Choosing a dimmer for LED lamps - characteristics, types and costs

The desire of consumers to save on payments for utility services has caused the influx of new types of various household equipment, including lighting, to the market, which are positioned by producers as energy-saving. The opinions of both specialists and users converge in one thing: LED products are really better than the usual "Ilyich bulbs" for us.

Simultaneously, a mysterious( for those who are somewhat far from electrotechnics) the term "dimmer" appeared. We'll figure out what kind of device it is and why it's needed.

The dimmer is installed in the electric circuit of the lighting device( including LED lamps 220V) and allows to regulate the current. So there is nothing new in principle. In fact, this is a kind of rheostat, which we know from school physics lessons. It should be noted that some types of such products are used not only to work together with LEDs, but also with conventional incandescent lamps.

Scope of use

It all depends on what purpose the user pursues. But in general, we can note the following options for the use of dimmers( although this is all fairly arbitrary, since their installation allows the complex solution of several tasks, at the discretion of the user).

1. Adjusting the intensity of the glow of the lamps( the level of illumination of the "zone of responsibility"), which not only makes the stay in the room more comfortable, but also allows you to rationally consume electricity and, therefore, save on paying for this service.
2. There is an opportunity to highlight the features of the design of the room, highlight particularly spectacular places, make the so-called "zoning" of the room and the like.
3. When dimmers are used, there is no need to install additional devices( various highlights, "nightlights" and so on).
4. The switching on / off of luminaires can be performed either remotely( even from the site adjacent to the house), or by a program stored in the device memory.

In principle, if you understand what role this device plays in the network, then no third-party recommendations for use are needed - your own imagination will tell you where and how you can mount such a product. It can be monoblock( for indoor installation) or modular( located in a power shield with connection to the smart house system).There are dimmers "remote", which can be mounted directly in the housing of the lighting device.

The main characteristics of the dimmers

1. The load power( limiting).

1. Control method:

• remote( from the console or via Wi-fi);
• push-button;
• touch;
• swivel( lever)

Additional options

Various options and specific features add comfort to the use of the device, and their list for a particular product depends on its model. The set of certain functions depends on the manufacturer and, naturally, their number entails a rise in the cost of the device. And they are important or not( and if so, how much) to judge you, dear reader.

• Can be used in rooms characterized by high temperatures( or low).
• Option of automatic light off.
• Stability before power surges in the network( for out-of-town buildings it is more than actual!).
• Presence of protection elements in the device circuit( from short circuit, increased voltages, overloads and some others).
• Illumination of controls on the remote control.
• Memory function.
• Ability to introduce a specific control program( for example, smoothness of changing lighting).

There are a number of other "bells and whistles".It is impossible to keep track of all the novelties, because the producers constantly improve something. When buying a dimmer, all its characteristics can be clarified by a passport.

Cost of dimmers

It depends on the design, the lighting control method and the main characteristics. The spread of prices is huge, so it is sufficient to indicate that the cost of the simplest( mechanical) models starts from 650 rubles .The price of more sophisticated devices, with different sets of functions, comes to 3,800 rubles .

Practical recommendations

• The assortment of LED lamps is huge. This implies a difference not only in the characteristics, but also in the specifics of operation. If you plan to install a dimmer, you should immediately determine when purchasing a lighting device whether it can work together with this regulating device, since not all products are "compatible".On the packaging of lamps, which can be included with the dimmer, there is a corresponding designation. The options are "Dimmable", "dimmable", "brightness adjustment".
• The self-assembly of the dimmer is not a problem. The only thing you need to know is that this circuit element is installed in the break of the phase wire.