Electrical help please -Dimmer switched lights all out

[Jenn]

Flicked on (simple) switch (dimmer dial is one switch, off/on switch the other one which is the one we used when this happened) this am and heard/saw a "POP" like when one bulb goes out but all 7 of the 'spotlight' bulbs for that switch went out. No circuit breaker is thrown, no water leaks apparent (or even likely- no rain lately and no plumbing near there), nothing else not working (but I don't know my circuits too well- not certain).

Advice? Possible cause? DOn't want to fry another 7 bulbs at $2-4/bulb. (And haven't yet proved they're fried- need ladder for them).

[idahodave]

Chances are one of the bulbs blew when turned on. When the blub blew it arced internally and took out the dimmer. You probably need a new dimmer and one bulb. Look at the bulbs, one may be blacked, which is the bad one.

[barelahh]

definately the dimmer switch. I hate those things unless you buy a really good one. They create a LOT OF heat.

[Energy Rebel]

Hard to say without being there, but first thing I'd do is turn off the breaker.
Look at it in the morning.
If there was a ground fault in the switch (when it popped) it should have tripped the breaker, but you say it didn't trip.
I have had bad grounds in the fixture, usually where you screw in the bulb that will blow a light and not trip the breaker. That might be a good place to start.

[Bearfootfarm]

It could just be a loose wire on the switch also

[fordy]

Originally Posted by Jenn

Flicked on (simple) switch (dimmer dial is one switch, off/on switch the other one which is the one we used when this happened) this am and heard/saw a "POP" like when one bulb goes out but all 7 of the 'spotlight' bulbs for that switch went out. No circuit breaker is thrown, no water leaks apparent (or even likely- no rain lately and no plumbing near there), nothing else not working (but I don't know my circuits too well- not certain).

Advice? Possible cause? DOn't want to fry another 7 bulbs at $2-4/bulb. (And haven't yet proved they're fried- need ladder for them).

.................The dimmer switch is nothing but a variable resistor which increases or decreases the voltage too the bulbs resulting changes in brightness ! You should beable too find the breaker that furnishes power too that receptacle as well as several others in that room . Probably have several wall outlets on that circuit as well . Probably a 20 amp breaker so you can switch them off at the main panel until you find the right one , then remove the dimmer switch and take it too lowes or Home Depot and replace . , fordy

[Zephaniah]

Maybe in the old days they were variable resistors. Nowadays they are electronic circuits, and any/every thing that can go bad will go bad in them.

An image of a very simple circuit.



most likely the dimmer blew. As fordy says " go to home depot and get a new one.", but be careful with the electric, turning off the circuit breaker or fuse before repair.

[agmantoo]

Zephaniah is IMO correct.
The pop was the diac (ac diode) most likely