Varilight Dimmer max loading

[haptism]

Hi, hope someone can advise. Ive just called Varilight helpline in regards to max loadings on their 300w trailing edge LED single gang dimmer. They tell me that I can have a maximum of x30 10w leds on the dimmer.

Most info out there regarding dimming LED suggests to divide the dimmers wattage by 10 to determine max number of led lamps; I put this to the guy at customer services and he says varilight dimmers are designed differently and can handle the x30 10w lamps. Can anyone confirm or reject this statement.

I never think its a good idea to load dimmers to max like this; the guy at helpline says the inrush of x 30 10w led's wont effect a 300w dimmer, im not so sure.

 

[westward10]

I think they have given you incorrect information. Your calculation of dividing by 10 is a common method, as you say divide the 300w by 10 to give a maximum led loading of 30w.

 

[haptism]

I think they have given you incorrect information. Your calculation of dividing by 10 is a common method, as you say divide the 300w by 10 to give a maximum led loading of 30w.

That was my thoughts also Westy, just that the guy at technical services seems adamant I could load it with 30 leds. Just wondered if anyone had done this and what the results were. Technology moving so fast now its a pain to keep up

 

[SparkyChick]

If it's a vPro series, the datasheet for the JQP401W suggests a maximum of 10 LED lamps upto 120w.

I wouldn't worry too much about in-rush current as many of the Varilight dimmers use a soft start when the power is applied.

 

[Midwest]

Yeah wadda they know

 

[chris gray]

When I rang them they said 75% max load on led

 

[haptism]

Bloody people, I mean its a bit much really giving out info thats wrong, and they make the stuff !

 

[haptism]

When I rang them they said 75% max load on led

I give up

 

[Octopus]

Why would ANYBODY want to put 30 LED lights on a single dimmer?

That's plain daft IMHO

 

[chris gray]

I had no end of problems on one job where we’d fitted total of 50 10w led split across multiple banks.
The led suppliers then put list of faulty fittings out.
I tried every single dinner mod and spoke with every single manufacturer.
Varilight told me not to put more than 75% led loaf in their mods. Which beggars belief that they sell them under the guise that they’re capable of more than is stated on the packaging.

 

[Octopus]

How many LED's are you planning on adding in total on the circuit?

JCC have advice on the maximum numbers per circuit on their installation instructions

 

[Midwest]

Speak to those expensive chaps at Zano, and install some of their offerings.

 

[Midwest]

JCC have advice on the maximum numbers per circuit on their installation instructions

Thats 'cos they can't handle the latent warranty issues in a few years months time.

 

[chris gray]

Hahah we tried zano. £50 dimmer and suppose to be the dogs do do. Didn’t work

 

[haptism]

Speak to those expensive chaps at Zano, and install some of their offerings.

Yeh the zano Zbar 1000w looks like a good offering

 

[Octopus]

Thats 'cos they can't handle the latent warranty issues in a few years months time.

Hit, Nail and Head spring to mind ..............

JCC have lost me as an installer and I didn't see them at Elex today either - I wanted to have a word with them about their inability to provide warranty replacements a few months after discontinuing a product so whats going to happen in a couple of years????????

 

[haptism]

How many LED's are you planning on adding in total on the circuit?

x 24 on existing wiring, its either something like the Zano or a mode power pack, although the mode is pricey

 

[Midwest]

Hahah we tried zano. £50 dimmer and suppose to be the dogs do do. Didn’t work

Most of the sealed unit manufacturers have a compatibility list of dimmers with their products. I'd follow that routes when picking and choosing.

I've gone off sealed units nowadays, not that I'm installing anything now.

 

[Octopus]

x 24 on existing wiring, its either something like the Zano or a mode power pack, although the mode is pricey

Hum .......... I'd be trying a standard switch first to see what the MCB makes of it.........

 

[haptism]

How many LED's are you planning on adding in total on the circuit?

x 24 on existing wiring, its either something like the Zano or a mode power pack, although the mode is pricey

 

[Octopus]

Hum .......... I'd be trying a standard switch first to see what the MCB makes of it.........

x 24 on existing wiring, its either something like the Zano or a mode power pack, although the mode is pricey

for clarity

 

[Midwest]

Hit, Nail and Head spring to mind ..............

JCC have lost me as an installer and I didn't see them at Elex today either - I wanted to have a word with them about their inability to provide warranty replacements a few months after discontinuing a product so whats going to happen in a couple of years????????

I installed some 7's for my brother about 5 years ago. He's replaced one himself, then another went last month. I emailed their tech support, 'cos the 7 is no longer made. He never registered them. Fair play after a few email exchanges, they sent him a FGLED6 FOC. Luckily he had non dimmable ones. Dunno if they would have been so obliging otherwise.

 

[Midwest]

And another customer of mine, I replaced 13 of his old 12v downlights, as he was fed up replacing the transformers every few months.

Fit these new fangled FGLED6's, fit & forget I said. That was about 4 years ago.

I've replaced 12 of them, so far! Luckily he registered them. When one goes now, he just rings them up, and they send one in the post.

 

[Octopus]

I installed some 7's for my brother about 5 years ago. He's replaced one himself, then another went last month. I emailed their tech support, 'cos the 7 is no longer made. He never registered them. Fair play after a few email exchanges, they sent him a FGLED6 FOC. Luckily he had non dimmable ones. Dunno if they would have been so obliging otherwise.

I always did the registration on behalf of my clients, in their name .....

 

[haptism]

Hum .......... I'd be trying a standard switch first to see what the MCB makes of it.........

20a dp switches already installed, its existing and now wants to dimmers

 

[Octopus]

20a dp switches already installed

So you don't have an issue with inrush?

And why 20A DP?

 

[haptism]

So you don't have an issue with inrush?

And why 20A DP?

Cause the existing load is 10 amps (or thereabouts), x24 100w filaments. Edit they not DP, just 20a switches

 

[Midwest]

I always did the registration on behalf of my clients, in their name .....

Stuff that. I gave them a copy of the delivery invoice, the batch numbers etc, and a link to the web site. The rest is down to them.

 

[Octopus]

Cause the existing load is 10 amps (or thereabouts), x24 100w filaments. Edit they not DP, just 20a switches

How many switches? how many light fittings per switch?

 

[haptism]

How many switches? how many light fittings per switch?

Murdoch, its going a bit off track here. Currently the existing circuit is on one switch operating x24 100w filament lamps; they want them changed to led's and also to be able to dim them, hence my OP