12v LED dimmer switches

Hi all,

I bought two dimmable switches for these 12v LEDs I purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012ZOI3ZW/?tag=cpf0b6-20

One of the switches is a Lutron here: https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...tandard-wall-switch-box-dlvdw-120w/1505/3528/

The other is a Maxxima MEW-DM600.

Both I found on this site, though when I click on the corresponding Amazon link, it takes me to a different product (https://faroutride.com/led/)

I've read the documentation for both of the switches, but when I hook either switch up to one of the lights, in both cases, I get a little flicker and then nothing. No dimming. No light. If I reconnect one of the puck lights straight to the battery, the light is full brightness; and if I connect the light through wiring, it is full brightness. However, when I connect to the dimmer switches, nothing happens.

Has anyone else experienced an issue like this?

Thanks,

James

Jades said:

Hi all,

I bought two dimmable switches for these 12v LEDs I purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012ZOI3ZW/?tag=cpf0b6-20

One of the switches is a Lutron here: https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...tandard-wall-switch-box-dlvdw-120w/1505/3528/

The other is a Maxxima MEW-DM600.

Both I found on this site, though when I click on the corresponding Amazon link, it takes me to a different product (https://faroutride.com/led/)

I've read the documentation for both of the switches, but when I hook either switch up to one of the lights, in both cases, I get a little flicker and then nothing. No dimming. No light. If I reconnect one of the puck lights straight to the battery, the light is full brightness; and if I connect the light through wiring, it is full brightness. However, when I connect to the dimmer switches, nothing happens.

Has anyone else experienced an issue like this?

Thanks,

James

Click to expand...

First of all: Your Maxxima switch is meant for 120VAC circuits...at least if it is in fact the model number you cited.

The other one however...hmmm. I have to assume that you wired it up properly but keep in mind that LEDs and their corresponding circuitry are polarized. Get a multimeter to check for the output voltage and polarity from the LED side of the dimmer. I personally have discovered that many products with any connection to China (partly or completely made in) have completely different wiring standards for color. I always use an example of some automotive marker LEDs designed to be used in North America that have a black and a white wire for connection to 12 volts. Normally one would assume the black wire to be negative and the white to be positive. You would be wrong in this case however as I discovered that the black wire is actually the positive connection. Fortunately I took the time to test them before installing them.

Also go back and check your connections for continuity. Maybe something happened and a wire isn't actually making the connection it needs. Also check your supply side to see if you are getting 12 volts. The dimmer may not work on lower voltages so you may need to have the vehicle running. That would seem silly to me but I've encountered stranger things.

Yeah, I guess I was mislead...the blog post says 12v, but it does say 120v on the switch box. Nothing you can do to convert these things?--either they're 12v or 120v?

Thanks for the tips with the other switch...I'll try those out and see if I can get it to work.