Dimming Halogen Lamps

[guitarchris]

Is there any problem with dimming 120V Halogen Lamps? They are the small GU? 20W lamps, 10 total...so I was thinking of sticking them on a 600W Lutron Adriani Dimmer that we use all the time. We have gotten a influx of installs with halogen fixtures and I don't want to go around throwing dimmers in where it would cause a problem. I didn't see anything in the paperwork that came w/ the slowes fixtures restricting dimmers.

 

[sameguy]

I think it is rated incan./holog. did you go to the web site?

 

[winnie]

Halogen lamps are simply a type of incandescent lamp, and will dim if used on a normal incandescent dimmer.

Note that some halogen lamps are low voltage (12V) and the fixture includes a transformer; you will need to take this into account if you are installing a dimmer.

According to literature, excessive dimming can cause problems with bulb life or bulb darkening. This is because quartz envelope around the filament must get hot enough for the halogen gas to react with any deposited tungsten.

-Jon

 

[Benton]

I deal with these lights all the time they seem more decorative than anything. They just don't put out much light. But we do have a few that are on a dimmer, no problem.

 

[dbuckley]

They dim fine, much easier than the 12V transformer equipped lamps which need the right sort of transformer and the right sort of dimmer.

On the other hand, the quality of light from the 120V lamps is pants compared to the 12V lamps.

But you're lucky - the 120V GU16s are bad, but the optical qualities of the 240V GU16s used in the rest of the world are truly ugly.

 

[guitarchris]

Nah, I didn't do a search on their site....I was hoping one of your guys had already been down that route j/k I'll get on that

 

[guitarchris]

They dim fine, much easier than the 12V transformer equipped lamps which need the right sort of transformer and the right sort of dimmer.

On the other hand, the quality of light from the 120V lamps is pants compared to the 12V lamps.

But you're lucky - the 120V GU16s are bad, but the optical qualities of the 240V GU16s used in the rest of the world are truly ugly.

thanks man, I just didn't want to stick a dimmer on there and end up back there replacing the dimmer. You're saying I'll actually be back replacing it with a better fixture/lamp type:grin:, I'm not a fan of the light from these things either. It's totally not appropriate for what most people buy them for

 

[LarryFine]

On the other hand, the quality of light from the 120V lamps is pants compared to the 12V lamps.

Pants? I don't know which voltage this sentence is saying is better.

 

[dbuckley]

Pants? I don't know which voltage this sentence is saying is better.

The 12V fittings have vastly superior qualities.

Try looking at the two side by side, one has a yellow beam, the other white.