Lamp dimmer for bedside lamp (not wired in)

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timmmay

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#99066 12-Mar-2012 10:16

Can you get a plug-in dimmer for a freestanding lamp that plugs into the wall? I don't want to wire one in. I really just want to cut the brightness of a bedside lamp in half, I can't buy a smaller bulb, I already have a little 5W energy saver in there - similar to a 25W incandescent.

The reason is the very nice lamps my girlfriend chose are just a bit too bright. Unlike my old ones the light is direct rather than bounced too, so i'm also going to try to put a cardboard or metal insert in so the light bounces rather than going direct to me.

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#593994 12-Mar-2012 11:24

Only if you replace the bulb with an incandescent (or an LED bulb).
You can't chop up the current (with a 'leading edge' dimmer) to an ordinary (non dimmable) CFL, since they are essentially an electronic device, not a resistive load.
Surely there are some fairly dim LED bulbs on DealExtreme that have the right fitting?
I haven't actually seen plug-in dimmers for sale, perhaps they are not allowed as they could be misused. They would be quite easy to assemble, all you would need is an extension cord, light dimmer, and a small box.

timmmay

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#594077 12-Mar-2012 12:47

Yep I'll replace it with an incandescent if I get a dimmer.

Great idea about DealExtreme, i've never used them before. They have a stupidly large range of LED bulbs. This one would be perfect, but 6W is far too bright - 1.5W in that style would be awesome but they don't seem to have it.

I'm going to get a few different low lm LED bulbs and see how well they work.

Niel

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#594315 12-Mar-2012 20:37

Buy a torch ;-).

Buy an LED bulb that looks like a traditional bulb, not the ones with lots of exposed LEDs. If they get knocked moderately the housing comes apart and the circuit board falls out exposing the wiring. Unless your lamp has a shade that would protect the bulb from knocks.

DX classify cold white also as just white. If you want warm white (which looks softer) look specifically for warm white.

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Niel

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#594316 12-Mar-2012 20:41

Regarding dimming LEDs, few of them are actually dimmable as they have a switch mode power supply (wide input voltage range). But you do get cheap plug-in dimmers. A few years ago I bought one off TradeMe for about $10. Just check it is a light dimmer and not a motor/fan speed controller. They are different. You will not damage anything, it is just the control range will not be as expected.

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richms

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#594329 12-Mar-2012 21:17

There are plug in dimmers sold at rhe grow shops for slowing fans to ventilate the grow room. work fine.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#594332 12-Mar-2012 21:21

What's an RHE Grow shop? Do you have a link Rich?

timmmay

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#594333 12-Mar-2012 21:22

I have LED torches! The light direction isn't right. I know you can't dim LEDs, but I can get an incandescent bulb easily enough.

I ordered 4 or 5 different LED bulbs to try, they're all pretty cheap. Most are diffused warm white, I got a couple undiffused just to play with really.

If anyone can find a dimmer online that's available/in stock please link me to it, i've looked but I can't find one. My neighbor's an electrician and is asking his wholesaler for me.

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richms

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#594335 12-Mar-2012 21:24

Meant to be the grow shops - fat fingers and impossible editor mean I just leave it.

Switched on gardner etc. seem them on trademe too.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#594345 12-Mar-2012 21:38

Thanks for the thought, can't spot one. I think i'll try the LED bulbs I've ordered before I try again for a dimmer, they'll take a couple of weeks to arrive from DE I guess.

If anyone sees one they can link to I'd still be interested to take a look :)

Niel

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#594427 13-Mar-2012 06:01

Interesting, I can't find them on TM either. Probably got pulled because they do not have C-Tick listing.

It takes around 6 weeks to arrive from DX.

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gregmcc

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#594429 13-Mar-2012 06:25

timmmay: Yep I'll replace it with an incandescent if I get a dimmer.

Great idea about DealExtreme, i've never used them before. They have a stupidly large range of LED bulbs. This one would be perfect, but 6W is far too bright - 1.5W in that style would be awesome but they don't seem to have it.

I'm going to get a few different low lm LED bulbs and see how well they work.

steer away from deal extreme, there has been quite a bit of trouble with them unable to supply stock, even though they claim to have it in stock

timmmay

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#594436 13-Mar-2012 07:38

The stuff I got from DX is cheap, and i'm in no great hurry. If one or two bits don't turn up it's no great problem, so long as they refund or something.

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#594466 13-Mar-2012 09:16

gregmcc:
timmmay: Yep I'll replace it with an incandescent if I get a dimmer.

Great idea about DealExtreme, i've never used them before. They have a stupidly large range of LED bulbs. This one would be perfect, but 6W is far too bright - 1.5W in that style would be awesome but they don't seem to have it.

I'm going to get a few different low lm LED bulbs and see how well they work.

steer away from deal extreme, there has been quite a bit of trouble with them unable to supply stock, even though they claim to have it in stock

Yes, Chinese New Year and shifting premesis and website seem to have thrown them off a bit. One order I placed on 9 Jan partially shipped on 31 Jan. I requested a refund for the remaining items mid Feb, but it still hasn't been refunded. Another order I placed on 7 Feb finally shipped on 7 March. I hope they get things running smoothly again.

richms

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#594532 13-Mar-2012 12:36

Dont bother with them at the.moment. Price angels and ebay and a couple of others have the same stuff and actually ship on time.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#594533 13-Mar-2012 12:39

Too late. I could always cancel the order and order from ebay I guess, anyone tried that with DX?

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