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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: cwickham on February 08, 2017, 08:16:39 am

Title: Installing a dimmer for led light strips
Post by: cwickham on February 08, 2017, 08:16:39 am
Have any of you installed a dimmer switch for your led light strips. I have replace the window rope lighting with led light strips. I want to install a dimmer to tone down the briteness.

Thank You
Craig
Title: Re: Installing a dimmer for led light strips
Post by: RvTrvlr on February 08, 2017, 08:26:25 am
I useddash light dimmers from a modern car at the junkyard as dimmers for my interior lights. Got them for $2 each at the "u pick it"  and they work great.
Title: Re: Installing a dimmer for led light strips
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on February 08, 2017, 08:57:10 am
The dimmer linked below was recommended by Roger & Susan in Home2.  See their old posts for details.

Amazon.com: LEĀ® Mini Remote Controller for Single Color LED Strip Lights, RF... (http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Controller-Wireless-Control-Dimmable/dp/B00MHKCTLE?ie=UTF8&tag=foreforums-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957)

I see this "same" item is offered on Amazon by numerous sellers - don't know if they are all really the same.  Caveat emptor!
Title: Re: Installing a dimmer for led light strips
Post by: John Haygarth on February 08, 2017, 09:08:47 am
I used the King make rotary dimmer under cabinets for my led lites. You can get them at any rv parts store.
Worked good for 4 yrs now
JohnH
Title: Re: Installing a dimmer for led light strips
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on February 08, 2017, 09:26:29 am
Hi Craig.

LED dimmers...  I have tried maybe a dozen different ones now.  Some work much better than other and there are still morechoices.

This one is my favorite, we use it for all of the living room lighting.
On/Off set level and it remembers it.  Soft blue illumination when off so it is easy to find in the dark. $45. Pricey. In the main living room area.  Relay that shuts off left side ceiling lights when slide is in buzzed when dimming lights so I just bypassed it.

Amazon.com: ITC (21030-BKBNBK-DB) Black LED Digital Dimmer: Home & Kitchen (https://amazon.com/ITC-21030-BKBNBK-DB-Black-Digital-Dimmer/dp/B00K2MYPMU/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1486564010&sr=8-2&keywords=Itc+dimmer).

This one has a knob you turn from Off/On and then up to set level $25. This is a nice solid device.  I like the feel of this one. Imwired it in series with the normal on/off switch so I can set the level,and then just leave it.  Lights on and off with the switch.

Amazon.com: ITC (21005-DB) 100 Watt Dimmer Switch: Home & Kitchen (https://amazon.com/ITC-21005-DB-Watt-Dimmer-Switch/dp/B00L8KP16E/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1486564010&sr=8-1&keywords=Itc+dimmer).

The inline dimmer with a remote that Chuck referenced is a pretty good choice as well.  There are lots of these out there, most have more functions than you want.  Being able to set it at 25, 50, 75 or 100% is nice.  The only issue with these is that they apparently work on the same frequency.  I have not tried multiples to confirm this but have read in many places that if you uses several of them then you can't control them individually, they all want to do the same thing at the same time.  But if you have just ine and you don't normally lose small thing (like me) then try it out, they are cheap and if it doesn't work then try something else.

For window valence lighting, ceiling accent lighting, under counter or under cabinet lighting or edge of the awning lighting consider these.

Amazon.com: LED String Lights 33 ft with 100 LEDs, TaoTronics Waterproof... (https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00GUDMO78/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

They come in different lengths.  Little micro LEDs spaced further apart, waterproof.  They use a 110v adapter for 5v dc and are not supposed to be cut.

Roger
Title: Re: Installing a dimmer for led light strips
Post by: Dick S on February 08, 2017, 12:59:55 pm
I used these: 5Pcs Mini 12V 3 Key Dimmer Single Color Controller for 5050 3528 LED Light... (http://www.ebay.com/itm/5Pcs-Mini-12V-3-Key-Dimmer-Single-Color-Controller-for-5050-3528-LED-Light-Strip-/172375082758?hash=item28225b0706:g:lGwAAOSw-CpYATKt)

They are available from eBay. The ones I got were $3.98 for 5. They have three buttons; I could only get two to work, but no matter I only wanted the dimmer button to work and it does. Several levels of brightness, we choose the lowest level.

Delivery from Hong Kong or where ever is slow, be patient.

Dick
Title: Re: Installing a dimmer for led light strips
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on February 08, 2017, 01:30:24 pm
I've tried a couple of dimmers but the lights are still to bright for me.

Is there a LED dimmer out there that will dim to "OFF"?
Title: Re: Installing a dimmer for led light strips
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on February 08, 2017, 01:36:44 pm
At some point the LEDs will quit emitting light even if there is still power to them.  The first one I mentioned above dims our living room lights significantly.  The one with a knob will shut them off if you keep turning it.  Higher Kelvin temp LEDs (cool white) may never get to where they are acceptable for evening ambiance lighting. The dimmer Chuck mentioned from an earlier post of mine will goto 25%.