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[pauls]

Sitting here looking at oof all of a sudden lights went out. I thought owell another bulb needed. Anyway checked all the bulbs none popped but the light in the front room wont turn back on. Any ideas please i did check the bulb with a known good one but nothing. I was thinking dimmer switch but question is would it just stop working.

[dbug]

Checked all breakers/fuses "intact"?

[MR MISTER]

Dimmer switches can be temperamental little bastuds.

[pauls]

Checked all breakers/fuses "intact"?

All fuses etc good

[Kate]

Check the wiring to the actual light bulb.

[Kate]

Or maybe replace the dimmer switch.

[Kate]

If that fails then rewire the whole house!

[tunnie]

As above, if fuses are ok stick a normal light switch in. Dimmer does do appear to go a bit loopy sometimes

[AndyRoid]

I was thinking dimmer switch but question is would it just stop working.

Yes they do just stop working, and it is not uncommon for them to trip the protective device (MCB/RCD) when they do fail.

Given your description, my money says it's the dimmer.

You can verify this by shutting off the electrical supply to that circuit, remove the dimmer switch from the wall, take the 2 wires from the dimmer and short them together using a connector block, then flick the MCB back on.
If the lights come on, it's the switch.


Note that using this method could well create a very tiny arc, it's nothing to worry about and won't kill you when it happens (but it does scare the nervous ones among us quite impressively  ).

[Rods2]

Or it might be a shorted wire(s) in the light fitting, where the insulation goes hard and brittle from the lamp's heat

[AndyRoid]

Or it might be a shorted wire(s) in the light fitting, where the insulation goes hard and brittle from the lamp's heat

If that was the case, the MCB would remain in a tripped state.

[pauls]

Cheers guys will update tomorrow

[plym ian]

What bulbs are in the light?

[Vamps]

Or it might be a shorted wire(s) in the light fitting, where the insulation goes hard and brittle from the lamp's heat

If that was the case, the MCB would remain in a tripped state.

Yep......   My monies on the switch, but I would have tried a new basic on/off switch to test....

[Andy B]

What bulbs are in the light?

don't you plant bulbs in the garden ........