Dimmable Daylight LED Strip Lights

Irish_Tom

Irish_Tom

Irish_Tom

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
15,244
Hi everyone,

I'm looking to replace the LED strip lights under my kitchen cabinets but I'd like them to be dimmable from the wall switch like the downlights.

I've found LED strips that can be dimmed via a remote or an inline dimmer but this isn't what I'm after.

I assume I'll need to replace the drivers for dimmable-compatible drivers too, but I'm struggling to find much useful information.

Has anyone got any experience with this who can point me in the right direction?
 
eddiemcgarrigle said:
Philips Hue. Dim the lights from your phone or use of of their dimming switches. Expensive but work extremely well.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion but I don't really want to go down the smart lighting route at the moment.

For now, I just need a dumb solution that allows me to dim the lights from a wall switch.
 
Its cheaper and easier to just use Hue and a hue wall switch probably.
Are your existing lights powered from the light circuit? If not running your cabinet lights from a traditional wall dimmer will require proper installation, cables chasing into walls, acquisition of neutral to the lights which will probably involve chasing down from the ceiling as most houses have no neutral at the switch. You'll also need to ensure your light circuits are RCD protected if you intend to do this work yourself.
 
200sols said:
Its cheaper and easier to just use Hue and a hue wall switch probably.
Are your existing lights powered from the light circuit? If not running your cabinet lights from a traditional wall dimmer will require proper installation, cables chasing into walls, acquisition of neutral to the lights which will probably involve chasing down from the ceiling as most houses have no neutral at the switch. You'll also need to ensure your light circuits are RCD protected if you intend to do this work yourself.
Click to expand...
I already have RGB LED strip lights under the cabinets which are controlled by the wall switch (on/off) and an IR remote (colour/dim adjustment).

So I assumed I could just replace the switch for a dimmer, change the driver for a dimmable driver and replace the LED strips using the existing wiring. Is that not the case?
 
I'd make sure you buy a dimmer from the same place so that you can confirm that the combination will not flicker at all.

significant problem for me, for dumb downlights, is finding dimmer+bulb combinations that dim to all levels without flickering.
 
jpaul said:
I'd make sure you buy a dimmer from the same place so that you can confirm that the combination will not flicker at all.

significant problem for me, for dumb downlights, is finding dimmer+bulb combinations that dim to all levels without flickering.
Click to expand...
Yep, good shout. Been there with downlights before.
 
So @eddiemcgarrigle and @200sols were right.

I've had a quote from downlightsdirect (who have been very helpful, I have to say) and it's only £50 under the cost to do it with full-price Hue kit, never mind the discounted prices that you often get with Hue.

So I think I'm going to bide my time, save some pennies and wait for a Hue sale.
 
Have a quick look at IKEA. When I did my kitchen I opted for full cabinet underlighting, and it simply plugs into mains. It then has a remote that you use for 'dumb' dimming. They're full size lights that cover the base of the cabinet and look great. They also remember the dim setting, so I have mine on a smart plug that turns them on, then refine dimming with the switch if required (once every month or so I guess I get the urge to tweak).
 
dLockers said:
Have a quick look at IKEA. When I did my kitchen I opted for full cabinet underlighting, and it simply plugs into mains. It then has a remote that you use for 'dumb' dimming. They're full size lights that cover the base of the cabinet and look great. They also remember the dim setting, so I have mine on a smart plug that turns them on, then refine dimming with the switch if required (once every month or so I guess I get the urge to tweak).
Click to expand...
Those full-size lights look good actually. It's a shame they only come in 3000k!
 
Irish_Tom said:
Those full-size lights look good actually. It's a shame they only come in 3000k!
Click to expand...
I was really impressed. I basically ordered my kitchen blind from them using the configurator. The only glitch was they only do 800mm, 600mm and 400mm width and I have one cabinet that is 300mm. :rolleyes:
 
Irish_Tom said:
Hi everyone,

I'm looking to replace the LED strip lights under my kitchen cabinets but I'd like them to be dimmable from the wall switch like the downlights.

I've found LED strips that can be dimmed via a remote or an inline dimmer but this isn't what I'm after.

I assume I'll need to replace the drivers for dimmable-compatible drivers too, but I'm struggling to find much useful information.

Has anyone got any experience with this who can point me in the right direction?
Click to expand...

I have never tried one but I have seen Dimmable LED Driver transformers around, which can be used with a standard wall mounted low wattage dimmer switch.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VARICART-U...e+12v+led+power+supply&qid=1615902943&sr=8-10

https://www.amazon.co.uk/iolloi-LED...eywords=led+wall+dimmer&qid=1615903042&sr=8-5

No idea if it will work, but has to be worth a try.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom