Dimmer switches

[nizak]

I recently installed several LED retro trims and I can't seem to get acceptable dimming even with the manufacturer suggested dimmers.

I also tried other non recommended LED dimmers and they failed as well.

Dimming range is fine but I consistently getting noticeable humming that's irritating when it's extremely quiet in the building.

Finally out of frustration I used a relatively inexpensive common incandescent dimmer that got rid of the humming .

The low end dimming was reduced a bit but there's no sound at all.

Would there be any concerns in using a non LED rated device? Wattage rating falls well within the limits I need.

Thanks

 

[retirede]

Humming from the lights or the dimmer?

I’ve seen Lurton Caseta perform remarkably well, even with cheap Amazon lights.

 

[nizak]

Humming from the lights or the dimmer?

I’ve seen Lurton Caseta perform remarkably well, even with cheap Amazon lights.

Appears to be both.

Noticeable at wall dimmer. The loudest is coming from the fixtures.
You can hear it standing anywhere in the room.

 

[Hv&Lv]

I recently installed several LED retro trims and I can't seem to get acceptable dimming even with the manufacturer suggested dimmers.

I also tried other non recommended LED dimmers and they failed as well.

Dimming range is fine but I consistently getting noticeable humming that's irritating when it's extremely quiet in the building.

Finally out of frustration I used a relatively inexpensive common incandescent dimmer that got rid of the humming .

The low end dimming was reduced a bit but there's no sound at all.

Would there be any concerns in using a non LED rated device? Wattage rating falls well within the limits I need.

Thanks

Are these reverse phase or forward phase dimmers?
Are the trims ELV? They will likely appreciate a reverse phase dimmer.
reverse phase dimmers work better on capacitive loads.

 

[Flicker Index]

The buzzing originates from film capacitors or coils within the trim's LED ballast. It is caused by the rapid rising edge of the dimmer's waveform. If you buy a package of several lamps, it's not unusual for the ballast in one lamp to buzz objectionably while another lamp from the same package to not. The annoyingness of the buzz is not part of gov mandated Energy Star specifications.

Modern dimmers are optimized to provide smooth and stable dimming when used LED lamps. If the incandescent dimmer gives satisfactory dimming range and the lights don't shimmer, it should be fine to just leave it. The same dimmer probably will not work satisfactory if you were to say put just one 6W LED lamp on it though. The LeGrand radiant Tru Universal dimmer set to reverse phase is something to try out.

 

[synchro]

The buzzing originates from film capacitors or coils within the trim's LED ballast. It is caused by the rapid rising edge of the dimmer's waveform.

Ceramic capacitors can also be noisy because their barium titanate dielectric (which is also used in sound transducers) is piezoelectric.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Are you using a led rated dimmer? I would not use a non led dimmer.