For keeping wall dimmers working well, we find it best to:
·
Use an LED-compatible dimmer of
rating about 5-times the total ‘load’ of all the LED spotlight bulbs, usually for approx 18
LED GU10 bulbs I’d use a “400w” trailing-edge dimmer (eg http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Manufacturers/Varilight/VL_Dimmers_White_J/index.html
This is partly because the electronic ‘chip’ in the dimmers has to make a lot of calculations and ‘tweaks’ to the power while driving LEDs and that makes it heat up a bit like a PC processor.
This is partly because the electronic ‘chip’ in the dimmers has to make a lot of calculations and ‘tweaks’ to the power while driving LEDs and that makes it heat up a bit like a PC processor.
·
If the dimmer still heats up,
change the front décor panel to an all-metal plate to distribute the heat into
the air:
Either for grid-dimmers http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Menu_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Satin_Chrome_Index/Varilight_Grid_Brushed_Chrome/index.html
Either for grid-dimmers http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Menu_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Satin_Chrome_Index/Varilight_Grid_Brushed_Chrome/index.html
Or for standard dimmers: http://www.birco.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=10087
Make sure the front plate is all metal, not plastic faced with metal, as the dimmer needs to be in good contact with the metal front plate. I’ve even used electronics ‘heat conducting paste’ like they use when putting a new processor into a PC (eg from Maplin) to make sure the heat jumps from the dimmer to the front plate.
We’ve seen electricians pull the metal ‘wrap/fins’ off dimmer modules to fit them into the box better, but this piece is vital to conduct the heat away from the ‘processor’ chip inside.
Make sure the front plate is all metal, not plastic faced with metal, as the dimmer needs to be in good contact with the metal front plate. I’ve even used electronics ‘heat conducting paste’ like they use when putting a new processor into a PC (eg from Maplin) to make sure the heat jumps from the dimmer to the front plate.
We’ve seen electricians pull the metal ‘wrap/fins’ off dimmer modules to fit them into the box better, but this piece is vital to conduct the heat away from the ‘processor’ chip inside.
·
Don’t cram 3 or 4 dimmers into one box as they all
overheat this way being too close to each other.
Put more space between the dimmers so they can stay cool like or fit one dimmer per box
Heat is a common problem with dimmers and LEDs but we’ve always been able to solve
it using these techniques.
