Are there dimmers you can set and forget?
#1
11-08-20, 08:57 PM
Are there dimmers you can set and forget?
I'm installing LED lights around the house - some of the slimline recessed, Some LEDs as replacements for florescents.
They are typically turning out to be too bright. all these LEDs say they are dimmable. If they were screw in bulbs, it'd be easy to change out the bulb. but these are integrated into the fixture themselves . can't just use 3 LED florescents in a fixture made for 4 (you'd see the odd pattern even through the translucent cover of a florescent fixture).
For some outside / under the porch lights I added a dimmer in line with the timer in the garage - so it takes up 2 spots in a box now - timer and dimmer. no one gets near those to change the dimmer setting so it's not an issue.
But for others like in the kitchen, are there dimmer / toggle switches that have the dimmer behind the faceplate or some other way to set the brightness then forget it / make it hard to change?
I know of the toggle switches with the little dimmer slide switch next to them. and you can bump that slide switch. not what I'm looking for.
I'd like to have to remove the faceplate, screwdriver turn a little disk to set the brightness, then the faceplate goes back on.
Does that exist? Anyone else have an interest in something like that? or how do you solve LEDs that are too bright?
They are typically turning out to be too bright. all these LEDs say they are dimmable. If they were screw in bulbs, it'd be easy to change out the bulb. but these are integrated into the fixture themselves . can't just use 3 LED florescents in a fixture made for 4 (you'd see the odd pattern even through the translucent cover of a florescent fixture).
For some outside / under the porch lights I added a dimmer in line with the timer in the garage - so it takes up 2 spots in a box now - timer and dimmer. no one gets near those to change the dimmer setting so it's not an issue.
But for others like in the kitchen, are there dimmer / toggle switches that have the dimmer behind the faceplate or some other way to set the brightness then forget it / make it hard to change?
I know of the toggle switches with the little dimmer slide switch next to them. and you can bump that slide switch. not what I'm looking for.
I'd like to have to remove the faceplate, screwdriver turn a little disk to set the brightness, then the faceplate goes back on.
Does that exist? Anyone else have an interest in something like that? or how do you solve LEDs that are too bright?
#2
11-09-20, 04:33 AM
Member
Add resistors.
Here's how:
https://www.oznium.com/blog/dimming-...ke%20note%20of.
many videos available just GOOGLE it.
Here's how:
https://www.oznium.com/blog/dimming-...ke%20note%20of.
many videos available just GOOGLE it.
#4
11-09-20, 06:12 AM
Resistors used in this application will give off some heat. You will need to do some jury rigging or kitbashing to mount them within the fixture. Down low inside the metal can of a fixture retrofitted to LED but not too close to the LED module is a suitable position.
#5
11-09-20, 07:30 AM
Beezle - color - that's a whole 'nuther thing! : ) me, as long as it works I am good. My wife - this color / that color, etc... it's a chore.
I like the HD slim lights - they have the slide switch to change the temp. Don't like this one? How about that one? No? How about now : )
If these were just bulbs screwed into a fixture, sure, change out the bulbs with one that's less bright.. But again, for the HD slim lights - you have to go from 4 to 3" to get less lumens. Won't work after I make the holes in the ceilings.
Norm - resistors!? Cute, but still, trying to figure the right resistance to get the brightness would be trial and error.
And the florescents - HD has these toggled brand lights. They only come in 1 lumen output, but are dimmable.
Being a strip of LEDs inside a plastic tube, they are directional. I did turn the tubes 'upside down' so the led's are bouncing off the white of the fixture. and that helped. But still a tad too bright. Over time the LEDs output would drop? / dust on the fixture / we get old and need more light, things will work out.
I guess I can just throw a dimmer in a box up in the attic / fixture so I get the ability to tweak things once in a blue moon but it's out of the way.
I like the HD slim lights - they have the slide switch to change the temp. Don't like this one? How about that one? No? How about now : )
If these were just bulbs screwed into a fixture, sure, change out the bulbs with one that's less bright.. But again, for the HD slim lights - you have to go from 4 to 3" to get less lumens. Won't work after I make the holes in the ceilings.
Norm - resistors!? Cute, but still, trying to figure the right resistance to get the brightness would be trial and error.
And the florescents - HD has these toggled brand lights. They only come in 1 lumen output, but are dimmable.
Being a strip of LEDs inside a plastic tube, they are directional. I did turn the tubes 'upside down' so the led's are bouncing off the white of the fixture. and that helped. But still a tad too bright. Over time the LEDs output would drop? / dust on the fixture / we get old and need more light, things will work out.
I guess I can just throw a dimmer in a box up in the attic / fixture so I get the ability to tweak things once in a blue moon but it's out of the way.
#6
11-09-20, 07:49 AM
Member
I was a long time fan of lower lighting levels. With incandescents I would usually use 40W bulbs in fixtures rated for 60+ W especially in fixtures with multiple bulbs.
I have converted all my fixtures to LEDs. At first I thought they looked too bright and tried to block, dim, etc. I did use the same trick of turning the fluorescent replacements so they reflect off the fixture rather than direct. After a while I got used to the brighter light and now it does not bother me especially since the power use is so much lower. Avoiding a direct comparison between LED and older light sources helps.
As far as dimming is concerned, there are smart dimmer switches that can be set to come on at a specific level. Most, if not all, smart switches can also be used manually. You may need to set them up via WiFi network link to your smartphone. pad, or computer, but once set up you could just use the manual feature for on-off. (They also come on at pre-set levels via network device, Alexa, etc.) Some may just work out-of-the box, too. There may be +/- buttons on the switch to change the level but those are not as likely to be hit by accident as the side-slide switches are.
I have converted all my fixtures to LEDs. At first I thought they looked too bright and tried to block, dim, etc. I did use the same trick of turning the fluorescent replacements so they reflect off the fixture rather than direct. After a while I got used to the brighter light and now it does not bother me especially since the power use is so much lower. Avoiding a direct comparison between LED and older light sources helps.
As far as dimming is concerned, there are smart dimmer switches that can be set to come on at a specific level. Most, if not all, smart switches can also be used manually. You may need to set them up via WiFi network link to your smartphone. pad, or computer, but once set up you could just use the manual feature for on-off. (They also come on at pre-set levels via network device, Alexa, etc.) Some may just work out-of-the box, too. There may be +/- buttons on the switch to change the level but those are not as likely to be hit by accident as the side-slide switches are.
#7
11-09-20, 09:55 AM
Group Moderator
As far as I know..... you can't use resistors on AC type LED bulbs.
Typically where resistors are used for dimming is in DC/low voltage applications where there is no driver.
Typically where resistors are used for dimming is in DC/low voltage applications where there is no driver.
