Can a standard wall dimmer switch control under cabinet halogen lights (puck lights)?
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12v or 120v lights?
I haven't bought yet. I guess I'm asking because I would prefer to be able to control the lights from the dimmer, what are the best lights for this application?
Sorry about the double post. I couldn't see my original and I even did a search for it and nothing came up. So I reposted.
persistant today ..........and before everyone else gets the chance.......look at Xenon lamps in place of Halogen
Edited 3/8/2006 4:53 pm by maddog3
Any good online sources for Xenon lights?
check here ...
http://www.pegasusassociates.com/XenonLineVoltTaskLights.jspnice site
Great site, thanks.
From the website...
"Dimmable: hard wire Xenon Task Lights are fully dimmable. The cord & plug Task Lights are NOT dimmable. "
What's the difference between hard-wired and plug-in when refering to the ability to dim a light?
dimmer mfrs. installation instructions warn against dimming anything other than permanent fixtures.....IOW do not wire a dimmer to a receptacle... who knows what could get plugged into it later on.........the cord connected fixtures should pe plugged into a tabletop dimmer
If it doesn't show, I make sawdust, not sparks ;)
"who knows what could get plugged into it later on....."
That makes sense to me. So I'll plug into a switched outlet and add a dimmer for the lights.
thanks
anytime......
There is another restriction.If they are low voltage then they use either a (magnetic) transformer or a switching power supply (electronic transformer). Standard dimmers don't alwasy work well them and there is a different version for the magnetic and the electronic transformers, and cost much more.But often a standard dimmer works OK anyway.
The Kichler under-counter xenon lights are very nice. Pricey though. They are fully dimmable. They run much cooler than halogen.
Here is one source:
http://www.elights.com/uncablig.html
ditto on xenon. burns cooler, bulbs last longer, cleaner light... puck lights often are available with a 3-stage dimmer (off, dim, bright, brightest), but it sounds like you want to be able to control the lights from a wall switch instead. I would think this shouldn't be a problem for line-voltage lights, but 12v might give you problems... Does the mfr website have any information??
Don't know if you're looking at any specific systems; I installed a set of HD halogens in my kitchen last year, and they're ok, but I wouldn't use them again. Outwater (http://www2.archpro.com/cgi-bin/worderc?confc=B2C) has what appears to be a good selection that I would definitely look at for future installations...
thanks torn ...Outwater always seems to be in the back of my thinking,but they have some good things
For low-voltage lights you'd need a dimmable transformer (not all are) and possibly a special type of dimmer.
happy?