Fibaro Dimmer Type?

[Guest gembrain]

Hi,

Can somebody clarify further what type of loads the Fibaro dimmer will work with?

Specifically is it leading edge or trailinf edge dimmer?

Thanks

[K.Bergmann 2]

Dimmer Can work with other loads than resistitive loads, but make sure that load current is no bigger then 1.8A.

[Guest gembrain]

Thanks, but is it a leading edge or trailing edge dimmer?

[K.Bergmann 2]

It is Leading Edge Dimmer

[smartronix 0]

mmm, this is confusing

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/emoticons/default_icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" /> As far as i know universal dimmers, will set there output depending on the load thats attached. So they can switch between leading an trailing edge . Always be aware that you never put a mix of different type off lights, it will damage youre lights or dimmer. i.e. a LED type and a halogen type on one dimmer.

Also remember that the minimum load has to be 25w. or youre lights will be like a twinkeling star

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/emoticons/default_icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":mrgreen:" /> i.e. 3 x LED 4W. is not enough for good functioning of the dimmer.

[Guest gembrain]

Hi Smartronix,

The question of what works well with LED bulbs is indeed a minefield!

I have a test set up with 2 * 5w mains GU10 dimmable LEDs - they flicker with a leading edge dimmer but not with a trailing edge.

Also different dimmers have different minimum loads - 25w is not a required minimum. some are fine with 10w.

LED drivers also have different minimum loads. Some are quite happy with just one 4w bulb.

From what I have read a trailing edge dimmer is generally far more successful with LED bulbs than a leading edge.

I have yet to try out the Fibaro dimmer modules as I'm still waiting for the system to settle down before buying everything...

[HansW 1]

Hello, not sure why a combo of bulb types would be bad news for the dimmer.

Yesterday I connected 6 x GU10 LED (Philips Master, 4W) to a Fibaro dimmer module. Didn't work at all. Then I attached the Fibaro Dimmer bypass, no change, no luck..

So I added a 25W halogen bulb and that worked fine. And this didn't surpise me... Nor does it woryy me that it may damage the dimmer. Why should I?, I imagine its just a less 'complex' load compared to either just LEDs or LEDs with bypass..

I have quite some background in electronics but knowledge is indeed a bit outdated. Grateful if anyone can tell what the bypass device actually does?

Cheers,

Hans

[K.Bergmann 2]

First of all our dimmer is compatibile to the most popular conventional transformer, some bulbs have the electronic transformer designed to dim by the trailing edge dimmer. We can not guarantee that this kind of the bulbs will work fine with our dimmer, because in fact they are incompatibile.

[smartronix 0]

Hello Hans,

Why does youre setup with the 6 Philips masterleds and the Fibaro dimmer not work?

I have the same configuration in my home and it works very good!

In the beginning i didn't use the dimmer bypass and i had a lot of flickering, but now with bypass its over.

I also had a test running with a combo of different bulbs (mix of led and halogen) this costs me a led bulb.

and the next test with an other mix costs me also a ledbulb. Now for almost a half year i use only the 6 ledbulbs and everything works just fine.

I stay with my point not to use a mix of led and halogen or any other type of lightsource.

regards,

Emiel

[HansW 1]

Hi Smartronix,

That is odd. Just to be sure we have same Leds. I use Philips Master LEDspot MV, 4Watt, Dimmable.

I have two arrays of 6, each with an own Fibaro dimmer module. I tested with one array and it only accepted either 0% or 100%. A little nervous on/off maybe, would not call it flikkering.

I will do some more tests and attempt to figure out whats going on here.

No broken Leds so far. Don't expect that to happen but then, I'm definitely not so sure of myself anymore since I started this zzwave journey

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/emoticons/default_icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" />

Cheers,

Hans

[Guest gembrain]

Hi Hans,

Your Phillips Master LED MV bulbs have specific electronics to make them work properly with phase cut leading edge dimmers so they should be fine with the Fibaro dimmer.

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Are you quite sure you have the fibaro bypass wired correctly? As far as I can see it is basically there to provide an additional load to the dimmer so that the circuit load meets the dimmer's minimum load requirements.

Best,

Nigel

[HansW 1]

Gembrain,

Many thanks for that information. Indeed is says that I should be ok with Masterspot MV, even without a bypass..

I checked 2nd array of 6 spots, without additional load or bypass. It just 'switches' between on and off...

I was just thinking of my next move.. Well, I've connected the Fibaro in 3-wire mode, eg L, N and output. Tomorrow I will change that and see what happens if I connect it in 2-wire mode. That's probably what most people do and perhaps makes a difference..

The Fibaro Bypass. It definitely is more than just a resistive load otherwise it would get red hot. Just think of it how it would feel if such a small device has to dissipate say 10 Watt or so... I studied electronics but that was many moons ago and I can't think of any clever semiconductor or so that would do the trick in one go. What I guess is that indeed it acts as a load but it switches off when current exceeds a particular value. It then waits for the next cycle and does its job again. Can't be too difficult and some 12 Euro feels quite hefty for such a device. But if it works and helps I be fine with that. If not I will be disappointed and thats bad news for that tiny bypass bugger.

Cheers,

Hans

[HansW 1]

I’m not sure if I should feel embarrassed about what I have to report here now. Help if you wish.. Truth of the matter is that it works fine provided you use 2-wire mode and the Bypass (

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/emoticons/default_icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" /> as per drawing I found on EzHome webpage..).

In 2-wire mode without the Bypass it already ‘tried’ to dim the 6 Master MV Leds. Not very successful, quite some flickering. Perhaps overall load is not ok (6 x 4 = 24 Watt) then just yet.

Then this wonderful Bypass, good stuff. This is what I paid for. It’s going to live along with its brother!

Cheers,

Hans

[Guest KubaW]

Try changing parameter #20 to 135-140 (advanced configuration). It's the official recomended settings for Phillips Master LEDs.

[smartronix 0]

Hi Hans,

I have to confirm i use the same LED lights from Philips.

Good to see you figured it out. Do i understand right that it doesn't work in 3 wire setup?

Only in 2 wire? weird, i always thought it should work better with a Nul wire connected.

You understand my set up is in 2 wire

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/emoticons/default_icon_razz.gif" alt=":-P" /> Never found the energy to pull the 3th wire to the switch

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/emoticons/default_icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" />

now i'll try the setting of parameter 20 also, i never took a lot of attention to that parameter, but it could be a solution for the flickering, thats sometimes occurs. ( or its because of powerdip in the electricitygrid)

Emiel

[HansW 1]

Great info KubaW, many thanks!! Also thanks Emiel for confirming and sharing experience.

The Bypass did work initially but in the evening I noticed the 2-wire with Bypass was not so stable.

Today I changed Parameter 20 and that definitely improved. But all in all I believed the earlier 3-wire setup with 25W conventional load worked best. So I moved to this configuration again. And when I reverted also Parameter 20 value back to 110 it got worse. So net result: I have two arrays and they act just a little different with various settings but in 3-wire mode, with additional ‘conventional bulb’ load and parameter 20 on 137.. then it works like a dream for both arrays. I’m happy with this setup and leave it to this. Perhaps I will play with it a little more later but for now I have a few other zzwave issues to clear.

Please note that I will keep on calling it zzwave until my plug modules just wake up when they get a HC2 command, eg when they are not pseudo dead (sleeping) anymore.. No harm to have some fun with zzwave, right?

Cheers,

Hans

[smartronix 0]

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[Lauri 6]

Hello,

I have another problem with Fibaro Dimmer modules. First is, I have regular bulb in my bedroom and Dimmer installed behind wall switch. If I turn off the light, then I can hear quiet whining sound coming from lamp. If I remove bulb - it stops. Does it mean that there is some voltage still?

Second problem, caused by dimmer module. I installed this to my bathroom fan, and again - if I switch it 100% off, the fan still rotates and makes sound as it is still powered.

How can I fix this?

Lauri

[JohnnyC 7]

Hi lauri,

What type of light fitting do you have (halogen?) It is possibly the transformer if there is one

[Lauri 6]

Hi lauri,

What type of light fitting do you have (halogen?) It is possibly the transformer if there is one

Hi,

Yes, it is halogen, 60w one bulb.