bennyblanco Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Has anyone ever tried a household 240v dimmer switch on their lamp? Would it work? and will I melt something? I don't think I would use a dimmer much but it would be handy sometimes and that makes £40 seem very expensive when you can get a 240v dimmer for a few quid, I would just like to know if it all goes tits up will I kill my battery/lamp or just melt the dimmer? I went to maplins and the guy was amazed when he worked out the amps going to a 12v 100w lamp and suggested the only dimmer that would take it was the household one. Sorry for being cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I was told by an electrician, that a household dimmer switch won't work with 12V. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyblanco Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I was told by an electrician, that a household dimmer switch won't work with 12V. Cheers, did he say what would happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I tend to agree it does seem a lot for a light control unit, but I have yet to find a suitable equivilant, guess that's why they can get away with it. It's a personal thing and many do not use a "dimmer", but those that I know who have one they would never consider using anything else now, I find them VERY useful!! ESPECIALLY on the higher power units!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 A standard household dimmer will not work with any DC supply (eg battery) regardless of the voltage. HTH HW682 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikky Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 try cpc catalogue on line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 no one has found a good equivalant dimmer that works as good as the original..worth the money,as you could waste a lot of time and money trying to get anywhere near it. al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyblanco Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 A standard household dimmer will not work with any DC supply (eg battery) regardless of the voltage. HTH HW682 Gutted forgot about AC/DC What about this little fella? Dimmer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Well it certainly looks on the face of it as though it might work. It is slightly under-rated though at 96W for a 100W lamp. Now **IF** it is truly rated for 96W at 60C as suggested then it will probably be fine for 100W at lower temperatures. On the other hand, a good rule of thumb for most electronics of this type is not to run them at over 2/3rd of the maximum rating. Of course, the designer may have already de-rated the components to give the claimed 96W rating. It all depends on how much faith you put in the Chinese supplier... Part of me thinks buy cheap - buy twice. Then again at that price what have you got to lose and you could almost get 6 for £40. So, looks as though it could work but the reliability is unkown. HW682 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Maplins may have one. My local electrical shop said he could get me one for about £28. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 There is a chance that LED dimmer would not do, as LEDs are controlled in a different way to incandescent lamps, which is what the normal bulb in your gun-lamp will be. It is cheap enough that the risk is not that bad, but a potential disappointment none-the-less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyblanco Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 It all depends on how much faith you put in the Chinese supplier... £40 for a guaranteed one from the UK is sounding better, it just seems annoyingly expensive like any gun related bits. Steve, Maplins only had really weedy 1amp dimmers when I asked and I think we need 8+, an electrician could make a good profit if they could manufacture these things on the cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 What about the dimmer switches that control dash board lights in cars? I wonder if they would work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I doubt they are rated for 100W (8A +)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 (edited) Would one of THESE do it? EDIT: Dont think it will but have a look anyway All the best, SSS Edited February 16, 2010 by SSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Would one of THESE do it? EDIT: Dont think it will but have a look anyway All the best, SSS they look good but,noticed that the 12v ones have a max of 60w,so no good if your bulb is of a higher wattage..as in the 170 which is 100watt bulb. shame really. al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Would the 24 volt one work with 12 volt? I know they are both DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyblanco Posted February 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Cheers, they have more powerful ones on the same site-HERE They look perfect but are £24 posted and I am still unsure if you are going to receive an open circuit like the picture which looks fragile for a £15 saving, some electrical stuff is so cheap to buy yet DC dimmers are pricey Its been interesting looking but I think deben have won Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 I will keep searching, determined not to be beaten. I will make it my personal mission of the week. Then when I find 100 watt DC dimmers for a fiver, I can flog them to you lot for £15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 £24, plus whatever carriage to buy a cheap module, then you should put it in an enclosure of some kind, rugged enough to withstand field use and to exclude rain. You'll be getting really close to spending the 40 quid for one all ready to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 (edited) Would the 24 volt one work with 12 volt?I know they are both DC simple answer..no...i have been looking for an alternative to debens and been looking for some time,none have come close to debens,as they make them specifally for lamps,which is suppose a limited market. you may find alternatives but,the bul wattage will be thething to take into consideration. we can only hope. al Edited February 17, 2010 by albob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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