Dimmer for 6xAurora LEDs

[NeilF]

We had 6 Aurota (GU10 fitting) LED downlights fitted.

With the first dimmer switch:-

• If you turned them on (pressed the button in) with a lower setting the lights would not come on, until you then rotated the dimmer to a higher setting, when they would then spring to life at a fairly bright level.
• When the lights were on, you could turn the dimmer down to a very lower brightess. If you turn them off & on (pressed the knob twice) the lights would be off (as mentioned previously), until you turned them up enough to spring into life.
• The lights (all six) would buzz sometimes.

So the dimmer was changed. Now:-

• On the lowest dimmer setting (knob rotated all the way anti-clockwise), the lights are still fairly bright. Certainly not as dim as we'd ideally like.
• No buzzing now! Good!

So the latest dimmer is great, except you cannot turn the lights down far enough.


Can anyone comment on this who has experience with LED lights & dimmer switches? Is there a reason for this odd behaviour?

 

[SJD]

Some dimmers designed for use with LEDs allow you to set the minimum brightness setting. For example, I have done this with these dimmers: “250w/400w 2 Way Silent Trailing Edge LEDlite Downlight Dimmer” from TLC, it involved switching the lights on/off several times when the dimmer module then entered a programmable mode. You’d need to check the instructions that came with the dimmer to see if this was possible.

 

[Richard Burns]

LED dimming is a complex process and can easily cause the problems you describe where there is a lamp dimmer incompatibility.
Most of the LED dimmers on the market at domestic levels are not really suitable for GU10 replacement lamps.
The lamp manufacturers usually have a comparability list somewhere for their lamps that lists the number of lamps and make of dimmer for which they are suitable.
I have found that the V-pro dimmers are fairly good at providing a low level of brightness, no flickering and no buzzing for the majority of lamps.
You also need to check the minimum wattage of some dimmers, although this may not always apply for LEDs.

 

[NeilF]

LED dimming is a complex process and can easily cause the problems you describe where there is a lamp dimmer incompatibility.
Most of the LED dimmers on the market at domestic levels are not really suitable for GU10 replacement lamps.
The lamp manufacturers usually have a comparability list somewhere for their lamps that lists the number of lamps and make of dimmer for which they are suitable.
I have found that the V-pro dimmers are fairly good at providing a low level of brightness, no flickering and no buzzing for the majority of lamps.
You also need to check the minimum wattage of some dimmers, although this may not always apply for LEDs.

The unit has V-pro 230V min 10w (BN 55015), written on it.

Does that mean the lowest brightness is the lowest will go? Or can this be adjusted in someway?

The six bulbs are Aurora GU10 6W (AU-DGU1060W/30)

 

[NeilF]

Some dimmers designed for use with LEDs allow you to set the minimum brightness setting. For example, I have done this with these dimmers: “250w/400w 2 Way Silent Trailing Edge LEDlite Downlight Dimmer” from TLC, it involved switching the lights on/off several times when the dimmer module then entered a programmable mode. You’d need to check the instructions that came with the dimmer to see if this was possible.

Are you able to give me a link or model number of such a module? Thanks

 

[SJD]

Are you able to give me a link or model number of such a module? Thanks

See: 250w/400w 2 Way Silent Trailing Edge LEDlite Dimmer - Module
There is a photo of it, it is a Vpro model, but I don't know if the number in the photo is the model number or not.

Update: actually I think TLC part number is the Vpro part number - JP400MOD

 

[NeilF]

See: 250w/400w 2 Way Silent Trailing Edge LEDlite Dimmer - Module

Nice! Tried this and it's worked!

http://www.varilight.co.uk/leaflets/V-Pro Push Dimmer Instructions 761.pdf

 

[SJD]

Nice! Tried this and it's worked!

http://www.varilight.co.uk/leaflets/V-Pro Push Dimmer Instructions 761.pdf

Yes, that's a PDF of the leaflet that comes with the dimmers - I've saved a copy to print larger, I recall at the time really struggling to read this.