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DIMMERS & LIGHTING CONTROLS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What makes a light dim?
How do dimmers save energy?
If the lights are being turned on and off won't the lights
seem to be flickering?
Doesn't turning the lights on and off so quickly decrease
bulb life?
Do Lutron dimmers increase halogen lamp life?
What can I do to minimize lamp hum?
Can I use a standard 3-way switch with a multi-location
dimmer?
PRODUCT SELECTION
Why are both sinple-pole and 3-way dimmers
offered? What is the difference between them?
Can I use an incandescent dimmer to control 120 Volt halogen
light bulbs?
Can you use a 3-way dimmer in a single-pole application?
Can you use a 3-way dimmer in a 4-way switch location?
Can an incandescent dimmer be used with low-voltage lighting?
Can an incandescent dimmer be used to control the speed
of a fan?
Can Lutron dimmers be ganged?
How do I tell magnetic and electronic low-voltage tranformers
apart?
MULTI-LOCATION DIMMERS (Maestro IR, Maestro, Faedra)
Can you dim from more than one location?
Can I use a standard switch with a Maestro IR, Maestro
or Faedra dimmer?
PRODUCT OPERATION
Why do my light bulbs sometime hum?
Is it normal for a dimmer to become warm?
Can using a dimmer save me money?
| Q. |
What makes a light dim? |
| A. |
The triac is the key to dimming. This dimmer component actually
turns light on and off very rapidly - 120 times per second. This
technology is illustrated below.
The longer the light is ON versus OFF (example A) the bright the
light output. By the same logic, the longer the light is OFF versus
ON (example B), the lower the light output.
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| Q. |
How do dimmers save energy? |
| A. |
When the light is off, no energy is being used. The longer the
triac is off, the lower the light output, and the greater the energy
savings.
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| Q. |
If the lights are being turned on and off won't the
lights seem to be flickering? |
| A. |
No.
No matter how bright or how dim, the light level is constant and
smooth. Compare dimming to movie projection. A movie is actually
35 individual frames per second projected so quickly that you never
detect a break in the section.
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| Q. |
Doesn't turning the lights on and off so quickly
decrease bulb life? |
| A. |
No.
Switching the bulb does not decrease bulb life; heat decreases
bulb life. By reducing heat, bulb life is increased.
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| Q. |
Do Lutron dimmers increase halogen lamp life? |
| A. |
Yes.
Dimming increases incandescent lamp life, and haloge lamps are
incandescent lamps. Lutron test data suggests that all halogen lamps
will have an expected lamp life similar to that of other incandescent
(non power factor corrected) lamps when dimmed, i.e. a halogen lamp
dimmed 25% has a life extension of about four times that of a non-dimmed
lamp.
Lutron is continuing to test its dimmers with various halogen lamps
from many lamp manufacturers.
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| Q |
What can I do to minimize lamp hum? |
| A. |
Occasionally, lamps may generate noise when dimmed. This noise
is caused by vibration of the lamp filament as the dimmer rapidly
switches the lamp on. Lamp buzz, if it occurs,, is generally noisiest
at the mid-range (50%) dimming level. We suggest the following solutions:
- Select another brand of lamp or use lower wattage lamps (100W
or less)
- Use rough service lamps
- Use a physically smaller lamp
- Install a lamp debuzzing coil in the lighting circuit
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| Q. |
Can I use a standard 3-way switch with a multi-location
dimmer? |
| A. |
No.
Multi-location dimmers do use standard 3-way wiring, but make use
of one wire for communications while the other carries the load
current. A 3-way switch is not compatible with this configuration.
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| Q. |
Why are both single-pole and 3-way dimmers
offered? What is the difference between them? |
| A. |
Single-pole dimmers control lights form one location. 3-Way dimmers
control lights from two locations by using one 3-way dimmer and
one 3-way switch or by using a using a 3-way dimming kit that includes
a multi-location dimmer and an accessory dimmer.
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| Q. |
Can I use an incandescent dimmer to control 120 Volt
halogen light bulbs? |
| A. |
Yes. Lutron incandescent dimmers control incandescent and halogen
light bulbs (120-130 Volt)
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| Q. |
Can you use a 3-way dimmer in a single-pole application? |
| A. |
Yes.
If a product purchased as a 3-way control needs to be used in a
single-pole application, cap off one of the traveler wires with
a wire connector.
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| Q. |
Can you use a 3-way dimmer in a 4-way switch location? |
| A. |
No.
3-Way dimmers may only be located in either of the 3-way switch
position.
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| Q. |
Can an incandescent dimmer be used with low-voltage
lighting? |
| A. |
No.
To dim low voltage lighting, you will need to use a low-voltage
dimmer.
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| Q. |
Can an incandescent dimmer be used to control the speed
of a fan? |
| A. |
No.
To vary the speed of a ceiling fan, use ceiling
fan controls for fan and fan/light combinations.
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| Q |
Can Lutron dimmers be ganged? |
| A. |
Yes.
When 2 or more dimmers are in the same wallbox, the are considered
"ganged". To install ganged dimmeres, simply remove the
dimmer side sections from the heat sink. The maximum wattage capacity
for each dimmer is reduced (derated) so that the dimmer does not
overheat.
More ganging and derating information.
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| Q. |
How do I tell magnetic and electronic low-voltage tranformers
apart? |
| A. |
Transformers may have magnetic (core and coil, toroidal) or electronic
(solid-state) clearly indicated on the product. However, this is
not a required marking and will not be found on all products.
The best way to determine transformer type is to contact the manufacturer.
A hint of the transformer construction can often be found in the
transformer's weight.
Magnetic (coil and coil, toroidal) transformers are often heavy
for their size.
Electronic (solid-state) transformers tend to be smaller and are
often light for their size.
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| Q. |
Can you dim from more than one location? |
| A. |
Yes.
Maestro dimmers, Maestro
IR dimmers, and Faedra dimmers can
dim from more than one location. With additional accessory dimmers,
you may dim a total of ten locations.
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| Q. |
Can I use a standard switch with a Maestro IR, Maestro
or Faedra dimmer? |
| A. |
No.
These dimmers only work with Lutron accessory dimmers when dimming
from multiple locations.
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| Q. |
Why do my light bulbs sometime hum? |
| A. |
Light bulbs hum when filaments vibrate. Using a lower wattage
or different brand bulb will usually prevent or reduce light bulb
hum.
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| Q. |
Is it normal for a dimmer to become warm? |
| A. |
Yes.
It is normal and safe for a dimmer to become ware to the touch
during normal operation (similar to stereos, televisions, etc.)
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| Q. |
Can using a dimmer save me money? |
| A. |
Yes. See the following chart.
| dimming the lights |
saves electricty |
makes incandescent bulbs last longer |
| 10% |
10% |
2 times longer |
| 25% |
20% |
4 times longer |
| 50% |
40% |
20 times longer |
| 75% |
60% |
> 20 times longer |
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