in the loft and reconnecting into the rose and then taking the feed out to my new lights from the old flex connection in the rose. I am also changing the switches to dimmers (all singles). All has worked fine until now. I have one room which when the new dimmer was fitted it buzzed loudly when first put on, I changed the switch and when the dimmer was pressed on the lights flashed on quickly and then nothing, changed the switch once again and it worked ok for a while but this third switch now also just flashes the lights on when pushed and then they go off immediately.... Any ideas, I have checked and doubled checked the connections and all are sound and the right way round etc. I am at a bit of a loss.

TIA

Tim.

edit to say am using LED bulbs in the fittings and they are dimmable, and work or in the other rooms!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I am also changing the switches to dimmers (all singles).

Does that mean no 2-way switching?

Any ideas, I have checked and doubled checked the connections and all are sound and the right way round etc. I am at a bit of a loss.

Sure you haven't missed any lights on the same switch, e.g. in the loft?

Do the lights all work fine if you have a switch instead of the dimmer?

 

[Griff500]

I am also changing the switches to dimmers (all singles).

Does that mean no 2-way switching?

Yep just the one switch operating the lights in each bedroom room. Only two way are the landing lights which work fine.

Sure you haven't missed any lights on the same switch, e.g. in the loft?

100% sure... was previously a pendant fitting with choc block wiring and I simply connected my new wiring to the old flex connection points.

Do the lights all work fine if you have a switch instead of the dimmer?

Yep they worked fine with just a switch (I didn't install dimmers until I had decorated the room which was a couple of weeks after I had changed the light fittings.)

 

[Taylortwocities]

Sounds like your dimmers are not compatible with the low load of the LEDS.

Many dimmers need a load of at least 40 or 60 watts to work. Its usually written on teh dimmer.
You may need a ";low load" dimmer

 

[Griff500]

Sounds like your dimmers are not compatible with the low load of the LEDS.

Many dimmers need a load of at least 40 or 60 watts to work. Its usually written on teh dimmer.
You may need a ";low load" dimmer

Thanks I will check that.... but that wouldn't explain why they are working ok in two other rooms with the same load and not in this one?

Edit to say: Have just checked them and it just says 400w no minimum stated..... which I assume is standard and probably not designed for low wattage? FYI I am running 4 lights with I believe 5w bulbs so 20w total.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Unless they are of a specific type, most 400 watt dimmers will need to be driving at least 40 watts. You LEDs are only 20watts in total, so that's your problem.

You need something like this
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLJQP401W.html