Dimmers Selection Guide
In a dimmer, R indicates resistive, L inductive and C capacitive load; choose by lamp or transformer type and whether the lamp is dimmable.
This guide explains what to look at when choosing products in the Dimmers category.
Choosing a dimmer by lamp type
The selection starts with the lamp: the load type letters of the dimmer (R resistive, L inductive, C capacitive) must match the type of the lamp or transformer.
- 230 V incandescent and halogen lamps: a resistive load; as long as the power range fits, they work with all RL, RC and universal dimmers.
- Low-voltage halogen with a wound (iron-core) transformer: an inductive load; an RL or universal dimmer is required.
- Low-voltage halogen with an electronic transformer: mostly a capacitive load, and it needs an RC or universal dimmer; check the load letter on the transformer's label.
- Dimmable LED lamps and LED drivers: whether the lamp is dimmable and by which method it is dimmed is stated in the lamp manufacturer's data. This category has RC type, universal LED and universal dimmers named for LED; a universal dimmer senses the characteristic of the load and selects the suitable cutting method itself.
- Drivers or ballasts with a 1-10 V input: adjusted with a 1-10 V dimmer.
LED lamps and drivers that are not marked as dimmable are not used with a dimmer. For the lamp side, check the dimming information in the product data in the LED Bulbs category, and for the driver side in the LED Power Supplies (Transformers) category.
How to read the power range
A range such as 20-500 W/VA in the name of a dimmer applies to the total power of all lamps connected to the same dimmer.
- Lower limit: if the total load stays below this value, the lamp may flicker, may not turn fully off, or may not light at all. In circuits converted from incandescent lamps to LED, this limit must be checked especially, because the total power drops.
- Upper limit: when it is exceeded, the dimmer is overloaded. The power a dimmer allows for LED lamps may be lower than the value it gives for incandescent lamps; verify from the manufacturer data which lamp type the range in the name refers to.
- W/VA: the VA value is for loads with transformers; for these loads the calculation is made not by the wattage of the lamps but by the power on the transformer's label.
Models with a low lower limit such as 3-150 W, 6-100 W and 4-200 VA are also listed in this category.
Two-way dimmer and control from two points
Dimmers with "vavien" in the name are fitted in place of one of the switches in a two-way circuit. The light level is adjusted from the point where the dimmer is located; the two-way switch at the other point turns the lamp on and off at the last set level. The mechanism at the opposite end is selected in the same series from the Wall Switches category. If the light needs to be adjustable from both points, whether the mechanism supports this must be verified from the manufacturer's diagram. In this category, Viko Pro Dimmer RL and RC models and the Schneider Electric Asfora LED dimmer are named as two-way ("vavien").
1-10 V dimmer connection
In a 1-10 V dimmer, the control signal is carried to the 1-10 V input terminals of the driver through a two-core control line separate from the mains conductors; the terminals are polarized (+ and −). In most drivers, switching the luminaire on and off is done on the mains side; check in the product data whether the dimmer includes a switch contact for this. The number of drivers that can be connected to one dimmer depends on the control current limit of the dimmer.
Brands in this category
- Viko: Pro Dimmer RL (6-100 W and 20-500 W/VA), Pro Dimmer RC (40-400 W/VA), Universal Dimmer (3-150 W) and 1-10 V dimmer in the Karre, Meridian and Karre 55 series. For these products, the supplied components are stated as the mechanism and the knob/cover.
- Schneider Electric: Yeni Unica universal LED dimmer, Asfora Plus LED dimmer (RC type, two-way), Merten universal dimmer mechanism and LED dimmer.
Frames are series-specific and are listed separately in the Switch and Socket Frames category.
Order notes
- Products are sold by the piece; each color of the same dimmer has a separate stock code.
- Most of the dimmers in this category are lead-time items; the delivery time is confirmed before ordering.
- Schneider Electric product names carry the manufacturer's stock code (such as NU351430, EPH6800171, MTN5134-0000); you can use this code in search.
Comparison and selection table
| Selection Criterion | Leading-Edge (Triac / RL) Dimmer | Trailing-Edge (RC / LED) Dimmer | 1–10 V / DALI / DIN-Rail Dimmer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimming Method | Leading-edge phase-cut control | Trailing-edge phase-cut (silent, flicker-free) | Analog 1–10 V, DALI bus or modular DIN-rail |
| Compatible Loads | Incandescent, 230 V halogen, magnetic transformers | Dimmable retrofit LED bulbs & electronic drivers | LED panels & linear fixtures with dimmable drivers |
| Load Capacity | 60 W – 600 W / 1000 W flush wall mechanism | 3 W – 250 W / 400 W LED load rating | Multi-zone commercial & architectural lighting |
| Key Check | Match switch frame series & minimum load | Requires lamps explicitly marked "Dimmable" | Match driver dimming protocol (1–10 V vs DALI) |
Frequently asked questions
Can every LED bulb be dimmed with a dimmer?
No. Only LED bulbs and drivers that their manufacturer has marked as dimmable can be dimmed; this information is on the packaging and in the product data. Even with a dimmable lamp, the result depends on the dimmer's method and load range. Check together the dimmer type recommended by the lamp manufacturer (leading-edge, trailing-edge or 1-10 V) and the power range the dimmer gives for LED.
Why does an LED lamp flicker or not turn fully off in a dimmer circuit?
The main causes are the following: the total LED power is below the dimmer's minimum load value, the lamp is not dimmable, or the lamp's driver is incompatible with the dimmer's cutting method. First compare the total power of the connected lamps with the range in the dimmer's name, then look at the lamp manufacturer's dimmer compatibility information. LED and universal dimmers with a low lower limit are made for low-power LED loads.
Can RL and RC dimmers be used in place of each other?
Only on a resistive load, that is, 230 V incandescent and halogen lamps, both work. Loads with wound transformers are inductive and require an RL dimmer; electronic transformers are mostly capacitive and require an RC dimmer. The load type is read from the R, L, C letters on the label of the dimmer and the transformer. If the load type is uncertain, a universal dimmer that senses the load can be chosen; inductive and capacitive loads are not mixed on the same dimmer.
Can a dimmer be connected to a socket, is there a dimming socket?
The products in this category are lighting dimmers mounted in a switch box; no product that dims a socket outlet is included. A wall dimmer is designed for the lamp loads specified by its manufacturer, while appliances of unknown type are plugged into a socket, so a dimmer is not a suitable solution for a socket circuit. In-line dimmers fitted to the lamp cord for dimming a plug-in lamp shade are a separate product group and are not listed here.
Will a 1-10 V dimmer dim an ordinary LED bulb?
No. A 1-10 V dimmer does not intervene in the supply voltage of the lamp; it only sends a control signal to drivers or ballasts that have a 1-10 V control input. LED bulbs fitted in a lamp socket have no such input; for these lamps, provided that they are dimmable, a phase-cut LED or universal dimmer is chosen. A 1-10 V dimmer is used with luminaires whose driver has this input.