I would like to connect a halogen up lighter with a dimmer control to a lighting circuit. However, the up lighter has a 500W bulb (yes I know this is expensive to run!) and I am concerned about the load on the lighting circuit.
The rating info on the dimmer switch has two sets of figures with one set, I assume, referring to the min and max wattage of the bulb stated as 60-500W. The other set refers to 60-300W which I assume refers to the rating of the dimmer control itself.
If this is right this would explain why the light came with a 5A fused plug, because if the load of the whole light fitting was based just on the bulb rating then the max load would be 2.1A (500/240) and surely a
3A fuse would have been sufficient.However, if the dimmer switch is rated at 300W then the max load of the light would increase to 800W (3.3A).
The lighting circuit currently has a max load of 400W (1.6A) and therefore installing the light still leave a total max load of under
5A. As this is protected by a 6A circuit breaker would this be OK.If this is OK is there any problem with the light not having the protection of its own separate 5A fuse as I would cut off the plug and wire is directly into the circuit.
The switch for the light would be a standard wall switch and am I also correct in thinking that these switches are rated at 5A.
Any comment gratefully received.