Dimmer Switches Circuit

[Declanr]

Hi, after decorating I have decided to replace 2 old brass dimmer switches with simple new plastic ones.

The circuit has 2 lights operated by dimmers (individual switches) and then a third light operated by a standard switch.

After replacing the 2 dimmer switches I have found everything works (turns on and dims) but if one of the dimmer lights is turned off while the non dimmer light is turned on, the dimmer light glows faintly (same as the lowest on setting) the other dimmer light stays off as expected.

Any ideas why this is happening?

Also the 2 old dimmer lights had the brown wire and blue with brown cover. The 2 were wired differently 2 each other - so one had the brown wire in the light bulb symbol connection and the blue with brown cover in the number 1. Then the other one was the other way round, I have put both now as plain brown wire into the light bulb symbol connection... is this right? Tried it as it was with the old switches and the opposit way around, all seems to end with the same result.

 

[davesparks]

What type of lamp is it that is glowing?

What is the minimum load of the new dimmer and is the connected load greater than this?

 

[Declanr]

Thanks for the quick reply.

The dimmer switch says single 300W or LED 4 70W and it is just operating a single halogen 46W - 60W dimmable bulb - so I assume that is ok.
The other light has 3 LED bulbs in it, says they are dimmable 7W.

 

[davesparks]

But what is the minimum load rating of the dimmer?
If the connected load is less than the minimum load of the dimmer then you can expect erratic behaviour.
So if the minimum load rating of your dimmer is 60W then your 46W lamp is too small a load for it and erratic behaviour is to be expected .

 

[Declanr]

Ah sorry, understand now. Just checked the paperwork for the switch and it says if you connect a halogen bulb it is minimum 40w and max 240w.

 

[sparksburnout]

I do have an idea why it is happening yes, you don't know what you are doing. Why don't you get a local spark in to sort it our safely??

 

[davesparks]

Ah sorry, understand now. Just checked the paperwork for the switch and it says if you connect a halogen bulb it is minimum 40w and max 240w.

Ok, then im afraid there's nothing else I can think of to suggest that is possible or safe for a DIYer to try.

 

[telectrix]

it's most likely that the LEDs are causing the problem. they use a different type of dimmer to prevent this flickering. try temporarily replacing one of the LEDs for a halogen. if that stops the flickering, then what i said above.

 

[Midwest]

Some, if not all dimmer switches require the live & load wires, to go to specific terminals for the dimmer. What do the MI state. Did you have LED lamps with the old dimmers?