I bought the Leviton DZMX1-1LZ with a VP00R-10Z remote for use in my kitchen for LED can lights. I installed it yesterday, and I have horrible buzzing from the cans when dimmed. This switch and remote was recommended because it is the most compatible and users reported the least issues. I am stuck now. I tested out an Insteon dimmer and it worked without an issue. I don’t want to buy the PLM and set up a secondary Insteon network with the vera. I read that it is too much of a hassle.
Can anyone comment on this and perhaps recommend something that will work?
Please do not double post. It is frowned upon by many on this forum.
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php?topic=31529.0
Sorry about that. I thought they were two different questions: one about PLM compatibility, and this one a specific compatibility with the LEDs and switch I have. Deleted the other post, as I am determined to get this to work with z-wave.
Alas, I did some digging and found the original box on amazon.
This lists several leviton and lutron switches that work with this. Maybe it will give someone a clue about why my dimmer pair has an issue dimming.
EDIT: After looking at the back of the box, it lists all dimmers that are magnetic low voltage. Could this be the key to getting my LEDs to work? Could someone chime in? (Looking at the VRMX1-1LZ). Conversely, could someone identify the model numbers and what is the same dimmer as stated compatible but with a z-wave chip?
Your post’s title states that the dimmer is buzzing, but the post content says that the bulbs are buzzing. What follows is based on the assumption that it is indeed the bulbs and not the switch itself that are buzzing.
Although the DZMX1-1LZ is a magnetic low voltage(MLV) dimmer. Though these MLV dimmers typically work with most dimmable LED bulbs, there are some cheap LED bulbs that may be incompatible and will buzz or get hot. It would seem that your bulbs fall into this category.
Those bulbs and this switch will never work together. Your choices are to replace the switches or replace the bulbs. I would recommend replacing the bulbs, but the choice is yours. Depending on how many bulbs you have already installed, it may not be economically feasible to replace them all.
The LED bulb’s packaging states that it has been tested to work with the Leviton IPI06. This is a standard rheostat type incandescent dimmer. The Z-Wave equivalent is the Leviton VRI06-1LZ. I would normally recommend against using this incandescent dimmer with LED bulbs, but it may be worth testing for your case.
Great observation. I have to check if the switch or the bulb buzzes. I have a feeling it’s the bulbs not the dimmer.
I will try the new recommended dimmer and see how it works. Changing the bulbs may be inconvenient since I bought many of these for the entire home.
EDIT: what would be the negative of using the incandescent dimmer if it works with this bulb?
[quote=“rockstar0215, post:5, topic:186681”]EDIT: what would be the negative of using the incandescent dimmer if it works with this bulb?[/quote]If it works, there is no negative. The risk is that sometimes the incandescent dimmer doesn’t work well with LED loads. There is flickering, or an inability to turn off, or some problem, especially if the total load is under 40 watts.
Having said that, many people on this forum have reported success with the Leviton incandescent dimmer and LED bulbs. So you might have success, and since the bulb manufacturer claims that the bulb is tested with a Leviton IPI06, I think you could have success with the VRI06-1LZ.
Buying these LED retrofit kits is causing me an expensive mistake. Should have checked with the forums…
What do you think of trying the VRMX1-1LZ switch first. People tend to have a more positive response to this than the DZMX1-1LZ I currently have. Going the incandescent route would be even worse because then when I finally replace the LEDs, then I will have to replace the switch too.
This brings me to the last method: replacing all LED can lights at home. I am reading that CREE CR or DR series retrofit kits work great with the VRMX1-1LZ or others just mention that they work with ‘all sort of leviton dimmers.’ Does this include the DZMX1 switch I have? Home depot has a good sale on CREE retrofit kits now and I want to take advantage of that. I only care about no buzzing and no flickering. Some users report the inability to dim under 5%. That’s irrelevant to me because the lowest I will dim is probably 35-50%.
[quote=“rockstar0215, post:7, topic:186681”]What do you think of trying the VRMX1-1LZ switch first. People tend to have a more positive response to this than the DZMX1-1LZ I currently have.[/quote]I think that the two are electrically the same in the way that they do dimming(leading/trailing edge phase cutting) and they will behave the same for you, not working with your bulb choice. Although, I have not tested them for myself to verify this.
This brings me to the last method: replacing all LED can lights at home. I am reading that CREE CR or DR series retrofit kits work great with the VRMX1-1LZ or others just mention that they work with 'all sort of leviton dimmers.' Does this include the DZMX1 switch I have?
The Cree bulbs are excellent and I feel that they will work for you. I have tested them with numerous switches and they have worked well with all of them so far. However, it would seem prudent to test the bulbs and switches that you want to use before buying a large batch and installing them, again.