Choosing the right lamps for your dimmer

When installing any light fitting, especially electronic dimmers, it is very important to use suitably compatible bulbs (also referred to as ‘lamps’). Compatibility is important because not all bulbs work in the same way, and not all bulbs are dimmable.

Check the maximum and minimum load

It is also vital to use bulbs that do not exceed the maximum or minimum loads recommended for the fitting. For non-dimmable and high load options and in-line relay can be used in place of a dimmer. For more information on loading, click here.

Halogens and incandescents

Traditional incandescent lightbulbs, halogens, and lower energy halogens are all fine to use with Lightwave lighting products as long as they are within the total minimum and maximum loads.

CFLs

CFL bulbs are generally not dimmable, so are not recommended, and CFL tubes could cause damage to the dimmers so should not be used.

LED lamps

LED lighting has become a popular solution for people looking to reduce their energy consumption.  However, there are not many standards in the market, and many LED lights can have difficulty when dimming.

Low voltage & LED strips

Low voltage lighting and low voltage strip lighting can be used with a Lightwave dimmer as long as it is within the loading requirements and is used with a suitable dimmable transformer. Not all transformers are compatible, so please check the technical section below for advice on which transformers to use.

The recommendations for LED strip lighting for Generation 1 Dimmers:

• 55-60W maximum load, per channel
• 5m length of strip, per channel
• 24V LED strip
• Gel type (IP65)
• 24V driver (contact us for details on a specific type)

Check our compatibility charts for Generation 1 & 2 dimmers

Lightwave dimmer switches are designed to work with LEDs if the LEDs are dimmable, but even then, there are some varieties that will have trouble dimming and may flicker. This may be resolved by increasing the total load (adding more bulbs), but not always. For Generation 2 dimmers, manual calibration or reducing the dimming range may also help. To ensure the best experience, we strongly recommend referring to our LED compatibility chart to find a suitable lamp that has been pre-tested with Lightwave Dimmers.

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