How many dimmers types?

Basically every light that comes on inside the cabin area. Dash, dome, and door lights. All these are controlled by three different areas. Light switch, dimmer switch and the body control module. All the lights have one power source, but three grounds sources.

yes, take the white wires off the switches and splice them all together with a wire nut. Run a hot wire to each of the switches and then run the switch leg (black) from each of the fixtures to be controlled to each of the dimmers.

They design dimmers for either incondescent lighting or fan motor controls. Always check which one you purchased. You can't use the motor control dimmer on lighting and vice versa. Even if you purchased the correct dimmer remember that it is for incondescent lighting only (ordinary light bulb). Incondescent lights have a resistance whereas fluorescent has a capacitance and an inductance. Halogen lamps may have a capacitance and an induction too and are creating havoc with the mosfet transistor inside the dimmer. This can also cause the dimmer to fail. Read the instructions on the dimmer to see what type of lighting is allowed.

Hi Richard,

I'm an electrician and can help you with this question. I'm not quite sure of your question as there is no mention of a dimmer - yet it is in the dimmer category. A transformer rated at 70W should be able to support 56W of lighting, as the lights represent 80% of the capacity of a 70W transformer. Your terminology is a bit unclear however.

Transformers are usually rated in VA, not watts - but if you've got one that says it is rated for 70 watts, this is generally the maximum power it will handle, NOT "minimum". I guess I would feel more comfortable knowing what the transformer is a part of and the type of lights / fixtures you're trying to use with it.

Some lamp types (fluorescent, and other types with a "ballast" or tansformer) are not supposed to be placed on a dimmer circuit - *unless* it is labeled specifically as usable on a dimmer circuit.

I am imagining that you are attempting to use a line voltage track and light fixtures that have a built-in transformer (making them low voltage lights really) on a dimmer, or some other arrangement whereby you "dim" the input of a transformer to control the brightness of the low voltage lights. Regardless of the wattage of the transformer or lights - doing so will create a fire hazard and should not be done. Transformers are designed to work at specific voltage and frequencies (60Hz) and should never be connected to a mismatched power source.

If I am missing your question, please provide a "bigger picture" of what you have and what you are trying to do.

I hope this helps & good luck!

This switch is designed to dim incandescent lamps. It has nothing in its description about being used with CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) types. If you are attempting to dim standard CFL types, it will not work.

CFL's are available in both dim-able and standard types. As you may have guessed, only those marked as "dim-able" will work with a dimmer switch. Dim-able CFLs cost slightly more than standard CFLs but may be controlled by any switch. Dimmer switches may only control incandescent and other type lamps that specifically state they are compatible with dimmer switches.

If you are attempting to dim incandescent lamps, make sure that you are not trying to dim lamps with a total wattage greater than the dimmer can handle. Most dimmer switches are rated for 600 watts, if you have two dimmer switches under one wall plate, the wattage rating drops to about 500 watts. This de-rating is because of the heat the switches create. There are dimmer switches that can dim more than 600 watts, but the price skyrockets for a 1000 watt dimmer, and keeps climbing.

If your wattage is within the limits of the dimmer, check the bulbs. If they are ok, the dimmer may have failed and require replacement.

If you found my reply helpful, please rate it "4 thumbs up". Good luck & thanks!

I have spent considerable time on the Lutron site past couple days looking at their dimmers.

Lutron has a lot of dimmer varieties. The basic breakdown is 600Watt and 1000Watt. But different dimmers control different types of lighting.
Here is the long list of Lutron dimmer manuals:
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http://www.lutron.com/Service-Support/Technical/InstallationInstructions/Pages/InstallationInstructions.aspx?syst=Dimmers+%26+Switches&prodn=Maestro%C2%AE+dimmer+%26+switch


I cannot find a specific troubleshoot manual for Lutron dimmers
So I suggest 4 things:
1) Feel the dimmer switch for heat >>> if it is getting hot (not warm), then that dimmer is dangerous, so remove dimmer immediately, add up your total bulb wattage to make sure you're below the 600 or 1000 watt capacity of you model dimmer
2) Look at the list of manuals shown at link, and make sure your dimmer matches the type of bulb you are using. Your dimmer model number and wattage should be printed on side or back of dimmer.
3) These dimmers use electronics to control the lights. Electronics go bad. The higher the wattage controlled by your dimmer, the more heat, and the shorter the dimmer life.
4) Short in the wires. Replace your dimmer with one from Home Depot and see if the condition persists. If it does, then a short is probably somewhere in that circuit. Troubleshooting a short is another long answer that needs more wiring detail ... please repost if you have a short.

As a general rule, grounding will not affect operation of dimmer.
Type of dimmer, type of switch being replaced, type of load, and how you connect wires will affect dimmer.

Here is Lutron dimmer switch page
http://www.lutron.com/Products/StandAloneControls/Dimmers-Switches/Pages/DimmersSwitches.aspx

What is the load? Are you wiring dimmer to a ballast? Or fan? Or incandescent lights? Or florescent lights?
Are you replacing a 2-way or 3-way switch?
What color are your dimmer wires?
How many wires were connected to switch?
Can you re-install the switch, and know where each wire went?
Did you replace a light with a fan, and then want the dimmer to slow the fan? Not every dimmer will work with a fan, or florescent lights.
Dimmers cannot dim LED lights.

If I know what type switch you are replacing, and the type of load you want to control, and the specific dimmer you have, I can answer the question.

The dimmer normally controls a light which is 100 watts or so. The dimmer is rated for only so much load.It is only a fire hazard if the dimmer is overloaded by a fan and light that draws alot of current. Some fans have a light and 2 pull chains,one for fan speed and another for the light itself.There is usually only one power source for the fan.If it is a split design,then the light can be run off the dimmer,and the fan off of the switch. If you want to vary the fan speed with the dimmer ,make sure it is rated for at least the load rating.

you must have an led dimming controller also wired to grxtvi 0-10v

If the low voltage lighting system uses an electronic transformer, then a dimmer designed for this type of transformer should be used. Likewise, if the low voltage lighting system uses a magnetic transformer, then a dimmer designed for this type of transformer should be used.