A leading edge dimmer cuts the front off of the second part of the wave cycle, where as a trailing edge dimmer cuts the second part of a waves cycle. A dimmer switch is a type of light switch that allows you to control the amount of electricity that flows to the lights it controls, which, when turned down dims them or when turned up brightens them, manually enabling you to set the light level in a room. Intuitive Automations: Craft custom 'Automations' to suit your lifestyle. Set your lights to mimic your presence, creating a lived-in look even when you're away. Explore timers, scenes, and the power to create a master switch for your entire home. In this DIY guide we look at how to fit a dimmer switch in place of a standard light switch. Regulations for Fitting Dimmer Switches

LED dimmer module has auto-detect function for either leading edge or trailing edge with 5-150W load, 230-240V 50Hz With the old switch out of the way, take your new dimmer switch and connect the wires in the same place as the old one; brown live to COM and blue switched live to L1 Modern dimmer switches use this cycle to determine when to turn the light off. At the point that the switch from positive to negative happens there will be zero voltage and this is when the switch cuts the power. To fit a dimmer switch in place of a standard light switch you will need the following tools and materials:To release each wire on the switch, use your flat blade screwdriver to loosen the small screw in each terminal and then pull the wires free. If the earth is also fixed to the faceplate, unscrew this, if attached to the pattress box leave it where it is. As we have now looked at what a dimmer switch is and how it works, it’s now time to see how they are fitted. There are numerous different types of modern dimmer switch, but essentially they can be broken down into 2 main types: The very first job to do before doing anything else is to isolate the circuit you will be working on by turning off the MCB/RCD in your consumer unit or pulling out the fuse if you have a fuse box.

Failure to do this correctly can cause issues when trying to sell your home and can even invalidate your home insurance! Both of these types of dimmer have their own distinct characteristics, but on the whole, trailing edge dimmers are seen as slightly better as they have a smoother operation and tend to make much less noise. Adding a dimmer switch to the lighting in a room can have a dramatic effect on the overall ambience of a room, allowing you to lower the lighting levels to create a much more relaxed environment. To get it to sit flat, you may need to give it a little wiggle so that the wires find their own natural resting place.

Regulations for Fitting Dimmer Switches

Once done, put the 2 screws to one side and pull the faceplate away and turn it to reveal the internals on the rear of the face. our dimmer switches have a soft start function that slowly brings the lights to the set level in about 1-2 seconds, prolonging the life of your bulbs Elevate your home lighting with Lightwave Smart Dimmers. Unleash the potential of intelligent lighting and experience a new level of control, comfort, and energy efficiency.

Today, modern dimmer switches are much more efficient and instead of using a resistor, essentially turns the light on and off very rapidly every second. As both UK and US electricity is AC (alternating current) it turns from positive to negative every cycle. Traditionally, dimmer switches used a variable resistor that essentially restricts the flow of electricity by converting it to heat. This not only caused the resistor to get hot but also, this was a massive waste of electricity. Fitting a dimmer switch in place of an existing standard light switch is a fairly easy and straight forward job as long as you know what you are doing. Control From Anywhere: Whether you're at home or on the go, the Lightwave app empowers you to control and monitor your lights from anywhere. Illuminate your space before you even step in or create the illusion of occupancy. With Lightwave, you're always in control. For more information on staying safe when working around electricity, see our electrical safety project here. What is a Dimmer Switch?

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our dimmer switches cannot be used in conjunction with each other. We recommend using one dimmer switch per circuit Once correctly positioned, pop each screw through each hole and then screw it up tight, ensuring that it’s level. Step 6 – Test Switch Smart dimmers: Use smart automation technology and wifi to enable you to control a single or set of lights using an app Most incandescent and halogen bulbs are compatible with dimmers, but generally CFL’s (or compact fluorescent lights) or those that are controlled by a transformer generally don’t, unless they are made specifically for use with dimmer switches. Upgrade your lighting experience with Lightwave Smart Dimmers. These innovative devices transform your standard switches into incredibly versatile smart home controllers. Say goodbye to the same old light switch and embrace the future of smart lighting.

If the new dimmer switch has a metal faceplate then you will also need to connect the earth to the earth terminal on the faceplate. Aside from the main differences in how they operate, dimmer switches are also available in several different operation: Once the power to the circuit and switch are isolated, the next job is to use a flat blade screwdriver to unscrew the 2 screws on the front of the faceplate. For the purpose of this project we will be swapping and existing 1 gang 1 way switch for a similar 1 gang 1 way dimmer switch. Step 1 – Isolate Circuit If you have a metal face plate for your switch there should also be a green and yellow earth wire to a small terminal on this. If not then it should be connected to the metal box in the wall called a pattress box. If the pattress box is plastic then it should be screwed into the earth terminal somewhere inside.However, if it is to be a newly installed switch where all wires and cabling needs to be run from scratch then this is not possible to do as a DIY’er and can only be done by a Part P registered electrician with the knowledge and skill to do the work correctly, test it fully and then issue a minor works certificate. The names refer to the way in which they control light levels. As mentioned above, modern dimmer switches work by rapidly cutting the supply of electricity to the light half way through it’s cycle when the current hits zero.