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Dimmers

  • German dimmer manufacturer - 40 years of experience
  • Wide range of LED rotary- and touch dimmers
  • Flush-mounted dimmers, wireless dimmers and built-in dimmers
  • LED-recommendation list available via QR Code - Which LED fits which dimmer?
  • Software controlled and silent LED technology
  • Dimmers with optimization possibilities for flicker-free dimming of LED lamps
  • Flush-mounted and built-in dimmers have compatibility with different switch ranges like e.g. GIRA, Busch-Jaeger, Jung and Berker

Development of customized dimmers

We are your specialist for individual dimming solutions. If you do not find the product that perfectly fits your needs in our standard portfolio, maybe the modification of just one or two characteristics makes the perfect solution for you. On request, we can send you an offer for the development and production of customized dimmers and will be your partner for dimming solutions from a single source.
For more than 40 years now we have been working together with numerous companies all over Germany and Europe and face new interesting challenges every day.
In the last couple of years we have successfully completed various projects, for example the development of constantly good LED dimmers and radio transmitted dimmers.

Get in touch with us and describe your requirements and specifications.
We are sure of it: we can make (almost) everything happen.

Ask EHMANN

The classical dimming principles are leading and trailing edge. Depending on which kind of light source needs to be dimmed, the one or the other dimming principle is best used. In general, the leading edge principle is more common. The current flow is controlled by a triac and is being switched on retarded after the zero crossing of the alternating voltage (white triangle in figure 1). Then the current continues to flow to the next zero crossing, and is being “cut” again. This is how the desired dimming performance is being achieved and the brightness of the lamp being regulated.

Leading edge dimmer

The trailing edge principle works the opposite way. In zero crossing, the current is being switched on directly and being “cut” in the further process of the sine wave.

trailing edge dimmer

In general, LEDs can be dimmed with both principles. The electronic inside the LED is a main factor of a good dimming performance and also how well the dimmer can handle this electronic. For many LEDs the trailing edge principle has proven itself to be the better opportunity. Especially LEDs working with drivers seem to better be handled with the trailing edge dimmer. Unfortunately, most of the times one needs to test the combination of dimmer and LED personally.

A universal dimmer can make life easier for you: a universal dimmer can combine both, leading and trailing edge principle, and you can test on one dimmer, which works best with your LED.

For halogen lamps with magnetic transformers you should use a dimmer with leading edge control, for halogen lamps with electronic transformer a trailing edge dimmer.

One replaces the conventional bulb or halogen lamp with a LED and suddenly the dimming doesn’t work anymore. This experience is made by many and they ask themselves: Which dimmer should be used for LEDs?

First, one needs to check whether the LED is dimmable, which is being displayed by the following (or similar) symbol:

dimmer fits to led

A 230V LED can either be dimmed with the leading or trailing edge principle. Also check the packaging of the LED, it might have a recommendation printed on it. LEDs or LED stripes working with 12V or 24V need to be controlled by a PWM (pulse width modulation) dimmer.

You can also use our LED recommendation list, in which you can find the perfect combination of dimmer and LED, as we have tested over 400 LEDs to make sure you can find your perfect combination.

LED recommendation list flush-mounted dimmers
LED recommendation list cord dimmers

If you already have an LED Dimmer in use and don’t know, which LED to buy, you can use our LED recommendation list. It shows, which of the 400 tested LEDs work best with our dimmers. When buying a LED, make sure it’s a 230V LED and that it is dimmable. 12V or 24V LEDs can only be dimmed with our dimmers when using electronic ballast.

LED recommendation list flush-mounted dimmers
LED recommendation list cord dimmers

There are various reasons for LEDs to buzz, flicker, blink or hum. Usually these effects don’t necessarily have negative impacts on the operation, the lifetime or functionality of the LED. But these effects are unwanted negative side effects and may even annoy the user. A blanket statement about the connection between the price of the LED and the side effects can’t be made, meaning, not only inexpensive LEDs may have these side effects. Mostly, multiple factors lead to these consequences.

First you need to make sure you have a dimmable LED. This is the first condition for a good dimming performance. A dimmable LED is marked with the following or a similar symbol:

dimmer fits to led

The next step is to check whether the dimmer is usable for the performance area of the LED. If the performance area of the LED or some LEDs is exceeding the limit of the dimmer, this can cause negative side effects.

But even if all these requirements are fulfilled, this doesn’t guarantee a good dimming performance. The combination of LED and dimmer needs to work, too, as not only the dimmer but the LED as well has an integrated electronic and if these two do not harmonise, it can also cause negative effects.

If the negative side effects only appear in the lower or upper dimming area, you can manually change the minimum and maximum level of the dimming area. EHMANN LED dimmers have setting screws to manually change the minimum and maximum dimming area.

LED Dimmer flickering

Sometimes though you can only test different combinations of LEDs and dimmers personally to find the best combination. You can use our LED recommendation list to help you find the perfect LED among 400 tested ones.

LED recommendation list flush-mounted dimmers
LED recommendation list cord dimmers

Common dimmers for LEDs only work with leading or trailing edge control. Some LEDs are best controlled with the leading edge principle; others are best controlled with the trailing edge principle. It depends on the electronic being used in the LED and sometimes can only be found out by testing it personally. The advantage of a universal dimmer is that it combines leading and trailing edge control in one dimmer. Should the LED flicker in leading edge mode or the dimming performance not be satisfying in any kind, the dimmer can be switched to the trailing edge principle.

Ehmann universal led dimmer

The Ehmann LED Universal dimmer in particular has one more advantage, for example a 3 wire connection that can be used optionally to increase the dimming performance. To use this feature, the neutral conductor (N) needs to be connected to the dimmer. If it is integrated in the house wiring, the dimmer recognizes it automatically and uses the natural zero crossing as a factor to improve the leading or trailing edge operation.

Our EHMANN dimmers are compatible with lots of common switch ranges of German manufacturers. Meaning, you can keep your switch range and only replace your existent dimmer with an EHMANN dimmer. Our dimmers fit under covers from switch range manufacturers like GIRA, Jung, BuschJaeger, Berker etc.

EHMANN dimmers can be integrated in switch ranges from GIRA and Berker without any adjustments. For switch ranges produced by BuschJaeger and Jung, you need to use our adapter, which is added to every one of our dimmers. This is how you have the most flexibility.

 

 

Furthermore, our Swiss dimmers (round support plate) are compatible with various switch ranges as well. They can easily be integrated into switch ranges by Feller and Hager.

 

Ehmann Dimmer Safety note

Safety note: Only trained electricians should perform work on 230V networks, taking into account valid regulations (e.g. DIN VDE). The voltage must be turned off before performing work. Non-observance of the installation instructions can lead to damages of the product, fire or other dangers.