PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Theories abound, I see...
Just a note, I have installed this tape, these drivers and these dimmers in many locations previously, all without flicker. My sample size is large enough that I have a good deal of confidence in the products installed and in how they work together.
As far as LED tape being susceptible to RF, I know for a fact that an LED tape can be made to glow or even light at near full intensity from the driver and/or wiring being installed under the sink in close proximity (within 2-3 feet) to a disposal. You can make LED tape light up just by touching one of the solder pads with your finger in some cases. This suggests that it's relatively easy to introduce the few milliamps needed to cause interference.
Gar, you are making pretty concrete claims that this has to be a dimmer issue. How would you go about proving that, for instance using an oscilloscope or other test equipment?
As for the dimmer, you must use a dimmer rated for magnetic low voltage lighting with the GM drivers when specified. I generally use either the AYLV600P or a DVLV600P with the GM drivers, depending on whether the rest of the switches are toggle or decora style. A two wire or three wire dimmer will work, as long as it's rated for magnetic low voltage loads. I also have found the neutral equipped dimmers to be more stable in certain situations with other LED lights, but their price is certainly not negligible and often forces the added complication of working in a decora device to an all toggle setup.
I kind of wish I had had a neutral equipped MLV dimmer with me to try at the time, but I didn't and I really can't afford another 50 mile trip just to test it (I did test a three wire dimmer, but it wasn't rated for magnetic low voltage loads and also flickered). I also like the idea of testing one horizontal and one vertical tape, although that would have been considerably more time consuming to do because of the way the tape is connected to the wiring on the horizontal runs.
Just a note, I have installed this tape, these drivers and these dimmers in many locations previously, all without flicker. My sample size is large enough that I have a good deal of confidence in the products installed and in how they work together.
As far as LED tape being susceptible to RF, I know for a fact that an LED tape can be made to glow or even light at near full intensity from the driver and/or wiring being installed under the sink in close proximity (within 2-3 feet) to a disposal. You can make LED tape light up just by touching one of the solder pads with your finger in some cases. This suggests that it's relatively easy to introduce the few milliamps needed to cause interference.
Gar, you are making pretty concrete claims that this has to be a dimmer issue. How would you go about proving that, for instance using an oscilloscope or other test equipment?
As for the dimmer, you must use a dimmer rated for magnetic low voltage lighting with the GM drivers when specified. I generally use either the AYLV600P or a DVLV600P with the GM drivers, depending on whether the rest of the switches are toggle or decora style. A two wire or three wire dimmer will work, as long as it's rated for magnetic low voltage loads. I also have found the neutral equipped dimmers to be more stable in certain situations with other LED lights, but their price is certainly not negligible and often forces the added complication of working in a decora device to an all toggle setup.
I kind of wish I had had a neutral equipped MLV dimmer with me to try at the time, but I didn't and I really can't afford another 50 mile trip just to test it (I did test a three wire dimmer, but it wasn't rated for magnetic low voltage loads and also flickered). I also like the idea of testing one horizontal and one vertical tape, although that would have been considerably more time consuming to do because of the way the tape is connected to the wiring on the horizontal runs.
