Dimmers - wattage & buzzing

[JDRoberts]

This might be of interest. Buzzing can occur with either too high or too low a load.

What’s the exact model of switch and the total number of bulbs Controlled by it?

FAQ Request: Dimmers, Smart Bulbs, Flickers, Buzzing

I see a lot of topics where being able to point to a FAQ on this topic would help a lot. I’ve got a few personal rules of thumb for lighting installations, but I thought it would be a lot better if someone who’s written one of the ST dimmer handlers wrote it so they could mention anything ST or Smart App specific. So this post is definitely a request for a FAQ, not a FAQ itself. But just to get things started…Feel free to use, edit, or toss any of the following. TWO PHYSICAL WAYS TO CONTROL DIMMING Dimming is either controlled by the amount of current the switch sends on the wire to the bulb or the amount of current the bulb decides to draw from the wire. DIFFERENT KINDS OF SWITCHES A switch that controls the amount of current sent may be networked or not. Some switches don’t control …

Also note that many switches have two different load ratings, one for incandescents and one for LEDs. For example many GE switch models are rated at 400 maximum for incandescents, but about 100 maximum for LEDs when the heat sink tabs are broken off. (Also note that it’s the breaking off of these tabs that reduces the max in a multigang box.)

I don’t know that much about halogen other than that they typically do work in a way similar to incandescents. @Navat604 or one of the other wiring experts could probably say more.