H F Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 We have six downlights in our bathroom on a dimmer switch. When we turn the dimmer switch down making the room darker they start to flicker. They don’t settle. They just keep flickering. When we make them shine brighter they are better and don’t flicker. Any advice.
ProDave Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 Not all LED lights are dimmable. You may just have the wrong lamps in them. Or you may have the wrong sort of dimmer switch designed for filament lamps. 2
Moonshine Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 52 minutes ago, ProDave said: Not all LED lights are dimmable. You may just have the wrong lamps in them. Or you may have the wrong sort of dimmer switch designed for filament lamps. I was going to say the same thing.
H F Posted March 3, 2020 Author Posted March 3, 2020 1 hour ago, ProDave said: Not all LED lights are dimmable. You may just have the wrong lamps in them. Or you may have the wrong sort of dimmer switch designed for filament lamps. Thanks Dave - I can verify that all the LED lights we have fitted are dimmable. I've checked that. There's a strong possibility that the previous owners used the wrong dimmer - they really were morons. How can I check this?
H F Posted March 3, 2020 Author Posted March 3, 2020 Yikes - just seen how horrible and blurry the photo was I took. Sorry about that.
Mike Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 2 hours ago, Home Farm said: How can I check this? Cheapest way would be to unscrew it from the wall - there may be some identifying information on the back to enable you to check out the spec.
Onoff Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 Worth a read: https://blog.lightbulbs-direct.com/dimming-for-dummies/
MJNewton Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 Varilight V-Pro dimmers are often recommended for dimming LEDs, and have become something of an industry standard choice.
Sealo0 Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 I use the Danlers LED dimmer switch I find it much better.From CPC Danlers Rotary & Push LED Dimmer Module, 250W. I have 6 varilight V pro dimmers but am about to change them. Hope that helps mike
MJNewton Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 (edited) @Sealo0 I'd be interested in buying your V-pro's off you if you've no need for them? Edited March 3, 2020 by MJNewton
wozza Posted March 3, 2020 Posted March 3, 2020 I have had a Varilight V pro touch dimming 6 Enlite gu10 leds for about 5 years - works really well.
Onoff Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 11 hours ago, Home Farm said: they really were morons. How can I check this? Maybe some sort of IQ test? 1
H F Posted March 4, 2020 Author Posted March 4, 2020 When we increase the load, by turning the extractor fan on which is on the same switch, we don’t get any flickering.
H F Posted March 4, 2020 Author Posted March 4, 2020 Will pop the cover off this week and see what’s in there and then look at the options mentioned above. Thanks for all the suggestions.
joth Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 3 hours ago, Home Farm said: When we increase the load, by turning the extractor fan on which is on the same switch, we don’t get any flickering. Err, are you saying the extractor fan is controlled by a dimmer switch? That's not a good idea at all 1
ProDave Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 Personally I have never seen the need for a dimmer in a bathroom. I would just put it back to being a normal switch, particularly as we now know the fan is on the dimmer.
Temp Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 (edited) I recently fitted one of these dimmers.. https://www.medlocks.co.uk/zano-zmo150-led-dimmer-switch-digital-150w-module-only-white Its just a dimmer module, I used my existing face plate and knob. Zano make a range.. https://zanocontrols.co.uk/ https://www.medlocks.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=zano PS It won't cope with a fan though. Edited March 4, 2020 by Temp 1
Temp Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, Home Farm said: When we increase the load, by turning the extractor fan on which is on the same switch, we don’t get any flickering. Some dimmers have a minimum load specified. When incandescent bulbs are replaced with LED the load is reduced and can fall below the minimum specified for the dimmer. Adding the fan takes the load back above the minimum specified but is not an acceptable solution. Use a proper LED dimmer for the lights and move the fan to another switch. This might be possible using a modular/Grid faceplate (eg dimmer and switch on one face plate) but depends where the fan is connected to the lighting circuit. or just replace the dimmer with a switch as others have suggested. Edited March 4, 2020 by Temp 1
dpmiller Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 I presume the dimmer switch is *outside* the bathroom?
H F Posted March 4, 2020 Author Posted March 4, 2020 Just now, dpmiller said: I presume the dimmer switch is *outside* the bathroom? Yes, it’s outside the door.
H F Posted March 4, 2020 Author Posted March 4, 2020 8 hours ago, joth said: Err, are you saying the extractor fan is controlled by a dimmer switch? That's not a good idea at all For my own knowledge building, why shouldn’t they be on the same switch?
Temp Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 3 hours ago, Home Farm said: For my own knowledge building, why shouldn’t they be on the same switch? Shouldn't really be on the same dimmer. Light dimmers aren't rated for driving motors although they may do so.
Onoff Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 16 hours ago, ProDave said: Personally I have never seen the need for a dimmer in a bathroom. I would just put it back to being a normal switch, particularly as we now know the fan is on the dimmer. I like lying in the bath with the lights dimmed, a beer and some tunes from the ceiling speakers. I used a Quinetic (the grey square) wireless switch literally within arms reach of lying in the bath so I can dim / turn off the down lights and control the pocket / mood lighting. I say I like doing this, there's barely enough HW capacity to fill the bath or the kids have used it all having showers! ? (The led strip is on the pi$$ in the pic above).
Ferdinand Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 16 minutes ago, Onoff said: I like lying in the bath with the lights dimmed, a beer and some tunes from the ceiling speakers. I used a Quinetic (the grey square) wireless switch literally within arms reach of lying in the bath so I can dim / turn off the down lights and control the pocket / mood lighting. I say I like doing this, there's barely enough HW capacity to fill the bath or the kids have used it all having showers! ? (The led strip is on the pi$$ in the pic above). There is at least one item missing from that list.
joth Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 11 hours ago, Home Farm said: For my own knowledge building, why shouldn’t they be on the same switch? The motor in the fan is an inductive load and liable to damage a dimmer that is only designed for resistive or LED loads. In more practical terms, matching dimmers and LEDs is enough of a pain without making life harder adding more variables to the mix. 1
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