Leviton zwave dimmer for leds

[mikeybob]

I contacted Leviton about the availability of a Vizia RF+ dimmer that would support dimmable LED lighting.  I’m looking for the same functionality as the VRI06 but able to work with LEDs.  Levition’s response indicated that their ELV dimmer (VRE06) might work…depending on the fixture or bulb.
 
Is anyone using the VRE06 with LEDs?  Is the functionality similar to VRI06 with incandescents ?
 

 

[ano]

The question I would have for you is how do you define "work?"  There are really a few aspects at play here, and the answer isn't a simple yes or no.
 
If you compare LED lights to incandescent lights, there are many differences.  First LED lights draw much less power than incandescent lights, and many incandescent dimmers have a problem in that respect.  I'd try the VRI06 dimmer first if you have one. They require a 40W load, so how many LED bulbs are you lighting? one or many? It may work depending on the type of LED bulb as well as how many.
 
If it flickers when low, and/or doesn't dim smoothy when low the next choice is a ELV dimmer.  They cost more, but work fine with lights like LEDs, but they are not perfect.  This brings me to the second difference between LED lights and incandescent lights; their brightness vs. voltage curves are not the same.  If you look at dimmers made just for LED bulbs, like the UPB  HAI LV35A001CFL or other LED dimmers, they actually have a lighting curve designed for LED bulbs. So when you set them to 40%, the light output is around 40%.  If this precision isn't important to you, and you just want the dimming to be smooth and flicker-free, an ELV dimmer should work good enough, but a LED dimmer is better. BUT I don't think a Vizia RF+ LED dimmer exists yet. 
 
What model of LED bulb are you using?  And how many on the circuit? Only these bulbs or incandescent's on the circuit as well?

 

[etc6849]

Since the VRI06 is a two wire dimmer, whatever LED lamp you try must have a closed circuit (as a bulb filament does) even when it is off, otherwise the VRI06 will not have standby power.  I think most of the dimmable LEDs do this if they state they work with all incandescent dimmers.
 
Please let us know if you end up trying a certain type of LED lamp with a VRI06 and it works really well.  I have a lot of VRI06's installed, and I'm not wanting to pay $$$ for 100W equivalent halogen lamps just because Washington thinks it's better for the environment, when there's really not that much cost savings with Halogen and the bulbs are ridiculously expensive.
 
I would have retrofitted my install years ago, but I'm very concerned with inrush current from LEDs.
http://www.powerbox.info/ssl/inRushCurrent.asp
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/assist/pdf/assist-TechNote-Dimming-InrushCurrent.pdf
 
Side note:
The inrush current issue and the fact that our @#$% government is forcibly discontinuing incandescent lights have me peeved.  Why not require manufacturers to put an inrush current on the box if you're forcing me to switch?
 
I'm not sure why the so called "conservative" ex-president felt the need to pass a light bulb ban before leaving office (currently 75 and 100 watt is only affected, but it will get worse in the near future I'm sure).  As an ex-conservative, I'm now stuck with the belief that no one in Washington cares about individual rights or freedom of choice.  I used to blame democrats for this type of stupidity, but now I think they are all worthless IMHO.  I wonder how much philips, ge and etc gave Washington to pass this BS?  What's next, I won't be able to own a plasma TV over 40 inches?!?