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Dimming Low-Voltage LED MR16 Lamps

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Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are replacing traditional light sources in almost all lighting applications, including low-voltage MR16 lamps. Traditional, halogen, low-voltage MR16 lamps are simple resistors and consistently dim well, with the right dimmer, regardless of whether they are fed from an ELV or MLV transformer. However, problems can occur when these lamps are replaced with LEDs (See Technical Paper, Challenges of Dimming LED Loads on ELV and MLV Transformers).

Finding a dimmer, transformer, and LED lamp that are all compatible with one another can be difficult since the combination often results in lighting that flickers or buzzes loudly. Fortunately, many dimmable, LED MR16 lamps work off direct power (120/277V~) without the use of a separate, external, low-voltage transformer, and can be controlled using an LED-rated dimmer.

 

 

 

Recommended Options for Dimming LED MR16 Lamps

Options for Best Performance
  • Use an LED-rated dimmer

 

  • Replace the low-voltage transformer/LED combination with a dimmable, line-voltage, LED (not always possible; consult an electrician)

 

If using an MLV transformer:

  • Use an MLV-rated dimmer
  • Continue using halogen lamps instead of LED

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If using an ELV transformer:

  • Use an ELV-rated dimmer
  • Continue using halogen lamps instead of LED

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Other Available Options

If using an MLV transformer:

 

  • Use an MLV-rated dimmer
  • Use a low-voltage LED* rated for forward-phase (leading-edge) dimming*

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If using an ELV transformer:

 

  • Use an ELV-rated dimmer
  • Use a low-voltage LED* rated for reverse-phase (trailing edge) dimming

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* Lutron suggests SORAA’s Vivid or Brilliant series of MR16, GU5.3 low-voltage LED bulbs.  Visit soraa.com for more information. 

 

 

Verifying Minimum/Maximum Load Requirement

  1. Verify that the transformer is rated to control LEDs
  2. Add up the LED wattage being controlled by EACH transformer –
    1. Verify this is higher than each transformer’s minimum load requirement
    2. Verify this is lower than each transformer’s maximum output rating
  3. Add up the “Input” rating of each transformer being controlled by the dimmer:
    1. For MLV Transformers – verify this is lower than the dimmer’s “MLV Transformer with Halogen” rating
    2. For ELV Transformers – verify this is lower than the dimmer’s “ELV Transformer with Halogen” rating

 

For Example:

 

Equipment Ratings:

Calculations:

Maximum Dimmer Ratings:

• LED: 250 W

• MLV Transformer with Halogen: 400 VA

• ELV Transformer with Halogen: 500 W

Transformer (Minimum):

• 20 W minimum transformer rating

• 8 W LED rating

• 20W / 8W = 2.5 – round up to 3

• Minimum Transformer Rating: 3-LEDs per transformer

Maximum Dimmer Ratings

• LED-Rated; Electronic Low-Voltage

• Input: 0.53 A Maximum •

Output: 60 W Maximum; 20 W Minimum

Transformer (Maximum):

• 60W maximum transformer rating

• 8W LED rating

• 60W / 8W = 7.5 - round down to 7

• Maximum Transformer Rating: 7-LEDs per transformer

LED Ratings

• 8 W

Dimmer (Maximum):

• Transformer Type: Electronic Low-voltage • 500W maximum dimmer rating

• 500W / 120V = 4.1-A maximum dimmer rating • 0.53 A Transformer Input Rating

• 4.1 A / 0.53 A = 7.7 – round down to 7

• Maximum Dimmer Rating: 7-Transformers per Dimmer