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Dimming Low Voltage – I’ve been bad

benraymond | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on May 9, 2002 11:58am

I know what I did was wrong but I can’t help myself…

I installed a cheap low voltage lighting system over my TV couch.  The Transformer is external – screwed it to the wall behind the couch and then plugged it into a wall outlet.  Ran a switch to the wall outlet.  Since it’s my TV couch and I need to dim the lights (SWMBO doesn’t like total darkness for movies like I do), I then installed a dimmer in the switch box. 

Besides probably creating a box overfill violation in the outlet box, I get the vague premonition that this is wrong.  Something about decreasing the voltage to the transformer and burning the transformer out….

1)  Is this wrong?

2)  If so, what are the consequences?  (Shortened life of the transformer, I could probably live with – the whole low voltage setup was $50 at Home Cheapo.  Things bursting into flames when I’m asleep on the couch with the game on, not good, needs to be changed.

3)  If this is wrong, what do I need to do to properly dim low voltage lights?

Thanks in advance,

Ben

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  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | May 10, 2002 12:20am | #1

    Very, very simple fix.

    Arrange the couch so that when you are startled in your sleep by the fire the beer will slip out of your hand and fall on the transformer and put out the fire.

    Actually this is OK. If you used a cheap dimmer then you might get flickering of the lights or it might fail early. Check the replacement to see if it is speced for use with transformers or magnetic loads.

  2. OneofmanyBobs | May 10, 2002 01:49pm | #2

    I have basically the same stuff in my kitchen.

    (Assuming you used halogens and not fluorescents)

    The lights specifically said they were dimmable

    with a regular incandescent dimmer. You will not

    risk burning out the transformer. Its running less

    current and hence less heat is generated. The light

    is more yellow because halogens don't really work right

    unless used at full rated voltage. The bulbs may

    actually have a bit shorter life when dimmed and you will

    probably hear the transformer buzz a bit. Should be

    no major problems and no risk of fire.

    Phillips also makes dimmable fluorescents that screw into a

    regular incadescent socket and work with a regular

    incandescent dimmer. Around 20 bucks each. Only trick

    is you need a dimmer that has an adjustment for minimum

    output because the fluorescents don't work below about

    30% output. The color stays white even when dim but they

    don't work well when its cold.

  3. oldjerry | May 11, 2002 08:27am | #3

    Ben,

    I'm too lazy to look for it, but I think the NEC says you can't dim a receptacle. OTOH, it's your house and you know what's hooked to what. Otherwise, you're OK.

    Jerry

    1. benraymond | May 14, 2002 06:15pm | #4

      Thanks Jerry.  I appreciate all the replies.

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