Lights not working, dimmer switch blown?

[Adrian Granger Brown]

Last night the lights went out in my living room, they momentarily went really bright then out. I tried replacing the bulb that seemed to have blown but that did not work, so replaced all 4 of the bulbs, but still nothing.

I have checked the fuse box to see if that tripped, and nothing, i even flicked all switches off and back on

The circuits in the living room consists of 4 40w bulbs, a dimmer switch at one side and a normal on off switch at the other, both operating the lights. I have tried both the dimmer and the on/off swicth but neither will turns the lights on

If the dimmer has blown, will the whole circuit not work, or should the on/off switch still work? I ask before i replace the dimmer unit?

 

[telectrix]

if the dimmer switch has failed then it's most likely that's the problem, as the 2 switches work in conjunction with each other.

 

[The Ghost]

Sounds like you have identified the correct problem the dimmer switch has blown. Ideally you would test the circuit to establish that to avoid buying a dimmer if not needed. Is there any kind of smell around the dimmer? It could be the ordinary switch has failed. You could try wiring an ordinary two way switch to where the dimmer switch is to test it if you have one around the house or garage? Possible even trying the ordinary switch at the dimmer position. I warn you in advance you are going to have five wires at one switch and three wires at the other. I guess you have five wires at the dimmer switch which is why the ordinary switch would not work as the switch wire comes in at the dimmer switch. Maybe a photo (especially before you disconnect any wires) if you could manage it?

 

[Adrian Granger Brown]

Sounds like you have identified the correct problem the dimmer switch has blown. Ideally you would test the circuit to establish that to avoid buying a dimmer if not needed. Is there any kind of smell around the dimmer? It could be the ordinary switch has failed. You could try wiring an ordinary two way switch to where the dimmer switch is to test it if you have one around the house or garage? Possible even trying the ordinary switch at the dimmer position. I warn you in advance you are going to have five wires at one switch and three wires at the other. I guess you have five wires at the dimmer switch which is why the ordinary switch would not work as the switch wire comes in at the dimmer switch. Maybe a photo (especially before you disconnect any wires) if you could manage it?

 

[The Ghost]

Great, so you have the five wires in at the dimmer switch are you ok with allocating those wires? The new dimmer switch may have a different configuration. The red/yellow/blue cable will go to the other switch, the black/red cable will be your switch wire. If you were to get the ordinary switch you could see if the lights work on the red/black cable. I will probably be tied to a rock and have my liver pecked out daily for walking you through this though, as we are not "encouraged" to take you step by step through this. I will cover my derriere by saying get an electrician in to sort this out. There we are, you have been advised.
P.S. I see your photography is as good as mine, it's nice to see someone with the same skills as me on the forum photo wise.

 

[pirate]

I never knew an umbilical was coloured like that!

 

[telectrix]

i'm just wondering what chewed out the hole in the wall, and where's the back box?

 

[Adrian Granger Brown]

s

Sounds like you have identified the correct problem the dimmer switch has blown. Ideally you would test the circuit to establish that to avoid buying a dimmer if not needed. Is there any kind of smell around the dimmer? It could be the ordinary switch has failed. You could try wiring an ordinary two way switch to where the dimmer switch is to test it if you have one around the house or garage? Possible even trying the ordinary switch at the dimmer position. I warn you in advance you are going to have five wires at one switch and three wires at the other. I guess you have five wires at the dimmer switch which is why the ordinary switch would not work as the switch wire comes in at the dimmer switch. Maybe a photo (especially before you disconnect any wires) if you could manage it?

o

i'm just wondering what chewed out the hole in the wall, and where's the back box?

Not sure, its a rented place

 

[The Ghost]

s

t?

 

[pirate]

no back box, hence low rent?

 

[Adrian Granger Brown]

i live in Cambridge, no such thing as low rent

 

[pirate]

Excuse my flippancy!
No offence meant...it was a pastiche of an Estate Agents spiel...

 

[The Ghost]

There is a back box look deeper obewankanobe

 

[The Ghost]

I was going to say obviously a man of few words, but now it is a man of few letters...

s

 

[littlespark]

Rented place? It's up to your landlord to fix this, surely.