Replies

1. 
   edlee | Jun 06, 2007 03:44am | #1

   Are they line voltage or are they low-voltage dimmers?  In other words, is there a neutral connection to the dimmers themselves? 

   I can't picture what the guy is talking about unless it is somehow related to the neutral(s) in the circuit(s).

    

   Ed

    

1. 
   truck8 | Jun 06, 2007 04:06am | #2

   No neutral connected to the dimmer.

1. 
   edlee | Jun 06, 2007 04:11am | #3

   What are the symptoms?  No light at all?  No dimming capability?  

   I ask because I've just never heard of such a thing (dysfunctional dimmers due to load imbalance) in all the years I've been doing electrical work.

   Edited 6/5/2007 9:12 pm ET by edlee

1. 
   truck8 | Jun 06, 2007 04:19am | #4

   I have 120v in to the dimmer and nothing out.  I put a normal switch in place of the dimmer and it works perfect.  I even took an identical dimmer from elsewhere in the house(it worked fine in it's original place) and same problem. Keep thinking!

1. 
   maddog3 | Jun 06, 2007 05:13am | #5

   is the power off when you are connecting the dimmers ?
   .

   .

   .

   ., wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?

2. 
   BillHartmann | Jun 06, 2007 05:33am | #6

   They aren't rheostates. They are electronic switches that quickly turn the voltage on and off, every 1/2 cycle.What is the brand and model of the dimmer?What kind of light are you trying to control?.
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

3. 
   truck8 | Jun 07, 2007 04:14am | #8

   I am trying to control incandecent can lights with a Lutron  DV-600 preset dimmer.  It is a 600 watt dimmer.............I just thought of something. Since it is 600 watt and I have 9 cans ( not my idea) and who know what bulbs we have in them, I may be putting too much load on the 600 watt dimmer.  Tomorrow I'll check watts and eliminate some as a trial.  Well ..DUH.. maybe thats the problem. Thanks

4. 
   DanH | Jun 07, 2007 04:36am | #9

   Yeah, 9 cans at 60 watts would be 540W, and I never like to load a 600W dimmer with more than about 450W if it can be avoided.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

5. 
   DanH | Jun 06, 2007 05:53am | #7

   "Imbalanced load" is pretty meaningless. You're not trying to dim fluorescent or low-voltage lights, are you?
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin