We've got 6 downlighters in our kitchen, wired up to 2 dimmer switches (3
per switch).

The cheap GU10's blow at regular intervals, so I was thinking about changing
them over to more expensive LED's. Can anyone please advise on the
following:

- one of the dimmer switches isn't working. Is this related to a blown
lamp? Presumably, replacement is the only solution?

- are all LED's the same, by that, I mean, dimmable?

- does anyone know of a good supplier on price?

Thanks

On 6/12/2012 7:43 AM, PeterL wrote:
We've got 6 downlighters in our kitchen, wired up to 2 dimmer switches (3
per switch).

The cheap GU10's blow at regular intervals, so I was thinking about changing
them over to more expensive LED's. Can anyone please advise on the
following:

- one of the dimmer switches isn't working. Is this related to a blown
lamp? Presumably, replacement is the only solution?

- are all LED's the same, by that, I mean, dimmable?

- does anyone know of a good supplier on price?

Thanks


A bad bulb might stop dimmers if it is shorted rather than the usual
open. Best way to check is to remove the defective bulb and verify the
other two now work.

Like CFL bulbs, not all LED type are dimmable. You need to check the
specifications on the box or look up the product specs on the internet.

One other thing, 3 dimmable LED's on one dimmer switch might not all
turn on or totally off at the same setting making you think a bulb is
defective when it actually is not. It is best to not mix bulbs from
different manufacturers or models on a single dimmer to try and
eliminate this kind of problem. Physically different dimmable bulbs are
compatible on the same dimmer switch but they might have different
thresholds for turning on/off.

On 12/06/2012 13:43, PeterL wrote:
We've got 6 downlighters in our kitchen, wired up to 2 dimmer switches (3
per switch).

The cheap GU10's blow at regular intervals, so I was thinking about changing
them over to more expensive LED's. Can anyone please advise on the
following:

- one of the dimmer switches isn't working. Is this related to a blown
lamp? Presumably, replacement is the only solution?

- are all LED's the same, by that, I mean, dimmable?

- does anyone know of a good supplier on price?

I originally had our lounge wired for 50w Halogens in 2 banks and a
double dimmer (5 lights be switch)

Installed "dimmable" LED's switched on and "pop" £15 bulb gone.
Thought it may have been a dodgy bulb so replaced it... whoops there's
another £15 down the drain.
Looked on suppliers site and they specified a very expensive dimmer
switch for LED lamps warning that regular dimmers would invalidate
warranty...

So... replaced double dimmer with single non-dimmable switch and wired
all together. LED's are a "warm yellowish" light anyway and less
blinding so not really worth dimming. Just use a single table lamp with
CFL bulb for T.V. watching.

I'd suggest scrapping dimmer completely especially as in kitchen and LED
output won't be as "hard" as halogens.

Cheap ones from china have done me well so far, but I'd also say by a
few spares at the same time and keep them just in case.

The ones that went "pop" came from a UK "green lighting" type suppler
but were nothing more than boxed up cheap Chinese lights and were twice
the price of buying direct from Dealextreme etc.

--
http://www.trade-price-supplements.co.uk
http://www.water-rower.co.uk

On 12/06/12 13:43, PeterL wrote:
We've got 6 downlighters in our kitchen, wired up to 2 dimmer switches (3
per switch).

The cheap GU10's blow at regular intervals, so I was thinking about changing
them over to more expensive LED's. Can anyone please advise on the
following:

- one of the dimmer switches isn't working. Is this related to a blown
lamp? Presumably, replacement is the only solution?

Yes, probably, and yes.

- are all LED's the same, by that, I mean, dimmable?

No. And they are not all the same colour temp either. The best LED GU10s I've
found are the Philips MyVision 4W ones which are almost identical to halogen
when switched on, however they are not dimmable. The nearest equivalent
dimmable ones are Philips MyAmbience which I have not tried.

Cheap GU10 LEDs have awful light quality.



- does anyone know of a good supplier on price?


Amazon are as good as anyone really, in my experience

Non-dimmable:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005OJTQRA

Dimmable:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005OCYCMQ

Bear in mind it will depend on the capability of your dimmer how dim they
will go. Some dimmers don't work that well with low-current lamps and don't
dim much. Others will allow you to dim right down to almost off.





Thanks

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
PeterL wrote:
The cheap GU10's blow at regular intervals, so I was thinking about
changing them over to more expensive LED's. Can anyone please advise
on the following:

- one of the dimmer switches isn't working. Is this related to a blown
lamp? Presumably, replacement is the only solution?

- are all LED's the same, by that, I mean, dimmable?

Mains LEDs have an internal PS so aren't normally dimmable. Those which
are will be a cludge of some sort.

The dimmer probably failed when a bulb blew.

If you want decent small unit lighting which can dim properly and have a
reasonable life, change to low voltage halogens.

I do have some GU10s, and found the bulbs you get in B&Q etc have a very
short life. The replacements I bought from TLC are fine. One of them just
went this week - about 5 years life in the bathroom.


Thanks to all who replied