Fuse question (floor lamp)

[simondyntDBeK]

When turning on this 18-month old floor lamp:

http://www.enziodesigns.co.uk/arc-c...oor-lamp-with-dimmer---white-shades-206-p.asp

... something blew. Checked fuses in garage all ok. Changed fuse in plug. Still nothing.

Opened up the separate dimmer slide thingy and saw a little fuse in there so went to Maplin - he flogged me something and now the lights come on but the dimmer isn't working.

Only thing I can see different about the fuses is the one I took out says 'T2.5AH250V' and the one he's given me says 'T2.5AL250V'

Is that important?

Anything else I could check?

Thanks!

 

[jj4091]

Sounds like the fuse blew while trying to protect a faulty dimmer but failed to do so

 

[simondyntDBeK]

You reckon the whole thing is knackered?

 

[Taylortwocities]

As above. Probably one of the lamps blew and took out the dimmer. The fuse that was supposed to be protecting it either did not blow at all, or blew too slowly (I've got a feeling the T means a slow-blow or anti surge fuse).

Anyways, a new dimmer is probably needed/.

 

[Robin0577]

Knackered is a relative term in this instance, it all depends on your skill level and what tools you have...

If you're up to doing decent soldering work on a printed circuit board, then you can probably fix it for less than £1. It's almost always the same component in a dimmer that fails when the lamp blows and they can be had at electronics shops for pennies.

If you're not good at soldering or don't have the tools then it's knackered.

 

[simondyntDBeK]

Thanks. I've put it all back together again and am now just using the light as on and off (never really used the dimmer anyway!) Just a bit of a pain having to turn it on/off at the mains but something I'm sure I'll live with.

Cheers all.

 

[Iggifer]

You can replace the dimmer with an inline switch for a couple of quid, I think you can even just get them from homebase to be fair (not that I would)

 

[Taylortwocities]

Google "Inline dimmer". If you go that route, make sure you buy one that will handle the total wattage of the lamps in your fitting.

 

[333rocky333]

The L and the H are important and maplin of all places should know that.

one is LOW breaking capacity and the other HIGH breaking capacity, in the event of a fault it matters, was the old one ceramic and the one hes give you glass

 

[simondyntDBeK]

... was the old one ceramic and the one hes give you glass

Yes that's right. I thought something wasn't quite right

 

[Robin0577]

maplin of all places should know that.

Since becoming a mass market gadget shop rather than a proper nerdy electronics shop in recent years, I'm afraid Maplin have rather adopted a "pay peanuts, get monkeys" employment policy.

 

[JohnW2]

Since becoming a mass market gadget shop rather than a proper nerdy electronics shop in recent years, I'm afraid Maplin have ...

On the rare occasions I have reason to speak to Maplin folk on the phone, I nearly always am faced with some incredulance when I tell them my 'Customer Number' ("no, not that number, the long one"!). I presume they are used to something like 7 digit Customers, so my 4-digit one presumably is a 'museum piece', stemming from the really nerdy days (probably before the peopleI'mspeaking to were born!)

Kind Regards, John.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Perhaps you could sell it on eBay