Dimmer,switch,dimmer,switches, technology Dimmer switch, dimmer switches, LED dimmer switch, LED light

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Depending onwhich type of light you want to dim, choosing a dimmer switch can go from beinga fairly simple task to a very complicated one. If you are dimming halogen orincandescent lighting loads then this is straightforward as most will functionperfectly well. However, dimming Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) or Light EmittingDiode (LED) can be complicated as both the dimmer switch and the light must becompatible. LED in particular is the hardest as there are many different typesavailable, all containing different types of dimming technology. Most dimmerswitches were never originally designed to dim low energy lights as they werenot available to perform tests with at the time of the initial design. Dimmerswitch manufacturers have reacted slowly, if at all to the advance in LEDlights making the task of choosing a compatible dimmer switch a guessing game.Over the pastfew years I have worked closely with both lighting and dimmer switchmanufacturers to provide the most up-to-date advice and pre-sales support.Although my findings cannot always be 100% accurate as lighting manufacturers oftenchange the components in their lamps or fittings causing the once compatibleswitch to no longer work.When a noncompatible dimmer switch is used with a low energy light, it causes the lightto flicker. The flickering generally occurs when the light is dimmed to lowlevels or sometimes at full brightness. This is usually because the load oflights are too low for the dimmer switch to react to.One of theregular questions I get asked when customers start looking for LED compatible dimmerswitches is what is the difference between leading edge and trailing edge? Leadingedge and trailing are two different types of dimmer technology and until thearrival of LEDs nobody cared which one they used.Leading edgeis the most popular because it is cheaper. It contains a triac and a coil andmay buzz slightly when in operation; the minimum load is quite high, usuallyaround forty watts. This is not a problem when dimming incandescent or halogenbut can be when dimming CFL or LED which are usually just ten watts per light. Leadingedge dimmers are now available that have a minimum adjustment dial, turning thedial down to its lowest setting allows fewer lamps to dimmed to a much lowersetting IE down to 1%.Trailing edgetechnology uses solid state components such as insulated gate bipolartransistors (IGBT) and has no triac or coil. This provides a totally silent andsmoother dimming action. The other advantage of using trailing edge is that theminimum load is lower. When dimming some LED downlights the load can be ratedat ten watt instead of fifty watt which allows for far more lights to be dimmed.Potentially up to thirty lights can be dimmed on just one switch.When dimmingCFL you must ensure that the lamp is dimmable. There are very few dimmable CFLlamps on the market mainly because LED has overtaken it. CFL lamps should beturned up to full brightness on start up and left at full power for a fewminutes before it is dimmed or the life expectancy of the lamp will be reduced.Depending on the minimum and maximum wattage, there are a few dimmer switches thatare compatible. Although cheaper in price, dimming CFL is not worth the hassle;LED is better in every way: Like withCFL, you must always ensure that the LED you choose is dimmable as most arenot. LED lighting technology has developed rapidly over the past few years but dimmerswitch technology has not. There are many different types of dimmable LEDsavailable. Consequently, consumers are often challenged to understand whichcombinations of LEDs and dimmers are compatible. It is not just a case ofchoosing a leading edge or trailing edge dimmer but more importantly whichbrand and model number will work best for your installation.There are twotypes of dimmable LED lights; LED bulbs and complete LED downlights. LED bulbsare harder to dim than downlights.This is because downlights have their ownbuilt in driver and the manufacturer of the driver can usually recommend a fewdimmer switches as they have tested them before they are released.Havingdecided on which LED you want to install, selecting the correct LED dimmerswitch should be based on the following:1.Compatibility; ideally, the LED manufacturer will have a list of recommendeddimmer switches. Selecting a random dimmer switch may work perfectly wellhowever, a dimmer switch that is incompatible can cause flickering and in somecases, permanent damage to the LED.2. Quantityof LEDs; dimming results can vary depending on how many LED lights are in thecircuit. LED loads are not rated the same as halogen, for example ten, fivewatt LEDs is not the same as one fifty watt halogen. De-rating factors may needto be considered and vary from brand to brand. Selecting a compatible dimmerfor the wrong quantity of LED lights could cause flickering and reduce therange of dimming, i.e. the lights won't dim down to 10%.3.Aesthetics; if you like the look of your current dimmer switch but it is notcompatible and causes your LEDs to flicker you can replace the module inside.This can be done by rewiring the module and swapping it over. Around ninetypercent of dimmer switch modules will interchange with each other. This allowsyou to keep the look but upgrade the technology. Advanced dimmingcan be done by using lighting software controlled from a PC that allows you tocontrol or dim your lights from anywhere in the world. From remote controloperated dimmer switches to wirelessly controlled lighting solutions. Thepossibilities are endless by choosing the correct, compatible components you canhave total control over your lights from a PC, iPad or even iPhone. Article Tags: Dimmer Switch, Dimmer Switches, Leading Edge, Different Types, Compatible Dimmer, Trailing Edge