Dimmer switches allow you to create different moods in a room. With some of today’s more sophisticated dimmers you can control lighting for your entire home using various home automation systems that control the lights through radio frequency and computer technology. These sophisticated systems create and save pre-selected, timed settings. Now you can turn on lights before you get home from work.
These sophisticated systems are expensive and may be outside the budget of many of you, however there are many more options available for the average customer. Dimmers do more than just dim the lights. They also save money by turning down the intensity of the light, to conserves energy and extend the life of the bulb.
As you dim the lights the voltage is lowered which lowers the number of watts consumed. (Volts times Amps = Watts) The lower the wattage the more energy you save. Tests have also shown that dimming lights also increases regular incandescent bulb life.
You need to know that during normal operation, solid-state dimmers generate heat. A solid-state dimmer is roughly 98% efficient. That means 2% of the power dissipates as heat, causing the dimmer to feel warm to the touch. The brighter the light, the higher the load (watts) on the dimmer, so the warmer it will feel. This is perfectly normal and safe.
The most common types of dimmer switches are: an integrated dimming system, touch dimmers, slide dimmers, and dial dimmers. We will talk about each of these in upcoming posts.
I cannot stress enough to always be sure to have a licensed electrician install any new dimmers. For more information on dimmers, or for recommendations on local electricians, you may contact your local Lighting One showroom. Use the locator listed at http://www.lighting-one.com/ to locate your closest showroom.
As a reminder, you may access previous Lighting One Design Tips postings on lighting, color, design, and other tips by viewing our blog at http://www.iluciolighting.blogspot.com/.
Feel free to leave any comments you may have.
Item shown is 2321-BZ and is available exclusively at a Lighting One showroom.
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