replaced dimmer switch. light flickering - intermittent

doningtonphil

Hello

i have a single pendant ceiling light in a room. It had an old white dimmer switch. Just decorated and replaced sockets and switches with metal ones. Got a 400w single dimmer.

the old one worked fine but this one causes the lamp to flicker/strobe. The bulb was a low energy one. Replaced itwith 40w old style incandescent. It is still flickering but not as bad.

Have checked all connections, all ok. Is there a minimum load for dimmers? It is a volex one from bandq.

is there something else wrong?

phill99

Its either a loose connection where you have wired the dimmer switch in or a faulty dimmer. If you have checked the first and are happy with the connections, then it can only he the second option.

windup

low energy won't work unless you use a dimmable led bulb, incandescent should assuming the dimmer hasn't been damaged with the low energy bulb - try the old dimmer with the incandescent turned fully up

paulpud

Yes there is usually a minimum load on dimmers, I have experienced flickering because of this many times. Fit a 100w incandescent lamp and there is a very good chance the flickering will stop.

doningtonphil

thanks for the replies


so that is 2 for "dodgy dimmer" and 1 for "there is a minimum load". i will try a 60w or 100w bulb before ditching the dimmer.


My first thought to the 100w bulb suggestion was "wow, that will be bright"!!!!!! errrrr Hello!.......McFly!! (knocking on head in Biff Tannen style)

paulpud

100w bulb is pretty bright, hence the dimmer :-)

Myser

doningtonphil wrote: »

Is there a minimum load for dimmers?

Yes, dimmers do have a minimum load to operate correctly. Check the instructions or on the back of the dimmer module.

If your previous compact fluorescent lamp was dimmable, there's also a possibility that the new dimmer switch isn't compatible.