Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please help.

[ashman3g]

Hi,
We have just finished a building which contains 10 of Compact Flourescent 2 x 18w PL downlights with gear. When connecting a normal white rocker switch the lights operate fine, however when using the 2 gang electrical touch switch the lights do not seem to work. Any idea to why this is and how i can resolve this problem?

Here is the spec for the light switch:

[h=5]TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION:[/h]

• [h=5]Rated Voltage: 220~240V AC, Frequency: 50/60Hz[/h]
• [h=5]Capability allowance: -15%~+10% 187~264V[/h]
• [h=5]Operating Power: 2 Gang (15-1500W),[/h]
• [h=5]Working Environment: Working Temperature: 0[SUP]o[/SUP]C~40[SUP]o[/SUP]C Relative Humidity: 10% - 93%[/h]
• [h=5]Energy Consumption: <0.02W[/h]
• [h=5]Measurement: 86x86mm[/h]
• [h=5]life: 100,000 times at least (relay useful life) Remote usage distance >20M[/h]
• [h=5]Power: < 0.1mW[/h]
• [h=5]CE & RoHS Certified[/h]

Many Thanks In Advance,
Ash

 

[trev]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

First port of call is to check everything is correctly terminated mate.
Sorry if that sounds patronising, that's not my intention

 

[Knobhead]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Make and model?

 

[Edd]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Is the switch designed to dim non filament lamps? whats the make/ model of the dimmer and fittings?

 

[ashman3g]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Make and model?

Hi,
For the light switch: RTS2020 | touch and remote light switch | 2 gang switch in Black - RetroTouch Designer Light Switches & Plug Socket
For the downlights: DROP GLASS COMPACT FLORESCENT PL DOWNLIGHT COMPLETE WITH GEAR (2X18W)

Many Thanks.

 

[ashman3g]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Hi,
The switch im using is not a dimmer.

Many Thanks.

 

[Knobhead]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Have you tried connecting an incandesant lamp to this switch?

 

[ashman3g]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Have you tried connecting an incandesant lamp to this switch?

Hi,
yes i have and the switch works great with it. The switch is definitely not faulty as i have bought a replacement and i still have the same issue.

Many Thanks.

 

[Knobhead]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Looks like you’ve got a compatibility problem then.
Either the fittings or the switch has to go.

 

[ashman3g]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Looks like you’ve got a compatibility problem then.
Either the fittings or the switch has to go.

Any way of using a relay or something to in between that will make it compatible?

Many Thanks.

 

[telectrix]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

the manufactrrers instructions will probably say " not to be used with fluorescent or discharge fittings. :001_9898:

 

[Knobhead]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

You could do that, but you need a minimum loading on the switch of 7VA as I recall from the instructions. So becareful what you buy.

 

[ashman3g]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Is there something you would recommend or a particular spec relay i need to go for?
Not bought a relay in the past.

Many Thanks.

 

[telectrix]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

a relay itself is an inductive load, so you may need to fit a capacitor across the coil to cancel this out.

 

[ashman3g]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

a relay itself is an inductive load, so you may need to fit a capacitor across the coil to cancel this out.

which relay would you recommend?

 

[telectrix]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

anything with a 240v coil and contacts rated higher than the load current.

 

[ashman3g]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

anything with a 240v coil and contacts rated higher than the load current.

Any specific model you would recommend?
I really don't have a clue which one to purchase.

 

[ashman3g]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

any other suggestions i could do to get this working or is using a relay my only option?

Thanks.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

As it says on their website, if you've got problems, email them. [email protected]

 

[Knobhead]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

Use Google to locate a suitable relay. There’s 1000’s to choose from, I’m not trawling through then for you.

I’m sorry but you took the job on without knowing what you were doing. It’s a commercial job so I would assume you have some experience of the trade.

 

[Richard Burns]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

I would tend to agree with Trev and ensure that you have the correct connections, from the wiring diagrams for the touch switch the terminal identification is apparently the same as you would expect for a two way switch but the function is different.

If you are using a two gang touch switch are you also using a two gang rocker switch?
A two gang rocker switch with a permanent line looped to the commons and individual switched lines one coming from each of the L1s should then be wired on the touch switch with the permanent line to L and the switched lines individually to L1 and L2 respectively.

Using a single gang rocker switch and connecting permanent line to com and switched line to L1 and it is working; then connecting the touch switch permanent line to L and switched line to L1 and allowing 2 minutes after power up before testing then it should work, however you would only be using one of the two gangs on the touch switch.

 

[Moses]

Re: Cannot get electrical light switch to turn on commercial PL Downlights, Please he

As already said in earlier posts,

The touch switch is only designed for resistive loads and not suitable for inductive loads such as the PL lamps and their ballasts.

The OP needs to choose the correct type of controls as even with a contactor/Relay you end up with inductive load for the touch switch. Then there is the minimum 'holding current' for the triac, which means that load must be large enough, other wise the Triac will not conduct, as the minimum current required for the Triac to conduct will not flow.