I'm trying to replace the 5 incandescent candle bulbs in a chandelier with LEDs. The only problem seems to be the dimmer switch. A switch suitable for LEDs is deeper than the current dimmer and I don't want to start chiseling the wall for a new back box. Does anyone know of a switch shallower than this one?
or, alternatively, is there such a thing as a standoff?
Another Dave
On Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:29:26 +0000, Another Dave coalesced the vapors of human experience into a viable and meaningful comprehension...
Single gang switch spacer, like this?
It's OK. The same company does a "spacer" specifically for this purpose.
Another Dave
The V-Pro are excellent dimmers, I'd be tempted to stick with that and do what you need to (deepen box, fit a spacer) to make it fit ...
Certainly used to be standoffs, I fitted one to the front room for a deeper dimmer when the old one kept blowing up its triacs due to insufficient cooling. I took it out some 10 years back when I refitted a normal switch since dimming a light is a bit pointless when you cannot see if its even on or off! It was a square of hard plastic and two extra long metric screws that were put back in to reach the lugs in the all box. Brian
One of these will give you 20mm extra depth. I used one recently to run a cable from a socket in surface mounted mini trunking.
Richard
They are without doubt the best I have ever used for compatibly with LEDs.
I've got some here running on a 25 year old MK dimmer with a total load below what the dimmer says is minimum (60w). I've no explanation. ;-)
They generally need trailing edge dimmers - same as most CFLs.
As trailing edge works with everything that is dimmable (including filament) the best idea is to just stick one on.
The only other consideration is some dimmers don't like controlling tiny loads. As mentioned by someone else here, Varilight Pro dimmers are excellent (and in fact have 3 modes of driving, selectable, as well as a user settable minimum level)
Same with some of the new Scolmore stuff. Although it will not dim 100%.
I've fitted LEDs for the interior lights in the old car. Mainly because the original tungsten were so dim as to be near useless - 5w tubular. And larger tungsten melted the fittings. ;-) A couple of 1w star LEDS in each one gives plenty light.
So decided it would be good to have then fade in and out - rather than just switch. Fading them out isn't a problem, but fading up is. They seem to need to 'trigger' before fading up, so jump to about half brightness then fade up the rest. Must investigate PWM drive.
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