I have encountered a very confusing situation with a low
voltage dimmer. Any advice or explanations would be welcome.

I have a dining room light fixture which consists of 7 20W 12V
halogen lights powered through an electronic transformer. When I use
an electronic low voltage dimmer with this, the lights flicker about 3
times a second when the brightness level is turned up. If I use a
magnetic low voltage dimmer, then everything works fine. The only
problem is that the previous electronic transformer burned out after
two years due to the use of the magnetic low voltage dimmer instead of
the electronic low voltage dimmer (according to the guy at the
lighting store where I got the light fixture).

So, the right dimmer doesn't work right, and the wrong dimmer
does work right. Can anyone explain this?

Both dimmers are from Lutron. The transformer is a WAC
EN12PXAR, rated for 150W. To add even more confusion to the situation,
the manufacturer's website for the transformer claims that it can be
used with a regular incandescent dimmer.

-David,

David Martin wrote in message
om...
I have encountered a very confusing situation with a low
voltage dimmer. Any advice or explanations would be welcome.

I have a dining room light fixture which consists of 7 20W 12V
halogen lights powered through an electronic transformer. When I use
an electronic low voltage dimmer with this, the lights flicker about 3
times a second when the brightness level is turned up. If I use a
magnetic low voltage dimmer, then everything works fine. The only
problem is that the previous electronic transformer burned out after
two years due to the use of the magnetic low voltage dimmer instead of
the electronic low voltage dimmer (according to the guy at the
lighting store where I got the light fixture).

So, the right dimmer doesn't work right, and the wrong dimmer
does work right. Can anyone explain this?

Both dimmers are from Lutron. The transformer is a WAC
EN12PXAR, rated for 150W. To add even more confusion to the situation,
the manufacturer's website for the transformer claims that it can be
used with a regular incandescent dimmer.

-David,

WAC has some clever proprietary technology that does indeed allow the use of
a standard incandescent dimmer with their particular electronic transformer.
Go ahead and use one; it's the best choice -- Lutron or otherwise. Dimmers
designed for magnetic transformer loads are very much like standard
incandescent dimmers but dimmers designed for the usual electronic loads are
quite different. What you have when your lights flicker are two
incompatible electronic circuits fighting each other.

Terry McGowan

"TKM" wrote in message ore where I got the light fixture).

WAC has some clever proprietary technology that does indeed allow the use of
a standard incandescent dimmer with their particular electronic transformer.
Go ahead and use one; it's the best choice -- Lutron or otherwise. Dimmers

Terry McGowan

Thanks. I also called Lutron's technical help line today, and they had
just learned this recently themselves (about WAC).

-David,

"TKM" wrote in message
...

David Martin wrote in message
SNIPPED


WAC has some clever proprietary technology that does indeed allow the use
of
a standard incandescent dimmer with their particular electronic
transformer.

In the U.K. haven`t seen an electronic LV lighting transformer that dosen`t
say `dimmable` in years.Wether its from a big name or a lower cost
import.Pretty much all ETs are dimmable by a cheap wall plate dimmer here.

Go ahead and use one; it's the best choice -- Lutron or otherwise.
Dimmers
designed for magnetic transformer loads are very much like standard
incandescent dimmers

Dimmers designed for inductive loads like a wound transformer are normally
`hardfired` which is slightly harder to do, normal wallplate dimmers aren`t.

but dimmers designed for the usual electronic loads are
quite different.

The main thing to remember is not to use a dimmer that isn`t specifically
called `inductive` or ` hardfired` with a wound transformer. Using a cheaper
dimmer with a magnetic transformer load might eat both the transformer and
the dimmer.

Adam

What you have when your lights flicker are two
incompatible electronic circuits fighting each other.

Terry McGowan

In message , Adam
Aglionby writes
In the U.K. haven`t seen an electronic LV lighting transformer that dosen`t
say `dimmable` in years.Wether its from a big name or a lower cost
import.Pretty much all ETs are dimmable by a cheap wall plate dimmer here.

Although a few seem to go bang when dimmed!

--
Clive Mitchell
http://www.bigclive.com

In article , Adam
Aglionby writes

In the U.K. haven`t seen an electronic LV lighting transformer that dosen`t
say `dimmable` in years.Wether its from a big name or a lower cost
import.Pretty much all ETs are dimmable by a cheap wall plate dimmer here.
However Ive never suceeded is getting a system to operate.
My kitchen has (had) two adjacent dimmers each driving 5 X 20W 12 V
electronic transformers.
The dimmers inter-reacted and oscillated as described I returned dimmers
to the supplier and switched supplier, stil the system failed.
I also had electronic transformer failures .
rep[laced the electronic transformer suppliers to no advantage.
Have now dispensed with dimming.
Note 1
There are now small torroidal transformer for 1 lamp which are sized to
fit into the light aperture. a better solution I think
Note 2
The electronic hash created by the electronic dimmers is sufficient to
block out all medium and long wave radio reception in the room (and most
of the house)
--
ddwyer

"ddwyer" wrote in message
...
In article , Adam
Aglionby writes

In the U.K. haven`t seen an electronic LV lighting transformer that
dosen`t
say `dimmable` in years.Wether its from a big name or a lower cost
import.Pretty much all ETs are dimmable by a cheap wall plate dimmer
here.
However Ive never suceeded is getting a system to operate.
My kitchen has (had) two adjacent dimmers each driving 5 X 20W 12 V
electronic transformers.

Was there enough minimum load for the dimmer, try different barnd of dimmer?

The dimmers inter-reacted and oscillated as described I returned dimmers
to the supplier and switched supplier, stil the system failed.

Depending on how closely they are grouped did you consider using 60 or 100VA
ETs supplying the group, just a thought.

I also had electronic transformer failures .
rep[laced the electronic transformer suppliers to no advantage.

There are some particularly bad, and usually not cheap enough, ETs out
there, the ones with no one admitting to making them, no makers name.... and
very smudged looking approval `style` marks. If in doubt buy Blitish.

Have now dispensed with dimming.
Note 1
There are now small torroidal transformer for 1 lamp which are sized to
fit into the light aperture. a better solution I think

Been around a while but never a fan, there heavy in a weak ceiling....

Note 2
The electronic hash created by the electronic dimmers is sufficient to
block out all medium and long wave radio reception in the room (and most
of the house)

I`m an FM only or internet radio listener ;-)

Adam

--
ddwyer