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

 

[richy3333]

What about trying Halers and their dimmers instead?

 

[Octopus]

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

That’s fine but you did say switches and this thread is almost identical to a recent one of yours .......

As I have previously stated, if you plan to replace the existing 24 x 100w filament bulbs with LEDs you need to be wary of inrush currents .......

What is the MCB?

 

[Midwest]

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

Murdoch does have a point. The current set up works and they can dim them.

Installing 24 LED's on one circuit, with one dimmer needs some consideration. Otherwise you might rule the day you changed things.

 

[haptism]

That’s fine but you did say switches and this thread is almost identical to a recent one of yours .......

As I have previously stated, if you plan to replace the existing 24 x 100w filament bulbs with LEDs you need to be wary of inrush currents .......

What is the MCB?

The MCB is a 16 A type C, im fairly sure this would handle the inrush.

 

[Octopus]

Is this thread the same job as this thread?

500w Dimmer unit - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/500w-dimmer-unit.168972/

 

[haptism]

Is this thread the same job as this thread?

500w Dimmer unit - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/500w-dimmer-unit.168972/

Yep thats the same job

 

[Octopus]

Murdoch does have a point. The current set up works and they can dim them.

Installing 24 LED's on one circuit, with one dimmer needs some consideration. Otherwise you might rule the day you changed things.

OP - PLEASE take note of this reply ...............

 

[haptism]

In a nutshell the existing circuit has 24 lamps on one switch, three times (theres 3 separate circuits each with a 16a CB). So im looking for a dimmer that can handle x24 (9-10w) leds !, if i cannot find one then I will get a mode lighting power pack but they are a bit pricey

 

[haptism]

OP - PLEASE take note of this reply ...............

The lamps Ive chosen have an inrush of 1.8 the running current, so im sure the MCB will take it, even if its lowered from 16a to 10.

 

[Octopus]

In a nutshell the existing circuit has 24 lamps on one switch, three times (theres 3 separate circuits each with a 16a CB). So im looking for a dimmer that can handle x24 (9-10w) leds !, if i cannot find one then I will get a mode lighting power pack but they are a bit pricey

I read this as 72 lights on 3 separate circuits - 24 per 16A type C breaker

Yes? No?

What is this facility - a community hall or similar?

 

[Leesparkykent]

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

That's plain daft IMHO

I’ve got a chandelier at a job atm that has 40 3.5W LED candle lamps on-it.....The customer wants this dimmed.

 

[Octopus]

I’ve got a chandelier at a job atm that has 40 3.5W LED candle lamps on-it.....The customer wants this dimmed.

Which dimmer do you plan to use with that?

 

[haptism]

Right, the lamps ive chosen have a running current of 65mA, start up is 10 times the running current so thats 650mA or 0.65 A, times this by 24 equals 15.6a inrush. Convert this to watts equals 3588w. So this means I need a dimmer that is rated to at least 3588w (4Kw) to withstand the inrush ! Thats correct isnt it ?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Which dimmer do you plan to use with that?

I’ve not even thought about it yet....This thread might come in handy.

 

[haptism]

I read this as 72 lights on 3 separate circuits - 24 per 16A type C breaker

Yes? No?

What is this facility - a community hall or similar?

Its a hall Murdoch, yes thats right its as you said

 

[Octopus]

The OP should have gone to Elex at Sandown Park today and spoken to the variety of manufacturers there ...

 

[Wilko]

What about a current limiting load in series with all the LEDs? Our typical 3kW immmersion heater element will limit the inrush to 13A peak and only drop 10V - 20V when the lamps are all running. My contribution to Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night .

 

[stefan888]

V COM is thyristor based it is more robust to in rush Current. As a rule of thumb always leave 10% room don't use the full capacity of the dimmer.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Which dimmer do you plan to use with that?

I’ve not even thought about it yet....This thread might come in handy.

I notice you rated my comment as optimistic....Do you think one of these will do the job?https://www.downlights.co.uk/media/mconnect_uploadfiles/v/-/v-com-dimmer-instructions.pdf like someone has mentioned above.

 

[Octopus]

I notice you rated my comment as optimistic....Do you think one of these will do the job?https://www.downlights.co.uk/media/mconnect_uploadfiles/v/-/v-com-dimmer-instructions.pdf like someone has mentioned above.

I gave you an optimistic because its not your thread - this one, and the previous lack detail and seem to lack considered response.

I would be starting with OEM's that make LED dimmers - and not via wholesalers - by contacting them directly .......... with as many known facts as possible and asking for their input

AND warning the customer that this may not be as easy as end users often think ......

As for the V-Pro - no idea mate ........... best ask them.......... but I don't like them