Low voltage Dimmers

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george t. everett

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New York
I have noticed a lot of electricians have been installing standard incandescent
dimmers on low voltage lights, both electronic & magnetic ballasts. They seem to work just find & I haven't heard of any problems. Is there a problem with doing this?
 
i had to do a service call where a mag dimmer was installed on an ELV track light fixture. it fried the ballast and the bulbs. that's the only time i've ever seen it done, and assumed that one would get the same result if repeated.
 
A regular dimmer, in my experience, tends to be a bit more noisy too when installed with a low voltage transformer load. I've done it in a pinch while the right dimmer was ordered in, then swapped them in a few days. I've never left one in that condition.
 
I have noticed a lot of electricians have been installing standard incandescent
dimmers on low voltage lights, both electronic & magnetic ballasts. They seem to work just find & I haven't heard of any problems. Is there a problem with doing this?
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My take is this: A standard dimmer may be used with an electronic ballast if the manufacturer says so - many I have seen say it is fine, some say do not dim, some dont say either way. I have never yet seen an electronic ballast that specs an electronic low voltage dimmer.
 
Although I've used both, Seagull Lighting recommended to me to use a standard dimmer with their magnetic transformers, I've been doing so for several years with no ill effects. I typically use their 150w 12v magnetic transformers and will sometimes use several and locate them closer to the load if necessary.

Electronic transformers are a different story. In my experience, if a standard dimmer is used you will have a problem with the lights flickering. Make sure that you have a neutral available at the switch, no switch loops.

I generally use Lutron Ardiani for standard toggle style and Diva for decora style. I install a lot of my switches to the underside of kitchen cabinets and prefer the standard toggle style for this application due to ease of use without looking. The problem I've run into is that there are no manufacturers that offer a standard toggle style dimmer in an electronic version so I use magnetic almost exclusively.

All of my dimmer failures in the past several years have been from my short term use of the Leviton models with the interchangeable face plates. I've got a box of them left for the inevitable service calls. These failures were all on line voltage recessed lighting.

FRANK
 
electrofelon said:
My take is this: A standard dimmer may be used with an electronic ballast if the manufacturer says so - many I have seen say it is fine, some say do not dim, some dont say either way. I have never yet seen an electronic ballast that specs an electronic low voltage dimmer.
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Unfortunatley your take is incorrect. Maybe the electronic transfromer says it's ok to use a standard dimmer but the dimmer itself would say otherwise.

Part of the problem I see in the supply house are the guys that see the price of the electronic dimmer and say f it I'm not paying that. :rolleyes:

Do it right, don't be a hack.
 
fww56 said:
Although I've used both, Seagull Lighting recommended to me to use a standard dimmer with their magnetic transformers, I've been doing so for several years with no ill effects.
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Well if Seagull told you to do it.....:rolleyes:
 
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No they didn't make the dimmer. They did recommend the use of a standard dimmer for their magnetic transformers. If they don't manufacture a dimmer does that preclude the ability to dim the lights?

FRANK
 
I have never yet seen an electronic ballast that specs an electronic low voltage dimmer.
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are you talking about fluorescent lighting? because i haven't seen an ELV transformer that didn't spec an ELV dimmer. and i certainly hope you wouldn't put a dimmer on an electronic fluorescent ballast.
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Well if Seagull told you to do it.....
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mag dimmers and incandescent dimmers are the same thing. the p&s dimmers i order that come in the visi-pack clearly state it can be used on magnetic and incandescent. if you look in most manufacturers catalogs you'll probably find the same thing.
 
fww56 said:
No they didn't make the dimmer. They did recommend the use of a standard dimmer for their magnetic transformers. If they don't manufacture a dimmer does that preclude the ability to dim the lights?

FRANK
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Nope it does not, but the dimmer you select to dim those lights must be the proper dimmer. A standard incandescent dimmer is genneraly not the propper dimmer. You have to follow the manufacturers spec for the dimmer.
 
electricmanscott said:
Nope it does not, but the dimmer you select to dim those lights must be the proper dimmer. A standard incandescent dimmer is genneraly not the propper dimmer. You have to follow the manufacturers spec for the dimmer.
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Sort of like the NEC not saying you have to gfi a fan in a shower, but the manufacturer saying you do. You have to fallow all the listing and labeling.
 
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