Dimmer controlling Hot Tub Star Field (e.g. LED christmas lights)

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

Here’s a good one i’m sure someone can answer ASAP.

I have a hot tub sitting under a covered porch that had an overhead light, controlled by an on/off switch inside. I had this grand vision of building one of those fiber optic star fields above it, until I saw the price. ::slight_smile:

In a moment of self-proclaimed brilliance, I removed the light bulb from the fixture, and put in a screw-in socket. From that, I stapled multiple connected strings of icicle lights hanging down from the ceiling. Looked great, but was too bright. So I replaced the switch with a cheap old dial style dimmer I had laying around… and it actually worked. Not perfect, but it does dim the LED xmas lights… goes from %100 to %50… then down from there pretty well.

Fast forward to my new Zwave project, and though I might create a scene with those lights (and Sonos with outdoor speakers, etc.). I hooked up a GE dimmer to the socket, and it didn’t work. LED xmas lights were on at about 50%, and wouldn’t dim in either direction, or turn off.

My non-electrician guess is that this may have something to do with the load sensing of the LEDs, and thus it won’t work. But I thought you all might (a) know why this is happening, and (b), have an alternative idea?

2

  1. The Christmas light LEDs are probably not specifically designed to be dimmable. This is important and you should not dim LEDs that are not specifically designed to be dimmable. That you “got away wit it so far” does not mean you should continue to do it.

  2. The GE dimmer does not utilize a neutral wire and this has proven to be problematic when dimming LEDs that are designed as dimmable. When using an LED that is meant to be dimmable, you should use a Z-Wave dimmer that utilizes a neutral wire like Linear/Evolve.

With a standard On/Off switch, you might be able to get your desired brightness by removing some of the bulbs form your Christmas light string or replacing the string with a dimmer one.

3

Building on Z-Waver’s post, you could also try a regular z wave on/off switch and install a rheostat in series with the lights. Essentially the same circuit you created with the first dimmer.

4

thanks guys.

@Z Waver, i feel i should start paying you a consultation fee! ;D

5

I would try not to be offended. :wink:

You’re welcome.