Guide to Using Light Dimmers
Lighting is often the key to good design – too much light can make guests uncomfortable and too little can make it hard to see much of anything. If you find yourself in this limbo of excessive or insufficient lighting, installing dimmers could be the solution. Dimmers allow homeowners to control the amount of light in a room and extend the life expectancy of their bulbs. To make the transition to dimmer switches, where do you begin?
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How Do Dimmers Work?
All dimmers include an electronic component called a “triac” that controls light brightness. When a light is dimmed, this switch provides less electrical energy to the bulb; when it’s at higher brightness, the triac emits more energy. A light bulb that outputs less light can save you money on your utility bills. In fact, a bulb can last up to 20 times longer at 25 percent light level!
Know the 6 Types of Dimmers
Not every dimmer is compatible with every light source. To avoid inconsistent lighting or flickering illumination, it’s important to understand how to correctly pair the two. What are the different options available?
- Universal: Controls all bulb types, including incandescent, halogen, dimmable LEDs and CFLs.
- Incandescent/Halogen: Can be safely used with incandescent and halogen light bulbs.
- ELV: Electronic Low Voltage dimmers are commonly used to control ELV track, undercabinet and LED strip lighting.
- MLV: Magnetic Low Voltage dimmers are best used for recessed lighting.
- High Wattage: Recommended for fixtures that use multiple bulbs, but do not exceed 600 watts, like a large chandelier.
- Dimming Sensor: Best used outdoors, a dimming sensor is compatible with dimmable LED, CFL and incandescent or halogen light bulbs.
Installing Dimmer Switches
A common question from Connecticut Lighting customers is, “Can I replace my standard wall switch with a dimmer?” The answer is yes – we’ll make sure you have the right type of dimmer, so all you have to do is choose the style!
Dimmer switches are available in a variety of different styles, from modern slide to contemporary rotary dial. There is no wrong choice; whichever style feels most comfortable to use and best matches your existing design scheme will allow you to control the amount of light in a room at your fingertips.
Homeowners may have different décor and color preferences, but one thing they can all agree on is saving money. To learn more about installing dimmer switches in your home, visit our Hartford or Southington showroom today!