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Can a dimmer switch be used on outdoor low voltage halogen path lights?

And if so, does the dimmer go in between the 120V outlet and the transformer, or between the transformer and the lights? ie, is it a 120V dimmer or a 12V dimmer?

10 Answers

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  • 10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    "Can a dimmer switch be used on outdoor low voltage halogen path lights?" A standard 120 volt dimmer, no.

    Never put one between the house feed and the transformer.

    Thes will work as they are made for low-voltage:

    http://www.ylighting.com/magnetic-low-voltage-dimm...

    Hope this helps. Good luck and may God bless.

    Source(s): Electrician since 1977
  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Outdoor Dimmer Switch

  • elhigh
    Lv 7
    10 years ago

    A regular 120v dimmer isn't the right choice, but there are low-voltage dimmers to be had. Use that instead. You don't want to put the dimmer on the transformer side, you want unaltered power going into the transformer, and the dimmer is on the lighting side of the circuit.

  • 4 years ago

    Outdoor Dimmer

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  • giffin
    Lv 4
    4 years ago

    properly thank you for the comments so a techniques all. I definitely have low voltage fittings which use MR16 bulbs and that i offered transformers that are dimmable. although i'm going to have have been given the assorted easy swap's incorrect. i presumed all you do is upload up the great Watt for the style of lighting fixtures you have and then get a dimmer swap which has a Watt score above that. e.g. For 4 x 50 Watt I definitely have used 250 Watt dimmer modules. And for 6 x 50 Watt I definitely have use a 4 hundred Watt dimmer module. They do hum I definitely have observed although somebody mentioned to me that as quickly as you dim the lighting fixtures the adaptation in potential is merely used up by the dimmer module hence why it gets warm! i'm going to look at Toolstation ( who I definitely have used a lot in this undertaking) yet i did no longer comprehend that this replaced into so complecated in any respect. i presumed dimming the lighting fixtures would keep electricity trouble-free and straightforward. yet issues never seem to be so trouble-free as you are able to anticipate :) thank you so a techniques all!

  • Anonymous
    10 years ago

    I would not dim the 110 volt side of the transformer unless the specifications list it. Most transformers especially the electronic {versus magnetic} ones. They dont do well on low volts being supplied to it. If dimming the system is to take place then the 12v side would be where I put it. Remember now by dimming the string of lights you might get an uneven cast. meaning the light at the end might go out before the rest. If this happens increase the direct burial cable size if 16g then get 14 etc.

  • 10 years ago

    Dimmers are designed for resistive loads like a light bulb. Dimmers work on the 120VAC system and not the 12VDC that the path lights use. The transformer, however, offers an inductive load that and that won't work with your dimmer.

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  • 5 years ago

    it sounds weird

  • 10 years ago

    Yes it will work as well. Good luck...!

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