Dickering Flimmer Switch

[The Medway Handyman]

At SWMBOs request I fitted a dimmer switch in out dining room. It flickered on some settings, so I took it back to TLC who swapped it for another. It still piggin flickers!

It's a 400w Ultimate push dimmer with 15 'click' settings.

First 5 clicks show no discernible light, 6,7,8 fine, 9 flickers, 10,11 OK, 12 flickers faster, 13 flickers but not as fast, 14 & 15 OK.

Wired up as per instructions, live to L2, neutral to Comm. Tried L1 & Comm, no difference.

Lamp is a 40w LBC which, according to the packaging, is dimmable.

I've tried 3 lamps, but they all do the same.

Is 40w too low, or maybe the lamps aren't dimmable?

Any ideas before it drives me mad?

[D.M.Chapman]

I've certainly seen that before - sticking a 100w bulb in solved it. Harder to do know I guess :-)

You can get lower wattage ones - not sure how low they go though.

Darren

[polygonum]

Have a look here:

there is a specific low-wattage version - or one of the V-pro range might work.

(Is that in time? Or have you already been driven?)

[Ericp]

The load is far too small for the switch. It barely knows it has one at 40w.

[Andrew Gabriel]

What's an LBC?

There are a few different dimmer designs.

Some have a minimum load, and for a 400W dimmer that's more likely to be 60W or 100W. Symptom if too low is that lamp goes out when dimmed dimmed past a certain point, and possibly flickers around the transition point.

Some will only dim filament lamps (or resistive loads).

[Bob Eager]

In other words, they go up to 11..but no more.

[Graham.]

The two wires to the switch are live and switch-wire, if it was live amd neutral you would have fireworks when you switched on.

The lamp might well be dimmable, but so is a 15w incandessent pigmy bulb, but a single one will flicker with most dimmers.

What is an LBC?

[The Medway Handyman]

Large bayonet cap.

[DerbyBorn]

The Medway Handyman wrote in news:VUfms.222896 $ [e-mail]:

Most 400 watt dimmers require a 60watt minimum load.

[charles]

The 1" diam one? I haven't seen one for years

most domestic ones are simply BC (bayonet cap)

[Ian]

Hello Graham,

LBC - Lampe Basse Consommation (French: Energy Saving Lamps)

ttfn Ian.

[Ian]

Hello Graham,

LBC - Lampe Basse Consommation (French: Energy Saving Lamps)

ttfn Ian.

[robgraham]

96

+1 - I've just removed one from a friend's house; it has always flickered since she moved in because the previous owner had fitted it for a lampshade that only allowed 40W bulbs. Worked fine when I out a larger bulb on to it.

Doesn't say much for TLC that they didn't flag that up to you TMH - the one I took out says 60 to 400W on it.

Rob

Rob

[charles]

[Snip]

TLC are a wholesaler, not an advice bureaux. You are supposed to know what you are buying.

Mind you some of their staff are incredibly helpful.

[The Medway Handyman]

Thanks to all who replied, 60w 'normal' lamp and all is well.

What a great NG!