Dimmer switches are a great way to lower your electric bills and make your house look more stylish, but some light fixtures aren’t compatible with them. This is especially true if you have a vintage fixture like one that’s been in the family for years—the wiring may be too old to handle the extra load from installing a dimmer switch. If you’re considering installing a dimmer switch in your home, check out this guide first.
Improper dimming can be dangerous.
Dimmers are designed to limit the amount of current reaching your lights—and they do so by cutting off the power a bit before your lightbulb would normally burn out. This is great for most bulbs, but LED and CFLs are sensitive to these kinds of fluctuations in power flow and can be damaged if dimmed incorrectly. The way you tell whether or not this will happen is by looking at how much wattage each bulb draws—if one draws more than 100 watts, it’s likely susceptible to damage from improper dimming.
If you want to convert a non-dimmable fixture into a dimmable one (say, because all your existing lamps have burned out), here’s what to do:
- Purchase an electronic ballast with the same wattage as your existing fixture (a ballast is what makes electricity flow through lighting fixtures). You may need specific parts depending on where you’re installing them; ask at your local hardware store or electrician’s office if unsure.
- Install electronic ballast alongside whatever makes up your light fixture—and ensure everything works together properly as directed by instruction manuals included with each part; contact customer service if needed. Don’t forget about safety features like fuses on all electrical connections; remember that electricity can kill people!
How do I know if my light fixture is dimmable?
- The first and most obvious way to know if a light fixture is dimmable is to look for a dimmer switch. This should be located on the wall or on the side of the fixture, depending on how it’s wired.
- Another way that you can tell if a light fixture is dimmable is by looking for a label that says “dimmable.” This label will typically be found on more expensive fixtures, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that every fixture with this label will work with your dimmer switch.
- If you’re interested in an LED light fixture, then you’ll need one that specifically states “dimmable.” If you have another type of bulb in mind (like halogen or incandescent), then this won’t matter as much since they are compatible with dimmers as long as they are properly installed and maintained.
What are the risks of converting a light fixture to be dimmable?
Safety risks: There are many potential hazards when installing a dimmer switch, especially if you’re not experienced with electrical work. The most obvious safety risk is getting shocked by the electricity running through the wire that powers your light fixture. You can avoid this by making sure that all of your wires are insulated and that they don’t come into contact with any other electrical wires or devices while they’re being installed. If you don’t know how to install an outlet, call an electrician—it’s worth it if you want to avoid getting hurt!
Overheating is another common problem with dimmer switches; because they reduce power flow to a light fixture, there’s less heat generated than usual under normal circumstances. If the insulation around a wire becomes damaged or worn down over time due to frequent use (which could happen depending on where your light fixtures are located), then it may start sparking during operation—this can cause fires when exposed materials catch fire from these arcs/sparks.
What if I want to control multiple lights with the same switch?
A dimmer switch is the obvious choice for controlling multiple lights with a single switch. You can also use multiple dimmer switches, which are more expensive and harder to install.
If you have a large room or space that needs to be lit using several fixtures, consider using an occupancy sensor so that the lights only turn on when someone is in the room. This will save energy and help prolong the life of your bulbs too!
Before installing a dimmer switch, ensure that the light fixture is compatible and that your electrical panel can handle more power.
- Check the wattage of your light fixture. If it’s over 150 watts, don’t buy a dimmer switch. You could overload the circuit and possibly cause a fire.
- Before installing a dimmer switch, ensure your electrical panel can handle more power. A standard 15 amp or 20 amp circuit can only safely handle up to 50 percent of its capacity (for example, 500 watts maximum). Keep in mind that most lights draw significantly less than half their advertised lumens when they are new; most well-made bulbs will last approximately 10 years and can be expected to lose about 10 percent of their brightness during that time period.
- Make sure your equipment is up-to-date and in good condition before installing any electrical device or appliance—especially one with complex wiring such as an easy-to-use wall plate with multiple outlets on it! Also, keep in mind that adding more circuits may require upgrading wiring from copper wire (which has been around since 1882) to newer types like aluminum wire which offers better conductivity because they use less material while delivering slightly higher performance levels per unit length than traditional copper wires.
We have discussed the dangers of using a dimming switch with an incompatible light fixture and the benefits of controlling multiple lights with one switch. However, you must also be aware of the risks associated with doing this before making any changes to your home’s wiring system. Make sure that your electrical panel can handle more power if necessary and consult an electrician if you have any questions or concerns about installing a dimmer switch in your home.
If you find yourself needing any light fixtures installed, or any other electrical services, keep Mount Man Electric in mind! We offer many different electrical services. You can learn more at www.mountmanelectric.com today.