Lighting Accessories

Not all lamps (bulbs) are the same.

If you are considering changing to LED lamps your existing wall dimmer switch may not work with the reduced load. If the existing dimmer does not function properly i.e. you cannot dim lights to zero, or the lamps do not dim at all you'll need a dimmer better matched to the load.

To save you replacing the entire dimmer switch (and struggling to find a matching wall plate) you could simply swap the dimmer module in your wall switch for one that will operate the reduced load.


If you do not already have the faceplate panic not as these can be bought at any DIY shed or Argos.

We offer a dimmer module can operate incandescent (tungsten lamps) or LEDs.

Loads

Incandescent - minimum 40w to maximum 250w.

LED - minimum 5w to maximum 125w.

In addition to operating with lower loads the dimmer has a trim control located on side - this can eliminate flickering issues when using LED lamps and control the minimum and maximum dimming levels when using LED lamps.

There are small but significant differences between a lighting transformer and a LED driver but LED lighting often has a very specific requirement and failing to meet the correct operational needs of a LED chip can prove costly.

Low voltage lamps, which evolved from bulbs used in the automotive industry, are smaller than mains voltage bulbs so were quickly adopted by the lighting industry wishing to produce smaller light fixtures. These were initially operated on simple wire wound transformers which were popular before solid state technology. The fact that filament lamps gave light through resistance meant that cheaper AC transformer could be used to reduce costs.

Conversely LED chips are a little fussy, and can have exacting requirements for current and voltage so cannot be connected to any low voltage supply. The lighting industry looked for a way of differentiating between low voltage supplies for filament lamps and low voltage supplies for LED lamps and now tends to use the term driver. Ultimately LED Drivers are power supplies designed for lower loads and are specifically designed to provide either a constant current or a constant voltage both of which provide a DC supply.

As a general rule lower wattage constant current LED chips should be wired in series. Larger high output array LEDs tend to have a dedicated power supply. When wiring in series we do suggest that careful consideration is given to using manufacturers recommended power supply as the operating voltage can differ considerably.

As you can see the water can get muddy very quickly with LED lighting so be sure to either read a products instruction carefully or ask us for advice.

Important

LED product can be destroyed by connecting it to a mains supply even for a split second. Be
sure to label all cables and flex on LED circuits clearly so that they are not connected to a mains supply when tracing cables or using test equipment. Needless to say flash testing will instantly kill a LED chip.