dimmer switch broken again

Coveredinbees!!!!

I put a Wickes dimmer switch in our lounge when I re decorated about 18 months ago. The original one lasted about 6 months then stopped turning off, last night I tried to turn the lights off to go to bed and no dice the replacement one has busted too. I probably no longer have a receipt so will have to go and buy a new one but not from wickes:mad:.

Do all dimmers break or have I just been unlucky, what make alternate make should I get?

maninthestreet

I've had the same dimmer switches in my house for over 10 years (they were there when I moved in), never had any problems. What sort of lights are controlled by the dimmer - ordinary tungsten lights?

nickcardwell

some dimmers are rated for certain wattage, are you dimming big wattage lights?

WestonDave

All things being equal you should expect to get more than 6 months out of a dimmer switch, but don't expect them to last forever like a normal switch.

The problem is that where these were once designed to be used with one traditional 100W tungsten lightbulb, DIY sheds now sell mains dimmable halogen spots in packs of 4 or 5 at 50W each. The more load you put through the switch the quicker it will burn out

2 tips - look for one rated at 400W and don't run more than 250W of lights through it (i.e. 5 spots or 2 100W bulbs etc), and look for one that pushes on and off with the dimming independant of on/off. We had a cheap one of these that had the dimming part fail, but at least you could still turn it off. These tend to be sold as 2 way switches (your landing light will be on 2 way switches so you can use both upstairs and downstairs switches) but theres nothing stopping you using them as normal switches. You can get brand ones like MK or Crabtree and you may get more life out of them but the key is the rating.

Coveredinbees!!!!

it's nothing to do with load it's 250W rated and only has 4 40W bulbs on it, it a mechanical brake down, not electrical the knob just turns and does nothing.

Alias_Omega

how about you try to buy the same item, then in a few weeks / months take it back for a refund.?