View Single Post
  #1   Report Post  
Posted to uk.d-i-y
jkn jkn is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 686
Default touch dimmer switch stops working after a few days - any idea why?

Hi All
The recent thread about blowing bulbs reminded me of this:

Some years ago I fitted a pair of touch dimmer switches from TLC:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLIDQ1401MS.html

These are for for ceiling lamps in our living room. These were originally 'standard' light bulb fitting; I have since replaced them with two fittings each with 3x Halogen g9 40W bulbs.

Cut to a number of years later, and over a period of a year or som, both dimmers got less reliable (light would cut out on its own etc.). Eventually I replaced them both with the same item.

One of these works fine. The second dimmer seemed to fail after a week or so (light failed to turn on when touch place pressed) and I returned it to TLC for a replacement.

However there seems to be more to it than that; What seems to happen is that after a few days the replacement dimmer also stops working. If I then trip the mains MCB for that lighting circuit, and re power it, it is fine ... for a few days.

The wiring to the dimmer is solid and I don't think anything else has been changed in the lighting circuit.

Assuming I've not just been unlucky with dwo dodgy dimmers, any thoughts as to what might be causing this? I originally wondered if the load might be too little but the switches are rated at 60W minimum...

Thanks a lot
J^n