noise Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Hi guys Is it ok to put these fairy lights through my dimmer packs? I understand I may need to put a flood on the same channel... http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/store...tNumber=1648313 Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommulliner Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Use the search function!! Fairy lights and dimmers are mentioned quite alot! The general perseption is that as long as there is no transformer for them, then they should be ok but you may need a load lamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_the_LD Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Having looked at the spec for them on the Homebase website they are listed as "Low Voltage. 1.5V". Therefore there is going to be a transformer and as such would not be suitable for dimming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Having looked at the spec for them on the Homebase website they are listed as "Low Voltage. 1.5V". Therefore there is going to be a transformer and as such would not be suitable for dimming.Er, not quite...Yes, there will be a transformer, but many modern transformers will run quite happily on modern (and not so modern) theatre dimmers - it all depends on what type. So unfortunately Tom, your advice is potentially incorrect. To the OP - I suggest you check the package in Homebase - it will usually say whether the lights are suitable for use with dimmers or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noise Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 Thanks @Ynot - having searched through previous blue room threads, I couldn't actually establish if it's ok to dim the transformer! Will have a look at the packing and will report back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 For the sake of £8, just buy them and plug them in - the reality is you're not going to know without trying them. The transformer seems to need to be able to manage 6 or 7 amps or so, so at the price will be a fairly cheap thing. You could find that as it's unlikely to be that well made, the formers inside will rattle or buzz quite a bit when dimming, but the worst that can happen is the damn thing heats up and melts. Just test it with a bit of care and attention and keep your fingers crossed. For info - it's not the transformer that usually causes the 'don't do it' comments it's low voltage stuff that has chases and effects produced by a small pcb inside a case - these are what don't like dimmers. My portals have 12v pea lamps fitted, driven off massive heavy site-type transformers and they work fine on ancient Strand dimmers - always have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Most conventional "big lump of metal" transformers will dim fine, but anything you buy new will come with an electronic transformer (basically a little switchmode power supply) and these are generally not dimmable - they will do nothing up to a certain point and then come on full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatman Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Really ancient Strand dimmers used back-to-back thyristors for dimming and were fine with large inductive loads. Less ancient ones with triacs may not be so happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_the_LD Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Having looked at the spec for them on the Homebase website they are listed as "Low Voltage. 1.5V". Therefore there is going to be a transformer and as such would not be suitable for dimming.Er, not quite...Yes, there will be a transformer, but many modern transformers will run quite happily on modern (and not so modern) theatre dimmers - it all depends on what type. So unfortunately Tom, your advice is potentially incorrect.Thanks for clearing that up Ynot. My apologies on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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