Simple electronic devices called dimmer switches to regulate the lighting's brightness level. Dimmers are frequently placed in homes to regulate lights, save energy costs, or as an added security element. Dimmer switches are simple to install by electricians or individuals with experience connecting these kinds of devices. Continue reading to learn how does a dimmer switch work and how they might improve the atmosphere in your house.
- What Does A Dimmer Switch Do?
- Benefits of Picking Dimmer Switches
- The Operations of A Dimmer Switch
- Dimmer Switches Types
- Best smart dimmer switch In 2023
What Does A Dimmer Switch Do?
Elevating or lowering the brightness of electric light bulbs is all that dimmer switches do. They are frequently used in homes and businesses to control lighting environments and save energy. You can adjust the atmosphere in your house by connecting dimmer switches to the features of your smart home. With timers or smart controls, you can program the lights to dim automatically at a specific time or manually change the lighting intensity.
>>Best Z Wave dimmer switch for 2023
Benefits of Picking Dimmer Switches
Installing dimmer switches in your home has several benefits.
Energy Savings
Your power bill will reflect the energy savings from dimming your lights because doing so will consume fewer watts. Every household is different, but you might save 18–20% on lighting expenditures depending on how many rooms you have dimmers in and how frequently you dim the lights.
Long Life For Appliances
Simply put, your lights will last longer if you dim them since they won't have to work as hard. Only some bulbs can be dimmed, although doing so can double or triple the lifespan of an ordinary light bulb.
Control Over Home Feel & Look
Any room can have a specific look and feel. While preparing supper, you'll typically want the lights on bright, but the living room is another matter. When watching TV, turn down the lights; when reading a book, turn them back up. Bedrooms, family areas, and dining rooms are all excellent locations for lights with dimmers.
>>Differences and types of dimmer light switch
The Operations of A Dimmer Switch
Understanding how does a dimmer switch work can help you use it effectively and obtain the best results possible. Depending on the kind, dimmer switches operate using basic electrical principles.
To lessen the brightness of a light, a basic dimmer switch only reduces the quantity of power flowing through a circuit. Modern dimmers, however, operate differently.
Modern dimmers use the electricity in a light's circuit to turn the light on and off. When this occurs, power from the light bulb is diverted. Reduced electrical current passes through the lightbulb. Remember that the AC in your home regulates the "switching cycle," or the on/off flow of energy.
Every time a dimmer switch is used to dim or brighten the lights, the direction of electrical flow is changed. Positive and negative currents always travel back and forth in electrical systems. The circuit will automatically turn on or off when it alternates.
The dimmer switch ultimately controls the electrical cycle that dims a light. The cycle takes longer to complete, and the light emits less brightness when the switch is turned down. It burns brighter when turned up since the on/off cycle is smoother. The duration of the cycle is also shortened.
Dimmer Switches Types
Over the past century, electricians have developed numerous dimmer switch varieties. These dimmer switches are frequently used today since they provide greater power usage control and assist in saving more money.
Four fundamental designs are used to construct dimmer switches: integrated, touch, slide, and rotary.
Integrated Dimmer Switches
Although integrated dimmer switches can also be handled manually, wireless technology is frequently used to control them. Modern smart homes and security systems frequently use these kinds of dimmer switches.
Touch Screen Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches with touch screens are also common. They are frequently mounted on walls in homes, adding a contemporary aesthetic while being practical and simple to operate.
Sliding Dimmers
Slide dimmers, widely used, allow you to adjust brightness by sliding a switch up, down, or back and forth. These dimmers may also have a button that automatically causes the appliance to go back and forth.
Rotary Dimmers
The lights can also be manually dimmed using a rotary dimmer. It's really simple; the dial doubles as an on/off switch.
Best Smart Dimmer Switch In 2023
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Motion sensing Dimmer
For those looking for a dimmer switch with a motion sensor, our top selection is the Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Motion detecting Dimmer (D2MSD-1BW). Its uncluttered appearance and straightforward design appeal to consumers who want technology but don't want their switches to appear overly sophisticated.
A broad variety of lights, including LEDs, CFLs, incandescent, and the less popular Magnetic Low Voltage (MLV) type, can be handled. You can configure various dimming levels for different times of the day (such as a nightlight). Additionally, it works with many smart home platforms, including the big three: Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. The only thing we didn't like about it is that an older home would have a problem with it because it needs a neutral wire.
GE Cync Smart Switch Motion Sensing Dimmer
The GE Cync Smart Switch is the greatest smart light switch because it has many capabilities and does the job, even though it isn't the most attractive or stylish. The Wi-Fi-connected switch allows you to control lights with a touch, voice, motion, or remotely using a smartphone. It works with all bulbs and has iOS and Android apps.
Installation is simple but requires a neutral wire, like most other smart switches. The switch has a motion sensor to turn on the light automatically and an ambient light sensor so that it can be set to not turn on during the day. The latter function operated without a hitch. If you don't want it turned on in the middle of the night, you may disable the motion sensor using the app. Turning it off with the switch will engage the motion sensor again after a few minutes.
The Dimmer reacts to voice commands like other Alexa-compatible switches (it also works with Google Assistant), but the Cync Android app has improved; setting up automation for a room is complex and can even be challenging to discern when you've scheduled it to go on and off. The GE Cync Smart Switch costs about $70 more than most other smart light switches, but it offers a lot of value.
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer
The Leviton Decora Smart WiFiWiFi Dimmer's second iteration has an unobtrusive paddle switch and a smaller toggle on the right, much like the first. However, this model makes installation a little simpler. Leviton has produced an Anywhere Dimmer (available separately), enabling you to install a secondary light switch without attaching any wires. It functions with three-way switches just like it did previously.
Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, August, and IFTTT are all compatible with the Leviton Decora, but fewer smart home technologies are supported than by Lutron. Additionally, the geofencing function of the Lutron app is absent from the Leviton. It doesn't support two-factor authentication either, so we recommend using it unless you're pairing it with HomeKit
Control Panel
Your lights may be controlled by the Brilliant touchscreen light switch, along with other smart home appliances like cameras, speakers, and more. You can use the panel's big touchscreen to access your security cameras, play music through smart speakers, and more. The brightness of the lights can be easily adjusted using a touch-sensitive slider to one side. If you have numerous light groups, Brilliant provides models with multiple adjusters.
As you enter and exit a room, the panel's built-in motion sensors may turn on and off the lights. A tiny camera enables you to use numerous Brilliant panels as video intercoms. Various smart home systems, including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, Ring, August, Ecobee, Honeywell, Sonos, Philips Hue, and Genie, are also compatible with the Brilliant panel.
Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer
With geofencing, which enables your lights to turn on or off automatically when you leave or return home, scheduling your lights to turn on or off at specific times or days, dimming capabilities, and compatibility with a wide range of smart home platforms, the Caséta line of switches from Lutron offers an impressive list of features. Along with many other voice assistants, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, you may also use them to control the system. It's also among the top HomeKit gadgets.
Lutron's smart beginning kit includes one in-wall switch, one wireless remote, and one smart bridge (hub), which may also be used to connect and operate other Lutron products to the cloud.
The switch has a high-tech appearance, with several buttons arranged to regulate the many possibilities Caséta provides. For the most part, Lutron chose utility over aesthetics for this Dimmer: Like other dimmers in this category, the white and gray buttons are prominent and not obscured by touch-sensitive controls.
Evvr In-Wall Relay Switch - A Controlled Beast
Evvr In-Wall Relay Switch is not a dimmer by any stretch, but it is perfect for on/ off your electric appliances compatible with Zigbee, Z-Wave and HomeKit. It works perfectly well with several smart home frameworks and hubs, but we recommend using Evvr Center Lite.
Get complete control over your smart appliances from a flick of a toggle on your smartphone screen.
Evvr can offer you a comprehensive smart home solution whether you are an integrator, professional installer, distributor, or DIYer. Get in touch with us and become our partner today! You can also shop now through our product page directly!
