Dimming rope lights

[raymondod]

hi sorry to bother you. I have recently purchased some standard rope light which has a control box for certain functions ( E.G flashing, steady on etc). The lighting has a single plug on the end which goes straight into the wall socket. ( 13 A , 250V )

As i am using them as backlighting i would like to be able to dim the lights. Preferably i would like a dimmer to go straight into the wall, and then the lighting into this as it seems to be the easiest method. Could someone tell me where i could find one of these and if there are any alternative methods? ( i dont want to spend over £20 )

thanks in advance

[neilball]

I doubt you can dim these kind of fixed rope lights with integrated controller. You can buy Duralite rope light from TLC Electrical which can be dimmed, this does not have the control box wired to it. While you could try dimming the rope you have bought you simply risk damaging the rope light and/or the dimmer.

[raymondod]

ok thanks neil, think ill try to get some new ropelighting then

[Steve149]

I have some TLC "dimmable" rope lights. I would just point out that there is not much point in dimming the coloured versions - they are not that bright to start with! Perhaps the white versions a brighter?

[neilball]

Originally Posted by Steve149

I have some TLC "dimmable" rope lights. I would just point out that there is not much point in dimming the coloured versions - they are not that bright to start with! Perhaps the white versions a brighter?

I've only used the white rope and it is debatable about the effectiveness of dimming control other than for the effect when switching on & off using slow fade times. However if you do need to dim it for any reason at least you can

[benwillcox]

Originally Posted by raymondod

hi sorry to bother you. I have recently purchased some standard rope light which has a control box for certain functions ( E.G flashing, steady on etc). The lighting has a single plug on the end which goes straight into the wall socket. ( 13 A , 250V )

I had the same issue. the control box on my ropelight was a sealed unit, but I just smashed it off with a big hammer and connected the wires via a terminal box into my dimmer module.
There were 3 connections, a Neutral and two Lives (as the ropelight had 2 separate strings of lamps), so I just connected to the two Lives together.

Ben

[neilball]

Originally Posted by benwillcox

I had the same issue. the control box on my ropelight was a sealed unit, but I just smashed it off with a big hammer and connected the wires via a terminal box into my dimmer module.
There were 3 connections, a Neutral and two Lives (as the ropelight had 2 separate strings of lamps), so I just connected to the two Lives together.

Ben

That's fine as long as there is not a transformer in the control box to run the lamps at low voltage!