On the subject of dimmers

[reko19]

I admit, haven't looked into it for a while. It used very simple, just pick a dimmer you like. Now with incandescent and halogen falling out of favor, the choice is not so clear. I am planning to use a mix of LED and CFL lights. Some as a stand alone switches, come part of home automation UPB perhaps. Some of the CFL ballasts are four wire (white, black, grey, violet) some are three wire (black, white, orange or brown). Same with LEDs. So do I need to bring four conductors from each light switch? If my wiring is #12, can I reduce it to #14 from the switch box to the fixture itself?

I am also having a hard time finding UPB or Z-Wave dimmers that would work with CFL or LEDs.

Thanks, any input is appreciated.

 

[gatchel]

The ballasts should say what wires to use at what voltage.

Typically most lights need two current carrying conductors to work (and a ground)

If your wiring is 12 awg is it protected for 20A? You can't run 14 awg wire on 20A circuit.

 

[reko19]

The CFL ballasts should say what wires to use at what voltage.

Typically most lights need two current carrying conductors to work (and a ground)

If your wiring is 12 awg then is it protected for 20A? You can't run 14 awg wire on 20A circuit..

12 awg, 20A CB. as far as i know, CFL dimmable ballasts come in two variation: 0-10V control four-wire and line voltage three-wire. Any suggestions on UPB or Z-Wave compatible devices?

 

[tmbrown97]

Dimmable CFL is a dead technology; might as well go with dimmable LED and save some time! Then it's just the normal 2-wires like always, and any good dimmer works fine (my SAI UPB dimmers have worked fine with any bulb I've tried).

 

[Desert_AIP]

I've had particularly good results with the CREE CR6 and Simply Automated UPB dimmers.
The make a 6" and now a 4" can bulb/trim that performs very well.

For undercabinet I use LED strips on a dimmable power supply/transformer.

 

[reko19]

Dimmable CFL is a dead technology; might as well go with dimmable LED and save some time! Then it's just the normal 2-wires like always, and any good dimmer works fine (my SAI UPB dimmers have worked fine with any bulb I've tried).

Why do you think dimmable CFLs are dead? I know LEDs is the latest craze, but fluorescents (not necesarily CFL) have been around for a long time.

 

[Desert_AIP]

The way CFLs work they need high voltage. It's hard to dim a high voltage source with a triac.
Any dimmable CFLs I've seen flicker with triac based dimmers.
They work "OK" with manual resistor dimmers.

 

[gatchel]

....Also are you really meaning CFL's or are you talking about dimmable ballasts that hook up to standard tubes?
Your multi-wire comment has me confused.

 

[reko19]

I was referring to CFLs with dimmable three wire or four wire (0-10v) ballasts. Lutron has plenty of wiring diagrams on their web site, very helpful.

 

[tmbrown97]

I say it's dead because development on it seems to have stopped years ago in favor of LED; some of the largest lightbulb suppliers stopped carrying any dimmable CFL products a few years ago. Anything that requires special wiring and doesn't work with normal switches isn't getting nearly as much attention as something that can benefit the masses, which LED can.