Dimmer Lights Flickering

[chrissa1]

For a while now I've noticed my lounge lights flickering occasionally. They are on a dimmer switch but are always on full.

Can anyone tell me what's wrong and if it's dangerous. Thanks.

[sinderella]

you havent used energy bulbs have you.these are sometimes not compatable with dimmers

[Old_Geezer]

I wondered that too.

So the house lights that are not on a dimmer don't also flicker then ? I'd have thought the most likely reason would be a dip in the supply, maybe as a heavy load switches off and on, but that should affect everything.

IMO it's most unlikely to be dangerous but it would be nice to know why it happens. Do they flcker if you turn the dimmer off of full ?

[Clanad]

Firstly, you don't say how many lights are in the fixture or fixtures you are dimming. You'd want to make sure the dimmer wattage capability is equal to the total combined wattage of the lights.
Secondly, inexpensive dimmer switches wear out fairly fast, since what they are doing to trick you into thinking the lights are dim is to rapidly turrn the lights on and off several times per second. This not only affects the switch but also the bulbs that are being dimmed. We have a dining room light that flickers if we don't keep heavy duty bulbs in it. We use the kind termed (at least here in the U.S.) rough service bulbs... they used in garage door openers for example, where's there's quite a lot of vibration.
As already mentioned, double check the types of bulbs you are using for compatability with the switch.
By the way, feel the dimmer switch when it's in use to see if it's overly warm. I know that's a subjective term, but if it is too warm, you'll know it. If so, replace the switch post haste...

[chrissa1]

No, they are just the bog standard "candle" type bulbs and there are 5 bulbs in the wall lights.

The switch is not warm at all and I've never had them on dim - (no romance for me).

Thanks guys.

[The Builder]

Chrissa, I doubt if it's any more than a loose connection, or possibly the dimmer breaking down. I'd certainly check for loose connections.

[chrissa1]

Thanks The Builder.

[spudqueen]

Where do you live? We live in the country and our lights often flicker. Do you have a lot of overhead wires round you?

[chrissa1]

No spudqueen, no overhead wires and I live in a small town in Northumberland.