Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
Compatibility: Works with resistive or capacitive loads by reducing the load by shortening the A/C cycle at the input waveform’s trailing edge. Wattage refers to the amount of power drawn by the light bulbs, so it has a direct impact on the type and number of bulbs that you can control with a dimmer switch. “To determine the appropriate wattage capacity for a dimmer switch, calculate the total wattage of the bulbs it will control,” says Jason Brady, owner of Above and Beyond Service Company. “For example, if you have five 60-watt bulbs, the total wattage is 300 watts.” You can then select a dimmer switch that’s capable of handling over 300 watts, because it’s important to leave a safety margin. Improved Atmosphere: The ability to adjust lighting levels allows you to effortlessly create the perfect ambience for any occasion, from a lively dinner party to a peaceful evening reading session.
Read on for an overview of what to keep in mind when choosing the correct dimmer switch for your home. Varilight V-Pro 120W LED 1 Dimmer Switch Dimmer switches sometimes need a larger wall box than the switch you’re replacing, and you also need to consider the kind of bulbs you’re using and other factors. Toggle: These look like standard toggle light switches, but you can raise and lower the toggle to dim and brighten your lights instead of flipping on and off in two binary positions like you would with a traditional light switch. In other cases, the toggle itself acts as an on/off switch, and you adjust the illumination level with a very small slider that’s located right next to the toggle. These are best for applications where you won’t need to adjust the illumination level every day.On the other hand, mains voltage dimmable LED light bulbs and LED light fittings can be comfortably controlled using standard resistive dimmer switches. LED lamps are particularly appealing due to their low energy consumption and high energy efficiency. Cost Savings: By curbing energy use and reducing the frequency of lamp replacement, dimmer switches can lead to substantial savings, making them a financially smart choice for your home. However, these attributes can pose a challenge when selecting the correct dimmer switches. For instance, if you are trying to dim a small number of LED lamps, the total wattage might not be sufficient to load the dimmer. Common Uses For Leading Edge Dimmers: Most often used to dim incandescent and mains voltage halogen light bulbs and capsules. Also suitable for dimming most electronic low voltage transformers, including wire-wound or toroidal transformers, and under certain circumstances, constant current dimmable LED drivers.
It is important to note that all quality branded halogen capsules incorporate a fused link to protect the circuit in case of a short within the lamp. Non-branded cheap generic halogen lamps do not have this function and should be avoided. Never use a dimmer module that is not rated higher than the total load applied to it. Resistive Dimmers (Trailing Edge) This white dimmer switch features intelligent dimming technology, soft start, intelligent overload protection, and adjustable minimum brightness settings. It comes pre-set as a trailing edge dimmer with three programmable modes to cater to a range of LED requirements. The switch employs an easy-to-use push for on/off and rotates to dim mechanism. It comes in various finishes, including polished chrome, satin chrome, antique brass, and bronze, among others. Engineered for a maximum LED load of 300W, this switch provides a smooth, silent trailing edge dimming experience, combined with intelligent lamp-type detection for adaptable load control. This is primarily a single pole switch, which means it’s easiest to use in a configuration where it doesn’t share control of the lights with any other switches. It is possible to use in 3-way installations with a mechanical switch, but that takes a little extra work. It requires different wiring from a traditional dimmer switch, so you’ll have to discard your preexisting knowledge and pay close attention to the instructions if you’re familiar with how 3-way wiring is supposed to work. The hidden benefit is that this switch is actually designed for multi-location dimming in up to 10 locations if you use Maestro Companion dimmer switches instead of traditional dimmer or mechanical switches.Trailing edge dimmers are compatible with resistive or capacitive loads and are able reduce the load by shortening the A/C cycle at the trailing edge of the input waveform, hence the term ‘Trailing Edge’. The best of these are marketed as ‘intelligent dimmers’ and feature soft-start and overload protection to improve the life span of both the lamps and the dimmer. If you mistakenly connect too many lights or transformers to an an intelligent dimmer it will protect itself from failure by turning the lights down or off until the load is corrected. Dimming fluorescent fittings is complex and can involve analogue or digital dimmers and a variety of different wiring schemes. These are expensive to install and are mainly used for commercial applications and are beyond the scope of this article. For example, the Kasa HS220, our best smart dimmer, works with Alexa and Google Home, but not with HomeKit. If your smart home is powered by Apple’s HomeKit, you’ll find that the Kasa HS220 just won’t work correctly. In that case, consider the very similar Kasa KS220 that works with HomeKit. Traditional dimmers are only designed to work with incandescent lights, although some also work with halogen, while LED dimmers are designed specifically for LED bulbs. “Traditional dimmers, which typically use knobs, usually absorb the energy not sent to the light,” says Sampayo. “For instance, if you dim your light to 30 percent, the remaining 70 percent is wasted by the regular dimmer in the form of heat. Your energy consumption remains at 100 percent.” That works with incandescent lights that exhibit reduced brightness when provided with less energy, but LED bulbs placed in that same situation won’t light at all, or may exhibit unwanted behaviors. All dimmers are rated by wattage and leading edge dimmers are no exception. They are commonly available in 250w, 400w, 600w and 1000w modules. It is important to note that they also have a minimum load requirement of 25w, 40w, 100w and 150w respectively.
Smart home integration can provide you with a lot of options that aren’t available from a traditional dimmer switch. “Smart switches have gained popularity in the era of home automation,” says Brady. “They can be controlled remotely and integrated into smart home systems.” If that sounds interesting, then you may want to consider a smart dimmer. Brady cautions that it's important to pay special attention to compatibility, as smart dimmers are typically designed to work with smart home systems. Tap: This type of dimmer uses a tap control to switch the lights on and off, and then another method to adjust the illumination. This white dimmer switch is equipped with intelligent dimming technology, a soft start, intelligent overload protection, and an adjustable minimum brightness setting. It also comes with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty. Set as a trailing edge dimmer by default, it offers three programmable modes suitable for various LED applications. Energy Efficiency: Dimmer switches help reduce energy consumption by allowing you to use only the amount of light you need, contributing to a greener environment and lower utility bills. If you already have a smart home, or you’re in the process of setting one up, this smart dimmer switch from Kasa will make an excellent addition. Installation is simplified by detailed interactive instructions in the Kasa app, it works with several smart home ecosystems, and it connects directly to your wireless network so you don’t need to worry about buying and setting up a separate hub.
£140.00
Despite their advantages, it’s relatively uncommon to find inductive dimmer switches in regular domestic settings. Using Dimmer Switches With Fluorescent Fittings The Cloudy Bay in Wall Dimmer Switch for LED Lights is a toggle switch with a small dimming slider, and it functions in both single pole and 3-way installations. The dimming slider is a little on the small side, but it doesn’t get in the way of the switch. It’s fully compatible with all Cloudy Bay LED light fixtures right out of the box, and it also includes a trim dial that allows you to adjust it to work well with other fixtures and dimmable LED bulbs. It comes with everything you need to complete the installation, including screws, wire nuts, and even a decorative wall plate. Dimming low voltage LED lamps is easily accomplished with dimmer switches by either adjusting the driver on the primary (mains) side or on the secondary (low voltage) side. Of the two, primary side dimming is preferable and easier to achieve. However, it’s essential that the LED driver is of a constant current type and dimmable. Conclusion This article was written by Jeremy Laukkonen, a freelance writer for The Spruce. Laukkonen has more than a decade of experience writing about and reviewing consumer technology. He prefers smart light switches and bulbs, because who has time these days to operate the lights manually? His writing has also appeared in Digital Trends, Lifewire, and Entertainment Weekly. Adding a dimmer switch to a lighting setup, or replacing an old one with a newer model, can transform the look and feel of a room. “Dimmers are most useful in areas where you want to create ambiances, such as social areas, bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms,” says Freddy Sampayo, chief technology officer of Schaller Tech. “It's also useful to think about spaces where you'd be annoyed to turn on the light when waking up groggily in the middle of the night.”
Leading edge dimmers are the most commonly used to dim incandescent and mains voltage halogen light bulbs and capsules. They are also used to dim most electronic low voltage transformers, including wire-wound or toroidal transformers and can also be used to dim constant current dimmable LED drivers under certain circumstances that will be explained later. Reduced Eye Strain: By enabling you to tailor the light level, dimming lights can help minimise eye fatigue, especially during prolonged periods of close-up tasks such as reading or crafting.The voltage rating of a dimmer switch tells you where you can use it. For example, residential electrical voltage in the United States is 110 - 120VAC. That means you can use any 110 or 120V dimmer switch in your home. Although a trailing edge dimmer is considerably more expensive to buy, it has many desirable attributes over its leading edge counterpart and in certain situations may be more appropriate. Inductive Dimmer Switches
Great Deal 
New Comment