Greetings,
I come over from Fine Woodworking.
Here is my problem. I have a dimmer switch that keeps on going bad. I buy the 600 watt single pole switch and it fails after a couple months. It is a simple switch that goes to a simple overhead chandeler. I have a draw of about 300 watts (6 lamps at 50 watts each, no fan attached). All is well for two months then all [email protected] breaks loose. When you turn it on it is like a lightening storm, WOW (lights flicker bright and low then settle out at high when I turn it all the way up).
I’m not sure if anything is wrong or am I just buying a cheap switch ($10 at HD).
Any help would be great,
Joe
Joe
Is it really saw dust or wood dust?
Replies
cheap switch..
up the ante and go for a better switch... go for more watt load..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Edited 10/19/2006 12:38 am by IMERC
Some of the decorative bulbs used in chandeliers are from less than stellar manufactures. I've seen bulbs that were loud when dimmed, some are touchy about how they're screwed in. Are you using name brand bulbs? An upgrade would be worth a try.
I also think current entry level dimmers are lesser quality than they used to be.
Cheap switch, and probably pushing things power-wise. Go with a 1000W unit.
Is the dimmer ganged up with other switches in the box?
edit: Have you tried to re-makeup the connections up at the lamp? Bad connections up there could fry the dimmer.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Edited 10/19/2006 5:50 am ET by calvin
If you want to troubleshoot it further, you could get an amp probe and check the current draw. There might be a problem that is causing the switch to draw more than just the light bulbs. I.e. a bad wire connection that someone already mentioned. Another thought is the dimmer might be overheating because of the installation location.
A 600 Watt dimmer shouldn't have that problem with only 300 Watts of load. Check with a wrap-around ammeter to make sure that's really what you have. Some of our chandeliers are over 600, so we had to pop for the much pricier ($45+) 1000 Watt dimmers. These are hard to find without the built-in 3-way switch.
-- J.S.
Problem is that dimmers can get pretty hot, and a 600W dimmer may overheat on a 300W load in worst-case circumstances (tight quarters, lights set to about half brightness). The dimmer doesn't fail immediately, but the heat greatly shortens its life.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
bingo..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!