Types of Dimmer Switches | How to Select A Dimmer (2024)

FAQs

Types of Dimmer Switches | How to Select A Dimmer? ›

The type of dimmer switch and it's minimum/maximum load range will indicate the compatibility with LED light bulbs. Trailing edge dimmers work best with LED light bulbs and leading-edge dimmers work best with traditional incandescent and halogen light bulbs.

Do I need a specific type of dimmer switch? There are two types of dimmer switch available: leading-edge and trailing-edge dimmers. Some retrofit LED light bulbs and fittings have drivers that allow them to work with either type, but for a better chance of the dimmer operating correctly, choose a trailing-edge dimmer.

Choose a dimmer with a wattage rating that meets or exceeds the total wattage of all the light bulbs the dimmer will control. For example, if the dimmer controls a fixture with ten 75-watt bulbs, you need a dimmer rated for 750 watts or higher.

Forward Phase: Forward phase-cut dimming (commonly referred to as incandescent or Triac dimming) is the most common dimming method. It's designed for resistive or magnetic low-voltage (MLV) loads, including incandescent and halogen, but certain models allow for more usage with CFL and LED loads.

Calculate The Total Load

For example, if a dimmer is rated 200W-600W, the minimum load would be 20W and the maximum load would be 60W. This means that when using LED light bulbs, the load must be between 20W and 60W. To find out how many bulbs can be supported by a dimmer, add up the wattages of all the bulbs.

These dimming techniques are divided into three groups: Dimming via power component (decrease in power): phase on and phase off. Dimming via control signal (analogue): 0-10V, 1-10V. Dimming via control signal (digital): DALI.

For the best possible compatibility, look for a dimmer that includes a trim wheel, like the Cloudy Bay In Wall Dimmer Switch for LED, our pick for best for LED lights. The trim wheel allows you to adjust the switch to stop flickering and unwanted noises, if your bulbs aren't compatible right out of the box.

The packaging of your dimmer switch and the lightbulbs that you have picked out should both tell you if they are compatible. The lightbulbs will tell you if they are compatible with a dimmer and the dimmer switch should say what kinds of lights it can be used with.

Can I install a dimmer switch for any type of light? You will need to check what kind of light is connected to the existing on/off switch. So long as the bulb is dimmable, it should be compatible with a dimmer switch. A dimmer switch can be installed anywhere that an existing on/off switch is already installed.

A standard dimmer switch cannot be used with an LED light as you will never be able to dim the LED light either completely or not very well. LED lights need their own special electronic dimmer switch to have a fully functioning and dimming light.

What type of dimmer is best for LED lights? ›

Trailing edge dimmers work best with LED light bulbs and leading-edge dimmers work best with traditional incandescent and halogen light bulbs.

Modern dimmers take electricity that is flowing through a light's circuit and switch it on and then off. When this happens, it diverts electricity from the light bulb. The amount of electrical current flowing through the lightbulb is reduced.

In the end, Universal Dimmers are all about making it easier to seamlessly control lighting levels with your choice of bulb. Just remember, for best results CFL and LED bulbs must be labeled "Dimmable"; and do refer to Bulb/Dimmer compatibility charts posted by bulb and dimmer manufacturers for the ideal pairing!

Dimmer switches using leading edge technology cut off the front edge of the half cycle of each AC wave, whereas trailing edge dimmers cut off the second half of each half cycle.

Description. Intelligent Dimmer Switches. Dimmer Switches belonging to this category, employ the latest, state of the art, micro- controller based electronic circuitry and use current sensing to compute the load conditions.

So this was a new type of dimmer on the market. An “ELV” dimmer, made for a 12 volt MR 16 and its electronic power supply. “ELV dimmer” doesn't mean the dimmer is electronic and low voltage, it means it's for dimming an electronic power supply of a low voltage halogen light.

1 Way Switches: If a light switch is '1 way' this means it is just an on/off switch. This is the simplest type of switch that you can get. The single switch controls a single light (or lighting circuit). 2 Way Switches: A '2 way' switch means there is another switch controlling the same light.

Much like the two-way switch, a three-way switch turns a light on or off. However, there is a crucial difference. The three-way switch is used in conjunction with another three-way switch. Each one of them has the power to interrupt the electrical flow and turn the light off from a different part of the room.