How to meet minimum dimming load

[tombrooker84]

Hello Guys,

i have ave a client who wants a lutron dimming switch fitted that he has already purchased and cannot take back, the problem is the minimum dimming load cannot be met with the LEDs involved, he has suggested a dummy resistor but I have never heard of it. Is there any safe way of doing it?

Cheers

Tom

 

[Marvo]

What is the minimum wattage requirement? Any resistor will need to dissipate large amounts of heat so you won't be able to mount it in the wall box where the dimmer is. It's also just a total waste of energy so I wouldn't go that route.

You could leave one of the lamps as a filament lamp or go the correct route of purchasing a dimmer that is suitable for the application.

 

[Silly Sausage]

:iagree: Just tell the customer they've bought the wrong part and need to go and get the correct one!

 

[tombrooker84]

Hello Marvo,

Thanks for the quick reply. The minimum load is 50w, I'm literally fitting the switch, I do not know a lot about lutron or even if they do a switch that is suitable for low loads, the guy I am doing it for is a lighting designer, but due to there being a lot of cables being in the void I have recommend LEDs so that the heat doesn't get too much, these are existing fittings plus a couple I have added, he just wants them switched separately with a new switch.

If I put halogens in, it will obviously meet the minimum dimming but although the existing halogens have not done any visible damage, I do not want to leave my name on it with the possibility of damage occurring in the future.

This problem must occur for a lot of people are there no solutions other than change the switch, I realise putting in a resistor will create too much heat, I just wondered if there was a product on the market that solved this problem. I'm not using LEDs because of there energy saving benefits although obviously this is an added bonus, but the main reason being the reduction of heat.

Kind regards

Tom

 

[DJ Ovengloves]

Good news, there is a "product on the market that solves the problem" (to paraphrase)...it's a correctly rated dimmer switch as Archy said

Hello Marvo,

Thanks for the quick reply. The minimum load is 50w, I'm literally fitting the switch, I do not know a lot about lutron or even if they do a switch that is suitable for low loads, the guy I am doing it for is a lighting designer, but due to there being a lot of cables being in the void I have recommend LEDs so that the heat doesn't get too much, these are existing fittings plus a couple I have added, he just wants them switched separately with a new switch.

If I put halogens in, it will obviously meet the minimum dimming but although the existing halogens have not done any visible damage, I do not want to leave my name on it with the possibility of damage occurring in the future.

This problem must occur for a lot of people are there no solutions other than change the switch, I realise putting in a resistor will create too much heat, I just wondered if there was a product on the market that solved this problem. I'm not using LEDs because of there energy saving benefits although obviously this is an added bonus, but the main reason being the reduction of heat.

Kind regards

Tom

 

[daveb1]

There is a luton part you need but its not small, slightly bigger the a single back box,This is a coincidence as i have removed two from a job last week, will get some pics tomorrow, if you want im sure we could sort something out as they wont be being used anymore

Dave

 

[Octopus]

Truly astonishing.

Just tell the client to buy the correct part..... anything else would leave YOU open for corrective work/parts/costs.

 

[odawire]

I think what your looking for is an "inductive load" you should be able to get them pretty much anywhere. You just wire them on to the load side of the circuit, they're pretty big so will have to go into the ceiling.

 

[tazz]

Inductive and reactive dimmers are no use here.....Trailing edge dimmers are designed for LED lighting, the minimum load is 2.5w with maximum load value 400w TLC stock 1,2,3, and 4 gang models

 

[D Skelton]

A 3µF capacitor would simulate 50W. If you've got 25W worth of LEDs though then you'd only want to spec a 1.5µF capacitor.

Alternatively Lutron sell different sized/rated dummy loads. They are just expensive capacitors anyway.

 

[tombrooker84]

Thanks to all that have posted,

I knew there are other dimmers on the market that specifically dim low loads and LEDs, but this had to work with a lutron switch as it is being integrated into an existing system.

I have found the unit and you are right they are expensive capicitors at nearly £90 each!!!

Thanks

Tom