How do I know what dimmer switch I need?
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.
Do you need special dimmers for LED lights?
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.
Are all dimmers the same?
Dimmers all perform the same function, altering the illumination produced by the attached fixtures, but there are many types of dimmer switch controls. These traditional switches have a rotating knob that controls the light level.
How many LEDs can I put on a dimmer?
A rule of thumb commonly used to calculate a load for LED dimmers is to divide the stated maximum load by 10. For example a 400W dimmer switch should have no more than 40W of LED bulbs connected to it, which would equate to eight 5W bulbs.
How do you make a non-dimmable LED dimmable?
Simply, you can’t dim non-dimmable LED lights. If you use non-dimmable lights in a dimmer circuit, they will either flicker or just run at full brightness.
What happens if you overload a dimmer switch?
new jersey — Did you know that you can accidentally overload a dimmer switch? If you do, it can become hot to the touch – sometimes extremely hot – to the point where it can become a fire hazard. Here’s how to avoid this happening using only some simple math. The majority of dimmer switches are rated for 600 watts.
What is the difference between a regular dimmer and an LED dimmer?
Differences between the two dimmer types are their wattage range and the way the current phase control works. Leading-edge dimmers mostly work with high-wattage loads like incandescent bulbs that use a lot of energy. But LEDs use up very little energy or are extremely low-wattage.
Can you leave a dimmer switch on all night?
Cheaply made dimmers can get extremely hot, damage the light bulb attached to them, and be at risk of catching fire and burning out. So, as long as the dimmer you are leaving on at night is of decent quality, it is perfectly alright to leave it on.