jocanon
Member
I have a dimmer switch, the Lutron Spacer System, that is made for incandescent or halogen light bulbs but not LED. I want to use the switch on LED recessed lights (it is the only dimmer switch I found in my price range that can be controlled via IR for multiple switches in the same room). I have done some research, as well as my own experimentation, and discovered that if I include a 25 watt incandescent bulb in the circuit, the LEDs work just fine with the dimmer. Without the 25 watt incandescent bulb, the LEDs will not turn off or dim. I may be able to get away with less than 25 watts, I have yet to test that. 25 watts is the smallest light bulb I have laying around to test with at the present.
Now, what I am wanting to do is put a resistor in the circuit to act as a dummy load instead of the incandescent so I will not have to hide a 25 watt incandescent anywhere or worry about needing to replace it when the bulb burns out. I have seen this done in other forums.
I have several questions regarding this resistor as a dummy load solution:
1. Is it safe? I can mount it to the recessed light can as a heat sink. The can has a built in thermal shutoff feature already connected. Or would it be safer to mount the resistor remotely with its own heat sink and thermal shut off circuit.
2. Other forums I have seen them use this type of chassis mount resistor for this:
**broken link removed**
Would this be a good resistor for this project and could I use thermal paste to mount it to the recessed light can? I would insulate the leads with heat shrink.
3. Would the way to hook up the resistor simply be: connect it to the hot and neutral wires (black and white wires) in parallel with the LED recessed lighting?
4. Would I potentially be in violation of any sections of the National Electric Code (NEC)? If yes, is there a way to build this and install it that would be in keeping within the NEC requirements? In other words, what key things would I need to be sure I do in order to be in compliance with NEC, particularly with regard to fire safety?
5. Lastly, is it safe? I know I already asked this, but I want to add emphasis. I do not want to burn my house down. Probably a better way to word this question is, is there a way it can be done safely? Obviously it can be done in an unsafe manner that would burn the house down, but I am wondering if there is a way this can be done safely, and to code. Further, if I mount it to the recessed light can that is IC rated (meaning it can come in direct contact with insulation) would I be correct in assuming that the IC rating is probably null and void and I would need to be sure no insulation touches the can is it might get too hot (still falls under the "is it safe question") or can it still come into contact with insulation because the thermal shut off component of the can is what regulates how hot it can get, and the manufacturers and powers that be knew this upper limit when they gave it the IC rating, which would mean that it still maintains its IC rating and can still safely come in direct contact with insulation?
I think some of these questions are going to be difficult, if not impossible, to answer definitively (i.e. will the can loose its IC rating, may not be able to know for certain...), so I am interested in opinions and thoughts on the matter, even if you do not know for sure or cannot cite the code sections, etc...
Thanks,
Jeremy
Now, what I am wanting to do is put a resistor in the circuit to act as a dummy load instead of the incandescent so I will not have to hide a 25 watt incandescent anywhere or worry about needing to replace it when the bulb burns out. I have seen this done in other forums.
I have several questions regarding this resistor as a dummy load solution:
1. Is it safe? I can mount it to the recessed light can as a heat sink. The can has a built in thermal shutoff feature already connected. Or would it be safer to mount the resistor remotely with its own heat sink and thermal shut off circuit.
2. Other forums I have seen them use this type of chassis mount resistor for this:
**broken link removed**
Would this be a good resistor for this project and could I use thermal paste to mount it to the recessed light can? I would insulate the leads with heat shrink.
3. Would the way to hook up the resistor simply be: connect it to the hot and neutral wires (black and white wires) in parallel with the LED recessed lighting?
4. Would I potentially be in violation of any sections of the National Electric Code (NEC)? If yes, is there a way to build this and install it that would be in keeping within the NEC requirements? In other words, what key things would I need to be sure I do in order to be in compliance with NEC, particularly with regard to fire safety?
5. Lastly, is it safe? I know I already asked this, but I want to add emphasis. I do not want to burn my house down. Probably a better way to word this question is, is there a way it can be done safely? Obviously it can be done in an unsafe manner that would burn the house down, but I am wondering if there is a way this can be done safely, and to code. Further, if I mount it to the recessed light can that is IC rated (meaning it can come in direct contact with insulation) would I be correct in assuming that the IC rating is probably null and void and I would need to be sure no insulation touches the can is it might get too hot (still falls under the "is it safe question") or can it still come into contact with insulation because the thermal shut off component of the can is what regulates how hot it can get, and the manufacturers and powers that be knew this upper limit when they gave it the IC rating, which would mean that it still maintains its IC rating and can still safely come in direct contact with insulation?
I think some of these questions are going to be difficult, if not impossible, to answer definitively (i.e. will the can loose its IC rating, may not be able to know for certain...), so I am interested in opinions and thoughts on the matter, even if you do not know for sure or cannot cite the code sections, etc...
Thanks,
Jeremy