CBE Dimmer Switch Replacement

[Ayjay]

As it says in the title, can anybody advise on an alternative 12V dimmer switch to the one in the picture below please?
In the 6 or so years that I've owned the van, I've gone through two dimmer switches both of which failed in the same way (and when we've been on the road so quick replacement wasn't easy)- they both switched on and off with the press button but the rotating dimmer knob doesn't do anything and just feels loose. Perhaps luckily (and annoyingly at the same time) they were both stuck on full brightness. Neither of us are particularly heavy handed but the second one has only been fitted for about 13 months so maybe I've just got unlucky. I would like to keep the new one within the CBE/CLine frame and surround. The current (and previous) is one of these which I think is ubiquitous in the campervan world. I don't mind paying more for a replacement if it works well but my alternative might just be to buy two of the CBE things and leave one in the van as a backup (which should ensure that the fitted one will never fail!). Thanks in advance.

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[Mr Fi]

Hi, this is the one I went with, as it has no moving parts so should last longer. It is a little fast to dim from low to high but once you find the light level you like it stays memorized and is recalled the next time you turn the lights on. Camper 12v Light Dimmer Switch 12v Touch Panel w/ Backbox C-Line Gun Metal Grey | eBay UK

 

[DXX]

I’ve had the the same CBE switch for 7 years and no issue than a slightly loose terminal.
The CBE equipment seems to be the campervan converters choice (cheap) but I can’t say it’s particularly robust.

 

[Green Giant]

I’ve also got the touch dimmer, it is a pain to use if you do like dimming the lights a lot, a knob would be better

 

[darrenrimmington]

As it says in the title, can anybody advise on an alternative 12V dimmer switch to the one in the picture below please?
In the 6 or so years that I've owned the van, I've gone through two dimmer switches both of which failed in the same way (and when we've been on the road so quick replacement wasn't easy)- they both switched on and off with the press button but the rotating dimmer knob doesn't do anything and just feels loose. Perhaps luckily (and annoyingly at the same time) they were both stuck on full brightness. Neither of us are particularly heavy handed but the second one has only been fitted for about 13 months so maybe I've just got unlucky. I would like to keep the new one within the CBE/CLine frame and surround. The current (and previous) is one of these which I think is ubiquitous in the campervan world. I don't mind paying more for a replacement if it works well but my alternative might just be to buy two of the CBE things and leave one in the van as a backup (which should ensure that the fitted one will never fail!). Thanks in advance.

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Hi there. I have just today had this happen to me ! Luckily (annoyingly) like you, it’s gone with the lights up. Are they easy to replace? Thinking of just buying the same again.

 

[Ayjay]

Hi there. I have just today had this happen to me ! Luckily (annoyingly) like you, it’s gone with the lights up. Are they easy to replace? Thinking of just buying the same again.

Assuming you're going to replace it with the same (as I did in the end), very easy. Prise of the fascia plate with a small screwdriver (there are clips on each side). Just screw terminals in the back and taking the whole thing out and putting the new one in took about 10 minutes - mine was a bit fiddly as it's in the same frame as two sockets so a few wires to get back in and out of the way before screwing the whole thing down again.

 

[darrenrimmington]

Assuming you're going to replace it with the same (as I did in the end), very easy. Prise of the fascia plate with a small screwdriver (there are clips on each side). Just screw terminals in the back and taking the whole thing out and putting the new one in took about 10 minutes - mine was a bit fiddly as it's in the same frame as two sockets so a few wires to get back in and out of the way before screwing the whole thing down again.

Thanks for that. Mine is the same with two sockets to the left. Hopefully straight forward. Thank you

 

[Ayjay]

Just take your time getting the surround off - they can be a bit fragile, especially in cold weather (don't ask!).

 

[darrenrimmington]

Just take your time getting the surround off - they can be a bit fragile, especially in cold weather (don't ask!).

Ok thanks for this. I’ve seen them online all for around £20-25. Is that about right ?

 

[Ayjay]

Mine came from Clearcut on Ebay for £25 and only took a day to arrive. I can't remember what it was now but I bought another CBE item from them a while ago that developed a fault after a couple of months and gave them a quick call - they sent a replacement without further question and that sort go thing makes me go back to a firm even if they do sometimes charge a couple of quid more.

 

[darrenrimmington]

Mine came from Clearcut on Ebay for £25 and only took a day to arrive. I can't remember what it was now but I bought another CBE item from them a while ago that developed a fault after a couple of months and gave them a quick call - they sent a replacement without further question and that sort go thing makes me go back to a firm even if they do sometimes charge a couple of quid more.

Great. Thanks for all advice. Will let you know how I get on

 

[Ayjay]

Oh bogger, the new one mentioned above has just failed in exactly the same way. This time it wasn’t stuck on full but somewhere in the middle sim pressed on the knob, rotated it and the lights went up a bit - remembered that I dismantled the last one to discover that the control knob was fixed to a flimsy plastic ‘spindle’ which had broken. I don’t think I’m particularly ham fisted and reckon it’s a design fault as this one has only had very light use and IIRC this is the 4th that I’ve had go on me in the same way since I bought the van in 2019.
Having had dealings with Clearcut Conversions before, I have no doubt that they will replace it without argument but I suspect I’ll stick it in a cupboard for emergency use and go for a C-Line model which is just a push button (that said, I’ve heard that they are not without there problems either!).