Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

How do LED 12V Dimmable light bulb works?

403 views
Skip to first unread message

emo...@gmail.com

unread,
Apr 18, 2011, 2:10:10 PM4/18/11
to
I bought the following LED dimmable light bulbs :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SFBB4I

However I’m not sure how to make it work. I’m sure that I can’t just
connect it directly to the power outlet as I can burn it, probably I
need some type of power adapter but I’m not sure.

I would like to use an INSTEON dimmer but I was wondering if anyone
has any experience doing this before and could share some thoghts with
me before I buy any dimmer.

This is the first time that I see the MR16 power input (the two
pins), and I don’t know where to buy those either, or how to make
connect them on serial (or parallel) to control multiple light bulbs
from a single power source/dimmer.

I noticed that this light bulb has some type of heat dissipation thing
attached to it; but I thought LEDs didn’t produce much heat, does
anyone know why these light bulbs have to manage heat when these
consume only 12V?

If anyone could tell me what is what I need to buy and where to buy it
to have my setup working would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

Dave Houston

unread,
Apr 18, 2011, 4:03:00 PM4/18/11
to
I know of no way to use that with 120V nor does Insteon make a dimmer that
works with 12V AFAIK.

You would be better off with a 120V dimmable LED with a standard screw base.

Josepi

unread,
Apr 18, 2011, 7:01:11 PM4/18/11
to
Agreeing with Dave...too much money for that product. prices have just
dropped huge in the last few weeks. return it and get yourself a 120Vac
unit.

You may have trouble making any series, trickle current controlled remote or
dimmer unit work with this, though. This means having a neutral available in
the switch box.

LEDS get very hot and cannot handle their own wasted energy. Don't buy all
the super efficiency BS. White LEDS are very slightly more efficient than
other newer types and the light quality, from the units I have seen, sucks.
The efficiency rating are typically raw LED chips and the ballast circuitry
and lenses and casing has to be added. Single colour LEDs are most efficient
but different colours do not add in intensity similar to lighting from both
sides of an object do not make it brighter on either side.

It would be doubtful that you can ever put these waveform chopping units in
series with anything useful. Find something that uses the wiring neutral and
does not depend on trickle current leaking through the bulb. It will never
stop flashing until the ballast circuitry is burned out.

BTW: 12Volt is a voltage and is never "consumed". That is analogous to water
pressure in a hose. The pressure is never "consumed" . The water is
consumed. In this case current drawn by the bulb and circuitry.
-----------------

"Dave Houston" wrote in message news:4dad985f...@nntp.teranews.com...

I know of no way to use that with 120V nor does Insteon make a dimmer that
works with 12V AFAIK.

You would be better off with a 120V dimmable LED with a standard screw base.

---------------

Dave Houston

unread,
Apr 18, 2011, 9:40:59 PM4/18/11
to
LED lights have been too expensive for most people so there's a dearth of
meaningful HA experience to draw on. You might get better answers on
Smarhome's Forums.

http://www.smarthome.com/forum/default.asp

Josepi

unread,
Apr 18, 2011, 10:06:18 PM4/18/11
to
I am seeing $10-15 dimmable bulbs in the big box stores lately.

-----------------------

"Dave Houston" wrote in message news:4dace759...@nntp.teranews.com...

http://www.smarthome.com/forum/default.asp

"Josepi" <J.R.M.@greasynews.calm> wrote:

>>However I’m not sure how to make it work. I’m sure that I can’t just


>>connect it directly to the power outlet as I can burn it, probably I

>>need some type of power adapter but I’m not sure.


>>
>>I would like to use an INSTEON dimmer but I was wondering if anyone
>>has any experience doing this before and could share some thoghts with
>>me before I buy any dimmer.
>>
>> This is the first time that I see the MR16 power input (the two

>>pins), and I don’t know where to buy those either, or how to make


>>connect them on serial (or parallel) to control multiple light bulbs
>>from a single power source/dimmer.
>>
>>I noticed that this light bulb has some type of heat dissipation thing

>>attached to it; but I thought LEDs didn’t produce much heat, does

emo...@gmail.com

unread,
Apr 20, 2011, 3:47:30 AM4/20/11
to

Thanks a lot, this information is very usefull. This link is awesome,
seems like a lot of people had talked about it.

> >"Dave Houston"  wrote in messagenews:4dad985f...@nntp.teranews.com...


>
> >I know of no way to use that with 120V nor does Insteon make a dimmer that
> >works with 12V AFAIK.
>
> >You would be better off with a 120V dimmable LED with a standard screw base.
>
> >---------------

> >"emor...@gmail.com" <emor...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>I bought the following LED dimmable light bulbs :
> >>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SFBB4I
>
> >>However I’m not sure how to make it work. I’m sure that I can’t just
> >>connect it directly to the power outlet as I can burn it, probably I
> >>need some type of power adapter but I’m not sure.
>
> >>I would like to use an INSTEON dimmer but I was wondering if anyone
> >>has any experience doing this before and could share some thoghts with
> >>me before I buy any dimmer.
>
> >> This is the first time that I see the MR16 power input (the two
> >>pins), and I don’t know where to buy those either, or how to make
> >>connect them on serial (or parallel) to control multiple light bulbs
> >>from a single power source/dimmer.
>
> >>I noticed that this light bulb has some type of heat dissipation thing
> >>attached to it; but I thought LEDs didn’t produce much heat, does
> >>anyone know why these light bulbs have to manage heat when these
> >>consume only 12V?
>
> >>If anyone could tell me what is what I need to buy and where to buy it
> >>to have my setup working would be highly appreciated.
>

> >>Thanks- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Marc_F_Hult

unread,
May 3, 2011, 1:34:50 PM5/3/11
to
On Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:10:10 -0700 (PDT), "emo...@gmail.com"
<emo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
<20c824db-dbc4-4f89...@d19g2000prh.googlegroups.com>:

>I bought the following LED dimmable light bulbs :
>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SFBB4I
>
>However I’m not sure how to make it work. I’m sure that I can’t just
>connect it directly to the power outlet as I can burn it, probably I
>need some type of power adapter but I’m not sure.

I use a dimmable MR16 LED in the reading spotlight in my bedroom. I simply
replaced the existing tungsten lamp in the fixture that I purchased at my
local big-box with the dimmable LED lamp.

So buy a fixture designed for 12 volt and you are go-to-go. Mine is a Good
Earth Lighting Model 199335-WH . A google search will show multiple vendors
including from Amazon.

>I would like to use an INSTEON dimmer but I was wondering if anyone
>has any experience doing this before and could share some thoghts with
>me before I buy any dimmer.

Yes. It works fine with an INSTEON lamp (dimming) module. I don't turn it on
at 100% because if I do, sometimes it will start to blink, presumably because
a protection circuit kicks in owing to over-temperature or over-current. But
that's a minor issue because it is easy to set to say 85%. Control is
typically through scenes using an ISY.

> This is the first time that I see the MR16 power input (the two
>pins), and I don’t know where to buy those either, or how to make
>connect them on serial (or parallel) to control multiple light bulbs
>from a single power source/dimmer.
>
>I noticed that this light bulb has some type of heat dissipation thing
>attached to it; but I thought LEDs didn’t produce much heat, does
>anyone know why these light bulbs have to manage heat when these
>consume only 12V?

Tungsten lamps get even hotter that LEDs-- in fact they have to get hot to
emit light. In contrast, the LED and associated electronics cannot tolerate
such high temperatures. Despite what you may read here, white LEDs have
higher efficacy than tungsten lamps.

>If anyone could tell me what is what I need to buy and where to buy it
>to have my setup working would be highly appreciated.

I bought my MR-16 lamp fixture reading lamp at from Lowes or Home Despot ( I
forget.) It is a Good Earth Lighting model 199335-WH . A google search will
show multiple vendors including from Amazon.

I also have 12v track ceiling lighting which is more of a specialty item
available from lighting suppliers or directly from the manufacturer. I can
dig up my info on that if useful. That runs off big DC dimmers controlled by
DMX-512. When the tungsten lamps finally burn out, I may switch over to LED.

Hope This Helps ... Marc

Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org

Marc_F_Hult

unread,
May 3, 2011, 1:42:15 PM5/3/11
to

"Better off? "

The OP already has the lamps.

For less than what he probably paid for one lamp, at my local big box I
bought a fixture with power supply for MR-16 lamps that is dimmable. It dims
a MR16 LED well when powered through a plain-jane INSTEON lamp model. See my
previous post in this thread

HTH ... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org

On Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:03:00 GMT, nob...@whocares.com (Dave Houston) wrote in
message <4dad985f...@nntp.teranews.com>:

Dave Houston

unread,
May 6, 2011, 8:27:14 AM5/6/11
to
This is an area where I've not kept current as I've been in and out of the
hospital several times (4 surgeries and another being discussed) in the past
year.

However, Amazon usually allows you to return items. You might be able to
exchange it for a dimmable LED with a standard base such as...

http://www.amazon.com/Dimmable-Household-Incandescent-Replacement-LED/dp/B002ZBJ25G/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1304683486&sr=1-3

That way you have a standard base that can be used in any standard fixture.

I've only tried one (non-dimmable) LED and it has been disappointing both in
light output and color temperature. It's rated as a warm-white 50W
equivalent but I think it's closer to 25W and, colorwise, it resembles a CFL
more than an incandescent. My light meter is packed away in storage so I
cannot measure the light output - I'm guesstimating based on appearance.

I'm sure there will be a lot of exagerated claims by LED manufacturers but
it is good to see prices falling to the point where the payback period is
more reasonable. One would hope that LEDs will have the predicted lifetimes
unlike CFLs which still have a very high early failure rate.

ethan7557

unread,
Dec 7, 2011, 4:17:58 AM12/7/11
to
ethan7557 had written this in response to
http://forums.cabling-design.com/homeautomation/Re-How-do-LED-12V-Dimmable-light-bulb-works-19867-.htm
:
I use a dimmable MR16 LED in the reading
spotlight(http://www.bestlightingbuy.com/1x5-watt-remote-controlled-color-
changing-mr16-led-bulb.html) in my bedroom. I simply
replaced the existing tungsten lamp.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------+
| http://forums.cabling-design.com/ |
| *** a better way to USENET *** |
| no-spam Web and RSS interface to your favorite newsgroup |
| comp.home.automation - 19467 messages and counting! |
+----------------------------------------------------------+

0 new messages