Can anyone give some advice on dimming LED lights? I just put in 10 in my kitchen, wife says they are too bright. The lights are controlled by 4 different switches...can I put in one dimmer or do I need to do all 4? How to wire in with hot, common, and neutral wire at existing switch(es)? Any help would be appreciated..thanks..Lance
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led dimmer
- Thread starter lance8614
- Start date
AirJunky
Well-known member
I installed LEDs in our kitchen some time ago. The wife complained about them being too bright/too white. I ended up swapping out the bulbs for something less wattage, more natural light. The dimmer we have came from Home Depot, brand is Lutron. There is a small switch on the back of it that says INC/CFL/LED. No clue what it does but the wife likes it now.
As for 4 switches, I think your going to need 4 dimmers. We have 2.
As for 4 switches, I think your going to need 4 dimmers. We have 2.
...can I put in one dimmer or do I need to do all 4?
There a couple of ways to do it. You should be able to find a 3 way dimmer, LED compatible. This would allow you to dim from only one location, the other switches will just be on/off.
Another way to do it is to change to something like a Lutron Maestro dimmer, with a Maestro companion device for the other locations. Now you can dim from more than one location.
If you went with a Caseta dimmer, you could also have remote control.
Good luck,
CD
AntonLargiader
Well-known member
The Lutron Maestro series has a C-L version which is what you need if you like the push button type dimmer. If you have four switches controlling the same bank of lights then Lutron says you need a C-L dimmer and three companion dimmers. It's a bit complicated because with two switches you can use a dimmer and a switch, but for more than that you need companion dimmers although the signals to the dimmer seem to be the same as with just two. Anyway, I got a really helpful Lutron guy on the phone when I was going through this and he walked me through all kinds of scenarios.
The Maestro series is programmable in that you can set the max level, min level, fade times, etc. Sounds like a good match for your need. Check it out in a store demo to make sure you don't think it's too fussy. Push on/off, rocker for dimmer/brighter. You can get the instructions online.
The Maestro series is programmable in that you can set the max level, min level, fade times, etc. Sounds like a good match for your need. Check it out in a store demo to make sure you don't think it's too fussy. Push on/off, rocker for dimmer/brighter. You can get the instructions online.
AffableCurmudgeon
Well-known member
Just make sure your LED bulbs are dimmable. Not all LED bulbs are dimmable.
AntonLargiader
Well-known member
That's a great point. When I did this last, both Lutron and FEIT had compatibility tables on their websites that I checked. Looks like Lutron now has a better tool for this:
http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Pages/LEDCompatibilityTool/Compatibility.aspx
http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Pages/LEDCompatibilityTool/Compatibility.aspx