Control/Dimming - Is this possible: Lamp failure breaks a dimmer?

[slimrocktwo]

I was geling lights for a Battle of the Bands that's coming up, and i noticed an ellipsoidal was burned out in the catwalk. I changed out the bulb, plugged it back in, and nothing. So i tried connecting it to a different circuit that was powered, and it fired right up. I tried a another light on the troubled circuit, and got nothing from it. Our system is double patched, so I tried the same method on the other plug and got nothing as well. I checked the dimming rack and found none of the dimmers had a tripped breaker.

Is it possible that when the bulb burned up that it took the dimmer with it? Prior to the bulb going out, both circuits of that dimmer worked fine.

Thanks in advance

[mrb]

what kind of dimmers? I have seem lamps develop a short circuit when they fail but it usually trips the breaker or burns itself out before damaging the dimmer.

[derekleffew]

Yes, it's possible, but rare.
First, are you sure all the breakers on the dimmers were un-tripped? On some, it's difficult to tell just by a visual inspection. On almost all, the handle must be switched fully to OFF then to ON, to reset the circuit breaker.
Second, are you absolutely certain the console was telling the circuit/dimmer to be on?
Third, IF you are qualified and IF you have modular dimmers, assuming this to be a DPC installation, swap the suspect dimmer with a known-good module. If the problem follows the module, it's likely a bad SSR--a relatively easy and inexpensive repair, depending on the make/model of the dimmer. If a "good" module doesn't work in the "bad" slot, and the "bad" dimmer works in another slot, it's a wiring or control issue. Very rare, but again, possible.

Here's the link for the User's Manual for your dimmer rack, in case you don't have it: EDI Mark VII DimmerBank.pdf. (via Google)

[slimrocktwo]

The dimming rack is a Mark VII Dimming Bank, made by Electronics Diversified Inc. It was installed in '96, when the High school/ Auditorium was built.

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Yes, it's possible, but rare.
First, are you sure all the breakers on the dimmers were un-tripped?

I'm pretty sure i flipped it on & off, but i'll gve it another try tomorow.

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Second, are you absolutely certain the console was telling the circuit/dimmer to be on?

Yes, because I after I moved the light to a working dimmer, I changed the channel from the troubled dimmer to the working dimmer.

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Third, IF you are qualified and IF you have modular dimmers, assuming this to be a DPC installation, swap the suspect dimmer with a known-good module.

I'll try this tomorow as well.

Thanks

[gafftapegreenia]

And then there is always the chance the circuit itself has died.

[Clifford]

We have the same rack a similar problem with two circuits. Please post if you find the problem.

[icewolf08]

I like how people jump to the rack/dimmers as the problem. Have you opened up the female connector to make sure that the wiring is good inside? I would do that before I assumed that there was a dimming issue. This is especially pertinent if you don't have flush-mount female connectors (i.e. you have pigtails). One step at a time folks.

[photoatdv]

Yeah, the connectors are often the culprit. We have had SO MANY of those go recently. My favorite was the once that was getting so hot it melted both plugs together. By the time we got the plugs off they were in multiple pieces. And yes the breaker was off when we did this.

[slimrocktwo]

We have flush mount connectors in the catwalk, so I didn't test that. I don't think it's an connector issue though, because the troubled dimmer is double patched, and neither circuit/plug is working.

[gafftapegreenia]

How old is your venue? Sometimes wiring goes bad.