Light switches with dimmable light

The brightness of home lighting may be excessive or insufficient - it all depends on the mood, environment and purpose of the room. This parameter is easily adjustable with a slight movement of the hand using a dimmer. The dimmer allows you to reduce or increase the brightness of artificial light in different rooms of the house or in its individual parts.

The advantages of using dimmers and the principle of operation

The dimmer switch allows you to:

• reduce the amount of electricity consumed;
• It is interesting to zoning the space of an apartment using different intensities of light flux;
• rational use of the lighting fixtures available in the house;
• It is easy to create an atmosphere that matches the wishes and mood;
• to exclude the impact on lighting devices of sudden voltage drops.

Using dimmers allows you to solve a number of aesthetic and practical problems. This largely determined the popularity of the devices and their widespread use in the arrangement of residential and commercial premises.

The operation of the device is based on the principle of a linear dependence of the brightness of light on voltage. You can reduce the power of the light flux by lowering the voltage level in the network. This task is assigned to the light regulator - a dimmer. Its design allows you to pass to the lamp only part of the pulse wave or the entire wave, thereby reducing or increasing the illumination.

Classification and characteristics

Switches with a dimmer can be divided into the following groups:

• Modular models - designed for installation in distribution panels to which light sources are connected in the corridors and stairwells of multi-storey buildings. The device is connected to work by a button or a key switch. Pressing and holding it for several seconds gives you access to the options for adjusting the brightness of the light.
• Dimmers for mounting boxes - used in conjunction with incandescent and halogen lamps. You can control the device through a special remote button.
• Monoblock models - are used as ordinary household switches.

The latest product samples that have become widespread can be managed in the following ways:

• Rotary dimmers - control the brightness of the light flux by turning the handle of the device.
• Push and rotary models - pressing and turning the handle allows you to turn on the lamp and at the same time change its power to the required level.
• Key dimmers - one of the keys turns on the lamp, the other allows you to change its brightness.
• Touchscreens are the latest generation models. Several built-in touch sensors allow you to turn on the lamp and change the brightness of the light. Switching smoothness is somewhat misleading - a change in the power of the light flux occurs stepwise, without intermediate values, but with a small gap in brightness level. The absence of moving parts led to the high reliability of devices of this type and their long trouble-free operation.
• Dimmers with remote control - allow you to change the brightness of the lighting in the remote mode, while manually adjusting its power.

Most manufacturers are ready to offer the buyer additional useful features: the ability to program automatic shutdown time and voice control. The presence effect at the time of the owner’s departure is also useful: the light turns on and off randomly, its brightness changes during the day.

Compatibility of dimmers and lamps of various modifications

The design of dimmers is designed to work with a specific type of lamp - from standard incandescent bulbs to popular LEDs. Therefore, light dimmer switches have their own characteristics.

For joint use with halogen and incandescent bulbs, almost all dimmer models can be used if they are designed to operate on 220V networks. It should be noted that when the voltage supplied to the lamp decreases, the artificial light acquires an unpleasant red hue, which is especially noticeable when the minimum current is applied. Such light irritates the organs of vision, leading to their rapid fatigue.

An important requirement is imposed on dimmers for low-voltage halogen lamps - the presence of a step-down transformer designed for low power consumption of the load. It is worth considering that due to frequent voltage changes, the lamp life can be drastically reduced.

A switch that controls the brightness of the light is not available for fluorescent lamps, as they cannot be controlled using a conventional starter. Especially for such lighting devices, electronic ballasts are produced, which supplies the lamps with a frequency in the range of 20-50 kHz. By varying the frequency level, you can simultaneously change the current strength, thereby reducing or increasing the power of the light flux.

The light switch with a dimmer for LEDs operates on the principle of pulse width modulation. The duration of the pulses supplied to the regulator is regulated, due to which the brightness of the light changes. It is possible to avoid flickering of light due to the high pulse frequency reaching a level of 300 kHz.

Advantages and disadvantages of dimmers

Among the main advantages of dimmers include:

• Soft start and smooth regulation of the power of the lighting device. Economically consumes its working life and extends their life.
• Unlimited application possibilities for regulating the working power level of household electrical appliances - kettles, irons, kitchen appliances, etc.
• All the conditions for creating an original spot or zone illumination. With the help of bright light flux, a separate zone of space can be distinguished, while the rest of the room will be immersed in soft twilight.

Among the restrictions on the use of dimmers:

• the need to select a device in strict accordance with the power of the lighting device;
• the risk of creating electromagnetic interference that adversely affects the operation of radio and other electronic devices.

In addition, there is a decrease in the efficiency of using a dimmer when connected to incandescent lamps.

Design features of a dimmer switch

The model range of switches with temperature regulators is represented by dozens of models that differ from each other in principle of operation, design solutions, type of adjustment device and compatibility with different types of lamps.

• The dimmer switch based on a rheostat is the first model of dimmers, which are based on the change of current resistance using a system of resistors. As the resistance decreases, the current strength increases, increasing the brightness of the lamps, and vice versa - the increase in resistance decreases the current strength, dimming the light flux. Resistive switches are ineffective in optimizing energy consumption.They are able to turn part of the electrical energy into heat, which does not allow to feel the saving of resources.
• Triac dimmers. The passage of current through the semiconductor triac is due to the voltage between the electrodes. When the desired voltage level is reached, the triac opens, passing the stream. A simultaneous decrease in resistance increases the current strength and gives the necessary brightness of the light flux.

The following letter marking allows clarifying the purpose and design of a specific switch model:

• Letter R - dimmer switch is designed to change the brightness of incandescent lamps with an ohmic or resistive load.
• The letter L is dimmers for step-down types of transformers used with low-voltage types of lamps.
• Letter C - models for electronic transformers.

Energy-saving and fluorescent lamps, adapted to regulate the brightness of the light flux, are subject to special marking.

Wiring diagrams

Installation is carried out in a certain sequence. After turning off the power, make sure that the switch is de-energized. Then the device cover is removed from the case, the fasteners are loosened and the device is taken out of the niche in the wall. In case of damage to the insulating layer of wires, open areas must be covered with several layers of electrical tape. The wires are connected to the dimmer terminals, making sure that their bare ends are up to 3 mm long. A dimmer with connected wires is placed in place of the switch and is securely fixed. It remains to connect the power and check the correct operation of the device.

Installation of a switch with a dimmer is no different from the standard sequence of work when installing a conventional model. If you need to connect a switch and a dimmer at the same time, it is better to place the latter closer to your usual resting place. If additional remote buttons are supplied, they can be mounted at a distance of up to 50 m from the dimmer. In this case, the phase wire is connected to the corresponding terminal of the light regulator and the first terminals of each button. The second button terminals are connected to terminal B on the controller. The load is connected to the second terminal of the dimmer and to the neutral wire.

Selection recommendations

To correctly select the device, you should study the installation options:

• The standard connection option is to control the light from one point in the room.
• In the bedrooms, you can install two devices - at the entrance to the room and near the bed, which allows you to change the lighting intensity when going to bed.
• Let's say the option is when the light is controlled from one place, and the control is from two. This can be an input switch and two regulators in different areas of the room.
• Option in the ratio of "three control points and one control point." Here you can apply pass-through dimmers when turning on lamps in one area of ​​a room automatically turns off lighting devices in others.

A variety of ways to connect a dimmer allows you to choose the best option for each room, taking into account the features of its operation.

Well-known dimmer manufacturers

Among the famous brands it is worth highlighting:

• Schneider Electric (France). The devices of this company advantageously combine an exclusive design and excellent build quality.
• Teco (Czech Republic). Dimmers of this brand offer to evaluate reliability, long-term and reliable service at an affordable price.
• Jung (Germany). Dimmers have an original design, functionality and outstanding performance.
• Legrand (France). The company focuses on the release of high-tech models of the new generation, widely used in smart home systems.
• Gira (Germany).Dimmers of this brand have a long service life, restrained design and reliability.

Also among the popular models are Siemens products (Germany), which offer to evaluate the combination of German reliability and functionality. Devices under the brand Godiva (Poland) are also in consumer demand. These are inexpensive and high-quality models that meet all safety requirements.