Advice on Dimming LEDs

8 DOs and DON’Ts For Dimming Retrofit LEDs  LED lighting has already captured the imagination of consumers who are now are able to buy energy-saving lamps that look like the incandescent lamps they are replacing. Consumers are also expecting the dimming performance to be replicated and this is where a lack of information can lead to disappointing results. By making consumers aware of a few basic rules, their experience of dimmable LED lighting can be transformed. Here are our top tips for the getting the best out of retrofit dimmable LED lighting. 1. DO Choose “Dimmable” LEDs Our number one rule for successfully dimming LED lighting might sound obvious but it is a common misconception that any LED lights can be dimmed with an LED dimmer. In reality the driver circuitry must be designed with dimming in mind so it is essential to choose lamps that the manufacturer describes as “dimmable”. The lack of an industry standard for dimmable LED drivers has, though, led to a myriad of different approaches by lamp manufacturers, some more successful than others. TOP TIP: Choose “dimmable” lamps but be aware that this in itself is not a guarantee of a good dimming performance. However, it is a good starting point. 2. DO Stick to Recognised Brands There is a wide degree of variation in the dimming performance, under test, of LED lamps described as “dimmable”, with the achievable brightness range and stability of output being the most likely features to disappoint with unbranded lamps. Some manufacturers are happy to label their lamps as “dimmable” even if they can deliver only the slightest change in brightness. We recommend that customers choose lamps from established lighting manufacturers. Aside from dimming considerations, established brands are also more likely to offer better product warranties, longer lamp lifetimes and more customer support. TOP TIP: Stick to brand names that you can have confidence in and don’t be tempted to make false economies. 3. DO Read the Label To deliver a true retrofit comparison with incandescent lighting it is important to consider the brightness range. Significant advances have been made in recent years in LED lighting technology, leading to far higher lumens per watt being achieved, even for halogen-mimicking, warm-white lamps where lamp output is often compromised for the more familiar incandescent hue. There is little point in connecting a dimmer to an LED light if it is quite dim enough already and so this progress in the brightness of retrofit LED lamps has made dimming much more relevant. Brighter lamps can provide customers with a greater dimming range. TOP TIP: Read the label and select the dimmable lamps with the highest maximum lumen output. 4. DO Ask Manufacturers About Compatibility Most established lighting brands publish compatibility data on their websites. Dimmer switches from various brands are tested with various loads and the lamp performance graded. These grades are a useful reference point and can help in choosing a dimmer. It can be confusing though, when navigating the websites of international brands, to find dimmers listed that are not available in the UK. If in doubt contact the company to ask about their recommendations. TOP TIP: Manufacturers want customers to experience the full potential of their lamps and will often be happy to recommend the best dimmer switch to use. 5. DON’T Use a Standard Dimmer  Some lamps manufacturers may boast that their dimmable LED lighting can be controlled using a standard dimmer, but where this claim is borne out, it is likely to only be when some very narrow criteria are met. Standard dimmers will be under-loaded in most LED applications, exacerbating flickering and strobing effects, which in turn, can drastically shorten lamp lifetimes. Nor are standard dimmers equipped to exploit the full brightness range, resulting in a disappointing user experience. TOP TIP: Take claims of compatibility with standard dimmers with a pinch of salt.  6. DO Choose a Dimmer Designed for LED Lighting Sophisticated dimmers are available to deliver the best possible performance from dimmable LED lighting. Some, such as our V-Pro LED dimmer, have several dimming modes on board to enable smooth dimming across the diverse driver technologies in the market. The brightness output a lamp produces from the same power input varies markedly between brands. For this reason, Varilight LED dimmers have an adjustable minimum brightness setting to enable the user to access the full brightness range of a given lamp. An adjustable minimum brightness also ensures that any instability a lamp might exhibit at its lowest level of illumination can be avoided. TOP TIP: Dedicated LED dimmers are equipped to exploit an LED lamp’s full dimming potential, better replicating the dimming behaviour of an incandescent lamp. 7. DON’T Buy Your Lights Without First Selecting A Dimmer Like all dimmer switches, those designed for LED lighting have minimum and maximum load recommendations. Design your lighting installation to ensure you don’t exceed the maximum load of the dimmers available. Splitting the load across more than one dimmer could provide a solution and give greater control by allowing light levels to be zoned within a multi-functional space. Until recently it was difficult to find a dimmer capable of controlling more than 100W of LED lighting but the launch of our V-Com series has opened up the possibility of dimming much larger LED loads, up to 600W. TOP TIP: It’s important to select a dimmer capable of controlling the total wattage and quantity of the lamps you want to dim. 8. DO Read the Instruction Leaflet LED dimmers often come with features designed to enhance their performance but you may need to program the dimmer to access them. Don’t be tempted just to “plug and play” because you may be missing out of features that will give greater expression to your lighting. For example, enhanced scene-setting features within our V-Pro remote control dimmers can be unlocked by using the dedicated “LightScene” handset. For a visual walk through the programming procedure for V-Pro dimmers, visit www.varilight.co.uk/tv. TOP TIP: Read the instruction leaflet or risk missing out on features and benefits.  For more information on any of dimmer switches please visit our website, www.varilight.co.uk.

VARILIGHT is Presented With The Queen's Award for Enterprise

HRH The Duke of Kent Presents Varilight With The Queen's Award for Enterprise

As another busy year comes towards an end we were honoured last week to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent  to our head office in Faygate where we were presented with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The Queen's Award, in the category of Continuous Innovation, was given in recognition of our success in bringing innovation to the electrical wiring accessories market and, in particular, for our technological development in designing dimmer switches for LED lighting.

Our V-Pro LED dimmer has become a flagship product and raised the profile of the VARILIGHT brand, bringing with it increased interest in our entire range of decorative switches , sockets and dimmers, including our new V-Com series dimmers for larger LED lighting loads. 

As the UK's leading manufacturer of dimmer switches, we at VARILIGHT were the first to react to the requirement for a dimmer switch to control LED lighting. We undertook a complete redesign of the traditional dimmer switch to create our V-Pro series, which is equipped with features to optimise the dimming performance of LED lighting. For example, an adjustable minimum brightness setting enables the user to define the best dimming range for any given LED lighting load, eliminating flicker and exploiting the full dimming capability of individual LED light bulbs.

With our new V-Com series we aim to build on this success by addressing the increasing need to control larger LED lighting loads with options up to 600W. 

We were a previous winner of the award in 2006 and are delighted to have been honoured for a second time this year. The presentation was an opportunity for many of our staff to take a break from what has been an extremely busy December and share in the celebrations.

As we reflect on a successful year, I would like to thank you for your support and to wish you a very happy Christmas from all of us at Varilight.

New Advice for Dimming Halogen Lighting

With the current focus on LED lighting, it's easy to forget that millions of halogen lamps are still sold each year in the UK and their use remains widespread. Although halogen lamps are offered at low prices, there is a hidden cost from relatively high failure rates. 

Halogen lamp failures often occur when they are switched on rapidly by a conventional on/off switch but this issue can be overcome by using soft‐start dimmers. Soft-start dimmer switches gently increase the power supplied to a lamp when the dimmer is first turned on, allowing the lamp to warm up gradually, reducing failures caused by stress on halogen lamps when they are switched on. 

So, for the best results with halogen lighting, choose our V-Plus series intelligent dimmers which feature soft-start to regulate the power supplied when the dimmer is first switched on. V-Plus dimmers are suitable for both 1- and 2-way circuits. In a 2-way circuit the dimmer is used in conjunction with a regular switch but the soft‐start feature of the dimmer still regulates the power when the switch is used to turn on the lights. 

For large halogen loads, a new 1000 watt V-Plus dimmer is being added to our range. In white plastic, for example, the part number is IQP1001W. It is recommended that this dimmer is used in place of the HQ9W dimmer for halogen lighting. 

 All our touch and remote control dimmer series feature soft start and so are also suitable for halogen loads in 1-way and 2‐ or multi‐way circuits in conjunction with dimming slaves.

For 1-way circuits our V-Dim series rotary dimmers offer a budget solution for halogen lamps. Similar life‐prolonging benefits are achieved because rotary dimmers switch on at their lowest setting. This, in effect, creates a manual soft‐start for 1‐way circuits and so a new TQR1001W rotary dimmer rated at 1000 watt is being introduced to the V-Dim series. For more information on any of dimmer switches please visit our website, www.varilight.co.uk.

Decorative Architrave Switches from VARILIGHT

VARILIGHT's Classic Raised Profile Range has been expanded to include Architrave Switches in Matt Chrome, Mirror Chrome and Victorian Brass.

In addition to 10A 2-Way Rocker Switches with matching metal rockers, 10A 2-Way Toggle Switches are also available.

XSA1D -
2-Way Architrave Switch
in Matt Chrome

Product codes follow the usual convention with the first two letters denoting the finish (XS for Matt Chrome, XC for Mirror Chrome or XV for Victorian Brass) and the subsequent letters denoting the product type. For architrave rocker switches add "A1D" or for architrave toggle switches add "AT1". An example code, therefore, for a Matt Chrome Architrave Toggle Switch is XSAT1.

Use architrave switches alongside doorways or in any other location in the home where there is insufficient space to mount a standard sized switch.

V-Com LED Dimmer Options Up To 400W Now Available

V-Com dimmers are now available with options up to 400W for LED lighting installations in commercial or large residential projects.

V-Com is primarily targeted at commercial installations, such as offices where large numbers of dimmable LED panels are installed, but V-Com is equally at home controlling larger loads in a domestic environment, for example in rooms with more than the V-Pro series maximum load of 10 downlights.

Customers with larger installations can now order V-Com dimmers rated up to 400W of dimmable LED lighting. Just like V-Pro, V-Com series dimmers benefit from a programmable minimum brightness setting to deliver the best possible brightness range for a given LED load. In addition, intelligent overload protection and soft start features help extend product life.

KDBP401S - 1 Gang 400W V-Com Dimmer in Brushed Brass

V-Com dimmers are push-on/off with rotary dimming and are offered across the vast range of Varilight decorative finishes as well as standard white faceplates. The product codes for V-Com dimmers begin with the letter K.

For example, in Varilight Matt Chrome the code KSP401 is for a 1 Gang 2 Way 400W Dimmer. Similarly, a 2-Gang 2 Way 2 x 180W Dimmer in Classic White has the code KQP182W.

Grid versions of V-Com rated for up to 180W of dimmable LEDs are available for the Varilight PowerGrid range (code GKP180W for white plastic and GKP180S for brushed steel, for example). Varilight also offer a "multi-grid" version in white (GKP180W.MG) which is supplied with fascias suitable for MK, GET and Crabtree grid systems.

For more information or to order V-Com dimmers please contact your Varilight supplier.

1-10V Control Grid Dimmers from VARILIGHT

Varilight's grid dimmer switch offer continues to grow with the addition of F-series dimmers for high frequency ballasts or LED drivers requiring 1-10V control.

Each dimmer is designed to work with one or multiple ballasts / drivers up to 20mA. The mains switch is rated at 6A.

In the Varilight PowerGrid range these dimmers are available in white (GFP1M1W) and black plastic (GFP1M1B) as well as brushed steel (GFP1M1S) and polished chrome (GFP1M1C) decorative finishes.

A multi-grid option in white (GFP1M1W.MG) is also available which is compatible with MK, GET and Crabtree grid systems.

In addition to grid variants, F-series 1-10V control dimmers are also available across all the Varilight finishes. In the classic white plastic range the part code is FQP1M1W.

http://www.varilight.co.uk/dimmers/specialist-dimmers.html

VARILIGHT Wins Queen's Award for Innovation 2015

VARILIGHT RECEIVES THE QUEEN'S AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE IN RECOGNITION OF ITS CONTINUOUS INNOVATION

British electrical wiring accessory and dimmer switch manufacturer Doyle and Tratt Products Ltd, better known by its brand name VARILIGHT, has been named winner of the Queen's Award for Enterprise, the UK's highest accolade for business success, for the second time.

The Queen's Award was awarded to VARILIGHT in the category of Continuous Innovation in recognition of its success in bringing innovation to the wiring accessory market and, in particular, for its technological development in designing dimmer switches for LED lighting.

VARILIGHT's LED dimmer technology has brought significant growth to its business over the past two years, a trend that looks set to continue with the rapidly growing uptake in LED lighting from lighting designers, and increasingly householders.

As the UK's leading manufacturer of dimmer switches, Varilight were the first to react to the requirement for a dimmer switch to control LED lighting. The company undertook a complete redesign of the traditional dimmer switch to create its V-Pro series, which is equipped with features to optimise the dimming performance of LED lighting. For example, an adjustable minimum brightness setting enables the user to define the best dimming range for any given LED lighting load, eliminating flicker and exploiting the full dimming capability of individual LED lightbulbs. VARILIGHT's new V-Com series builds on the company's success by addressing the increasing need to control larger LED lighting loads.

This accolade is the latest in a string of awards for VARILIGHT who, as pioneers in lighting and dimming technologies, have been lighting up the electrical industry for over forty years. During this time, there has been a constant need to re-evaluate the dimmer switch as new lighting technology has emerged; especially the recent generations of energy-saving light sources which have come to dominate the market. Varilight has led the way in lighting control with a series of technical innovations.

Doyle and Tratt's Varilight brand is synonymous with quality, choice, value and innovation not only in technology but also in leading the market in on-trend decorative finishes across a comprehensive range of wiring accessories.

"We are delighted to have been recognised for this most prestigious of awards," says company chairman, Tony Doyle. "The V-Pro LED dimmer has become our flagship product and raised the profile of the VARILIGHT brand, bringing with it increased interest in our entire range of decorative dimmers, switches and sockets. With a new European range and other export initiatives, we are well-positioned to build on our success in the UK as we introduce our world class LED dimmer switches to international markets."

DOYLE AND TRATT PRODUCTS LTD 

 

Doyle and Tratt Products Ltd is a leading British manufacturer of dimmer switches and decorative switches and sockets, under the Varilight brand, supplying the International and UK retail markets, the trade and OEMs. The Horsham-based business has been manufacturing dimmer switches since its conception in 1972. Over the decades, VARILIGHT has met the challenges presented by new lighting technologies by continuing to evolve its range to deliver superior control of challenging loads such as dimmable LEDs. VARILIGHT's LED dimmer range now includes remote control dimmers with scene-setting capabilities. In recognition of innovation in lighting and lighting control, VARILIGHT was a previous winner of the Queen's Award in 2006, the inaugural winner of the "Innovation in Lighting Design" award at 100% Design in 2007 and a "Decade of Design" finalist at the Lighting Design Awards in 2012. Doyle and Tratt Products was also awarded the "Movers and Shakers" award by Decision magazine in 2015.

www.varilight.co.uk

THE QUEEN'S AWARDS

 

The Queen's Awards are made annually by Her Majesty The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an Advisory Committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions. They are announced annually on 21 April, the Queen's birthday and awarded to businesses for outstanding achievement in International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development.

Winners of the Queen's Awards can expect an invitation to attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace and use The Queen's Award emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of five years as a symbol of their quality and success.

www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise

Please contact Sandra Forte at Shere Marketing on 07791 627368 or email sandraf@sheremarketing.co.uk

VARILIGHT Grid Dimmers for Multiple Grid Systems

VARILIGHT's superior dimming technology is now available as a multi-grid (.MG) dimmer option for MK, GET and Crabtree grid systems. Each grid dimmer is supplied with a selection of three grid fascias for compatibility with the various systems. A moulded spanner is also supplied for ease of fitting.

Of particular interest to installers will be the availability of the market-leading VARILIGHT V-Pro and V-Com LED dimmers as grid options for multiple grid systems. Choose VARILIGHT V-Pro (product code GJP100W.MG) for between 1 and 10 dimmable LEDs per dimmer (up to a maximum of 100W). For larger LED loads up to 180W, choose the V-Com multi-grid dimmer (product code GKP180W.MG).

In addition to V-Pro, multi-grid dimmers are also available from VARILIGHT's V-Dim series, which is suitable for incandescent lighting, including halogen and dimmable electronic transformers. Choose product code GP400W.MG for up to 400W. Other multi-grid options now available from VARILIGHT now include an F-series dimmer for multiple 1 to 10V high-frequency ballasts or LED drivers (GFP1M1W.MG) and an new on/off only module for non-dimmable loads (GH0W.MG).

Customers are reminded that a full range of grid dimmers, switches and fuse holders are available in the VARILIGHT PowerGrid grid system. PowerGrid is available with low profile white, steel or chrome grid faceplates (with mini fixing screws) which coordinate with VARILIGHT Screwless wiring accessories.

V-Com Series - LED Dimmers for Larger Loads

Choose V-Com Series Dimmers for High Wattage LED Loads

To complement the popular V-Pro dimmer series for 1 to 10 dimmable LEDs, where a maximum load of 100W is recommended, VARILIGHT is launching an entirely new dimmer technology, called V-Com, which is capable of controlling higher wattage LED loads.

V-Com is primarily targeted at commercial installations, such as offices where large numbers of dimmable LED panels are installed, but V-Com is equally at home controlling larger loads in a domestic environment, for example in rooms with more than the V-Pro series maximum load of 10 downlights.

Customers with larger installations can now order V-Com dimmers rated up to 220W of dimmable LED lighting (180W on multi-gang and grid). A 400W version is also in the final stages of development. Just like V-Pro, V-Com series dimmers benefit from a programmable minimum brightness setting to deliver the best possible brightness range for a given LED load. In addition, intelligent overload protection and soft start features help extend product life.

KSP221 - 1 Gang 220W V-Com Series Dimmer in Matt Chrome

V-Com dimmers are push-on/off with rotary dimming and are offered across the vast range of Varilight decorative finishes as well as standard white faceplates. The product codes for V-Com dimmers begin with the letter K.

For example, in Varilight Matt Chrome the code KSP221 is for a 1 Gang 2 Way 220W Dimmer. Similarly, a 2-Gang 2 Way 2 x 180W Dimmer in Classic White has the code KQP182W.

Grid versions of V-Com rated for up to 180W of dimmable LEDs are available for the Varilight PowerGrid range (code GKP180W for white plastic and GKP180S for brushed steel, for example). Varilight also offer a "multi-grid" version in white (GKP180W.MG) which is supplied with fascias suitable for MK, GET and Crabtree grid systems.

For more information or to order V-Com dimmers please contact your Varilight supplier. 

USB Charging Sockets from VARILIGHT with Port Optimisation

With the proliferation of devices occupying our homes, access to power sockets has become an increasingly frustrating issue. Varilight's new USB charging sockets offer a neat solution. Many phones and tablets are now supplied with USB charging cables but until now this meant booting up a PC or laptop to charge the devices or buying plug-in adapters.

XS5U2B - USB Charging Socket Matt Chrome (Stainless Steel)

Now with the addition of USB charging sockets to Varilight's range of decorative wiring accessories, double sockets are available with two USB charging ports in Classic Raised Profile, Ultraflat and Low Profile Screwless plate styles and many decorative finishes.

Faster Charging

Charging times can be improved if USB charging ports are optimised for the type of device that is connected.

XDQ5U2WS  - USB Charging Socket Premium White Screwless

Port Optimisation

Although either port can be used for any compatible device, Varilight USB charging sockets have ports optimised for Apple* and non-Apple devices so that a wide variety of phones and tablets can be charged at optimum speeds.

Further improvements in charging times can be made by connecting to only one of the USB ports at a time.

Double Pole 13A Sockets

The two 13A socket outlets are unaffected by the addition of the USB ports and can be used in the usual way with no impact on the devices connected.

* Apple is a trademark of Apple Inc.

Varilight TV Channel Launched

Varilight has launched a new video channel, called Varilight TV, on the YouTube platform. A series of "How To" videos will be released to help customers get the most from Varilight's extensive range of dimmer switches, switches, sockets and transformers. The first video is already available on the channel and demonstrates how to program Varilight V-Pro dimmers to optimise the performance of LED lighting.

"There are many aspects of our products that are easier to demonstrate in a video format than either in print or over the telephone," explains Andrew Wilson, Commercial Manager at Varilight. "The new Varilight TV channel gives us the opportunity to connect with our customers in a new and exciting way."

"Our first video explains how to access the programming functions of the Varilight V-Pro dimmer to optimise the performance of a given LED lighting load. Customers are shown how to select the most suitable dimming mode and adjust the minimum brightness setting of the dimmer to deliver the best possible dimming range from their dimmable LED lights".

Varilight TV can be viewed on the Varilight website or on the dedicated channel on YouTube.

Red or Blue? "Top of the League" Dimmers, Switches and Sockets from VARILIGHT

Whether your colours are nailed to the mast for footballing reasons or you just want to make a bold design statement, choosing the new Pillarbox Red and Reflex Blue additions to VARILIGHT's Lily range of wiring accessories guarantees a great finish. The new colours complement the retro, curved-edge, raised-profile faceplates of the British Made Lily range perfectly. 

Bold colours are all the rage and the new VARILIGHT finishes will coordinate with the colourful household appliances, soft furnishings and decorative accessories currently favoured by interior designers and widely available on the high street. 
 
Pillarbox Red switches and sockets are paired with black inserts and Reflex Blue with white.To order from the Lily range please use the following product code format. For example to order a 1-Gang 2-Way Switch in Reflex Blue use product code XY1W.RB
 

For Pillarbox Red, the "W" in the ocde is replaced by "B" for black and the ".RB" replaced with ".PR". So use product code XY1B.PR for the 1-Gang 2-Way Switch in Pillarbox Red.

A range of retro pastel colours are also available in VARILIGHT's Lily Range all paired with white inserts: Rose Pink (.RP), Duck-Egg Blue (.DB), White Chocolate (.WC) and Beryl Green (.BG).