Our standard leading-edge dimmers (our V-Dim range) are dimmed using a rotary control knob and turned on and off by either a rotary on/off or a push-on/push-off action.
- Ideal for incandescent lighting including mains and low voltage halogen
- Setting the standard for lighting control
V-Dim dimmers are not suitable for LED lighting (even if de-rated as suggested by some manufacturers' advice). For dimmable LEDs choose our V-Pro or V-Com range.
- 100W
- recommended minimum load, for best energy savings and performance
- 2-way
- push on/off models, with one ordinary switch; rotary on/off models are 1-way only
- 5
- other-brand transformers at most per dimmer circuit (recommended)
Loads
- Suitable for mains incandescent and mains halogen lighting, and good quality dimmable electronic low-voltage transformers.
- Not suitable for LED lighting, wire-wound or toroidal transformers, non-dimmable fluorescent bulbs and tubes, or electric motors.
- Keep within the maximum (and minimum) load per gang on the product label. At maximum loading some bulbs present a higher load than their rating: if in doubt, reduce the load.
- If the lights flicker, the dimmer is likely underloaded.
- V-Dim safety dimmers (T codes) switch off and pulse the lights if overloaded, until the overload is removed and the dimmer cools down.
V-Dim instructions, H codes (PDF) V-Dim safety dimmer instructions, T codes, grid and modules (PDF)
1-way and 2-way circuits
Rotary on/off dimmers are only suitable for 1-way circuits.
If you have a 2-way circuit (where the same lights are controlled by two switches) choose a push-on/push-off dimmer and replace only one of the switches with that dimmer. You can only use one push-on/push-off dimmer in a 2-way circuit. It must be used in conjunction with a normal switch. When you switch on a push-on/off dimmer the lights will come on at the same level they were at before they were last switched off. Push-on/off dimmers can also be used on their own in 1-way circuits.
Choosing a dimmer
When selecting a standard dimmer add up the wattages of the bulbs you wish to dim and choose a dimmer with a suitable maximum load rating. For low-voltage lighting add up the ratings of the transformers, not the wattages of the bulbs.
Leading-edge dimmers are suitable for most common lighting applications. Please refer to our dimmer selection guide for recommendations on which dimmer to choose for your application.
For advanced overload protection choose from our intelligent leading-edge dimmers and for the additional benefit of superior dimming technology which is gentler on the load choose from our intelligent trailing-edge dimmers.
