halogen light and lighting circuit

geoffr · 2006-08-31T10:06:25+00:00

I would like to connect a halogen up lighter with a dimmer control to alighting circuit. However, the up lighter has a 500W bulb (yes I knowthis is expensive to run!) and I am concerned about the load on thelighting circuit.The rating info on the dimmer switch has two sets of figures with oneset, I assume, referring to the min and max wattage of the bulb statedas 60-500W. The other set refers to 60-300W which I assume refers tothe rating of the dimmer control itself.If this is right this would explain why the light came with a 5A fusedplug, because if the load of the whole light fitting was based just onthe bulb rating then the max load would be 2.1A (500/240) and surely a3A fuse would have been sufficient.However, if the dimmer switch is rated at 300W then the max load of thelight would increase to 800W (3.3A).The lighting circuit currently has a max load of 400W (1.6A) andtherefore installing the light still leave a total max load of under5A. 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 theprotection of its own separate 5A fuse as I would cut off the plug andwire is directly into the circuit.The switch for the light would be a standard wall switch and am Ialso correct in thinking that these switches are rated at 5A.Any comment gratefully received.

Aug 31, 2006 21 Replies

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Andrew Gabriel 19 years ago

So do (nearly) all BC and ES lampholders.

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Mike Tomlinson 19 years ago

In article , geoffr writes

Could be because those halogen bulbs commonly come in 500W and 300W variants. You just fit whatever bulb suits you.

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