Compatibility with specific lights/LED tapes?

[calinatl]

Hi
I’m trying to determine if Innovelli switches will be compatible with the following:

1. A dimmable LED tape light driver that states the dimmers must be “any standard MLV/ incandescent TRIAC leading edge” dimmer switch.

2. With standard Exterior LED floods (that are probably not dimmable and I don’t need to dim them; Innovelli is for the Zwave features only)

3. With Nicor SureFit LED Jbox “cans” that are “Dimmable to less than 5% with compatible leading edge (TRIAC) and trailing edge (ELV) dimmers.”

[Bry]

The LZW31 dimmer is a leading edge Mosfet that supports MLV. So maybe to #1 and no to #3-way

For #2 you’ll be using a switch so probably yes, although some LEDs can cause issues with the LZW30 in a 3-way configuration.

[calinatl]

Thank you ; appreciate you taking the time to respond.
For #1. I’ll give it a try
For #2, its a ways off but will probably order the non dimming version
For #3, while quite disappointing as I just had a bunch of these installed, and I’m kicking myself for not checking, this info is helpful. I won’t buy LZW31’s to control those Nicor lights…Any chance the pending Zigbee dimmers will be “Leading Edge (TRIAC)” or “Trailing Edge (ELV)”?

[Bry]

@calinatl

Any chance the pending Zigbee dimmers will be “Leading Edge (TRIAC)” or “Trailing Edge (ELV)”?

I don’t think the Blue hardware specs have been published as of yet. There was some discussion a while back about the general lack of availability of MOSFETs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be TRIAC based.

I don’t really know, but I’d bet “no” for the ELV. ELV dimmers were designed work with low voltage lights fed by transformers. But your Nicor I think are line voltage so I’d hope for a Leading Edge Triac.

Like so much of this stuff, you never know until you try it!

[calinatl]

Thanks.
Am I correct in presuming that none of the Inovelli current or former switches are “Leading Edge TRIAC?”

In looking through the product data on your website, and I can’t figure out where I would find that information. Is it available?
Also, I tried to look up the model number referenced in the previous response, but the webpages for the switches don’t include the model numbers…
Am I missing something or is the above info not available or obvious? If it is not, should it be?

[Bry]

@calinatl

Am I correct in presuming that none of the Inovelli current or former switches are “Leading Edge TRIAC?”

Not exactly. The Gen 2 dimmers and switches are MOSFET. The Fan/Light switch uses a TRIAC (Leading Edge).

@calinatl

where I would find that information. Is it available?

Yes and No. Usually you can go to https://support.inovelli.com and search for the spec sheet. Look for the driver type. For some reason, the driver type isn’t listed for the Fan/Light switch, but I have it from the horse’s mouth that it’s a TRIAC.

For example . . .

Spec Sheet | Dimmer - Red Series (Gen 2) | LZW31-SN

[calinatl]

I had forgotten about this thread, and only remembered this one:

Excellent results with Nicor LEDs

Just a heads up for those looking for some great retrofit or direct-mount recessed lighting, I recently picked up two different models of Nicor LEDs and have been exceptionally impressed with the performance with my Red Series dimmers. This isn’t a brand that I was personally familiar with, so I wanted to share my results here in case it was helpful to anyone else. A quick rundown of what I like about them: Absolutely no flickering, at all (even while the washing machine is aggitating) Very g…

So despite the reply above from Inovelli that the LZ31 won’t work with the Nicor SureFit’s, since I did not remember this thread, I installed an LZ31 switch anyway. The Inovelli switch works terrific to control these and dim them properly, down to very low, as far as I can visually see.

I came back to the forum intending to update the thread referenced above, and when I searched for Nicor SureFit found this thread.

Now I’m worried - Is there a safety issue I should be concerned about? Are the LZ31’s not supposed to work with these lights? Can someone please clarify?

[calinatl]

@calinatl

Now I’m worried - Is there a safety issue I should be concerned about? Are the LZ31’s not supposed to work with these lights? Can someone please clarify?

TLDNR:

• from #3 above, my Nicor SureFit LED Jbox “cans” are supposedly “Dimmable to less than 5% with compatible leading edge (TRIAC) and trailing edge (ELV) dimmers.”
• LZW31 (Red Series) are Leading Edge Mosfet (that support MLV), so were not supposed to work with the Nicor SureFits.
• I forgot about this thread and installed an LZW31 to control a pair of Nicor SureFits, and it works well. Then I came across this thread again.
  So it should not work but does work. Is there any safety issue or other risk to leaving the LZW31 controlling these lights?

[dan.strother]

I don’t see any problem with your using a Red dimmer with your Nicor SureFit lights. All of the Inovelli dimmers are UL listed for use with LED lights, so there is no safety concern (provided you stay within their rated current/power limits).

TRIAC vs MOSFET is really just an electrical implementation detail - the important part is the dimming waveform type (leading vs trailing edge). Manufacturers of LED lights will often say “TRIAC” when they mean “leading edge”, as leading-edge dimmers usually use TRIACs - but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the lights with a MOSFET based leading-edge dimmer.

(TRIAC dimmers are always leading-edge. MOSFET dimmers can be either. Trailing-edge/ELV dimmers are usually implemented with MOSFETs.)

[calinatl]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Appreciate it.
Thus, unless I hear otherwise I will leave the Inovelli LZW31 installed controlling the Nicor Surefit lights!