OT - Bypass Faulty 120V AC Dimmer Switch?

npowell · May 17, 2021

One of the light fixtures in the house will not light. It takes the halogen bulb shown in the link below. The fixture has a dimmer switch, and I suspect that is the culprit for the failure to light. Do you think I would cause any problem if I just bypass the dimmer and give the bulb 120v AC? Sorry, I know this is probably a very trivial question, but I do not want to botch this

Thanks in advance,

Neil
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1948CaseVAI · May 17, 2021

Why would it even occur to you to try to repair or work around something that cheap? That is what the trash can is for.

npowell · May 17, 2021

Good question. This is one of 6 light fixtures. The other 5 work. This one doesn't. If I replace, we're doing 6. That gets a little more spendy.

Thanks,

Neil

Janicholson · May 17, 2021

You can bypass the dimmer with a regular on off switch. Why not replace the dimmer. Before doing that use a cloth and put a good bulb in that socket from one of the others. or do the led linked. and the dimmer! Jim
LED much better

JMOR · May 17, 2021

bypass is ok

wore out · May 17, 2021

You mention in your second post that you have 6 of these fixtures.

It is not 100% clear (at least to me), does one "wall switch dimmer" control more than one light, or does each light fixture have it's own dimmer?

Is there some sort of dimmer in the fixture itself?

npowell · May 17, 2021

(quoted from post at 12:49:24 05/17/21)

You mention in your second post that you have 6 of these fixtures.

It is not 100% clear (at least to me), does one "wall switch dimmer" control more than one light, or does each light fixture have it's own dimmer?

Is there some sort of dimmer in the fixture itself?

Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for the input; it is very helpful.

I have confirmed it's not the bulb, which I did by swapping bulbs with one of the working fixtures. I probably should try cleaning the contacts for the bulb, though.

Sorry for the confusion about the location of the dimmer switch. Each of the 6 fixtures has its own built-in dimmer switch. Depending on circumstances (time and availability of an appropriate replacement dimmer), I might try to replace it. But it is very helpful to know that I can just bypass it as a stopgap.

Steve@Advance · May 17, 2021

You must have a very well lit house using those indoors!

When the sockets fail, it is obvious, they will be charred and obviously bad.

But it could also be a failed connection inside the fixture. Whatever it is, it will usually be obvious from a cooked wire or burned insulation. Those tend to generate a lot of heat.

If you go with the LED's, be sure they specify dimable and your dimer switch is compatible with LED, otherwise it will have an annoying flicker.

OT - Bypass Faulty 120V AC Dimmer Switch?

npowell

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1948CaseVAI

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npowell

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Janicholson

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JMOR

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wore out

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npowell

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Steve@Advance

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