Hi! Will the Carlon Model AR170 Clamp-on dimmer switch work with my low voltage halogen table tamp? Thanks, Lee

It's not quite that simple..

According to the manual for your switch, it is stated "Use with magnetic low-voltage transformers, incandescent, or 120V halogen fixtures only." Also, there is a minimum load of 40W or 40VA. Your LED lamp load will need to satisfy BOTH of these requirements. Electronic circuits are not to be "dimmed" with this dimmer - but use of either the VZE04-1L (400W max) or VZE06-1L (600W max) is supported.

You will need to provide the manufacturer and model number of the LED lamp(s) to be dimmed by this switch. Or, you can use traditional dimmers (if desired) with LED lamps that are specifically labeled as "dimmable" on their packaging.

Once the lamp model is known it will be possible to learn about their dimability assuming that they are not cheap imports with no real customer support contacts. Name brand lamps will have this support, and you can even call them yourself and inquire directly about the suitability to task for the dimmer. If the lam company doesn't know about the switch, contact Leviton with the lamp info at Customer Service: 1-800-323-8920 • FAX: 1-800-832-9538 Tech Line: 1-800-824-3005

Good luck!

Your issue is that the dimmer is not rated to handle the type of fixture/lamps its controlling.

From a lighting control standpoint, the 12V-lamps classify as "low-voltage halogen" and, somewhere in that circuit, have a transformer(s) converting the 120V~ down to 12V~. Using incandescent dimmers (like the one you are using) can cause compatibility issues with those transformers. What I suspect is happening is that the incompatibily is either throwing voltage spikes or current spikes on the line which are causing the dimmer to enter some sort of "safety" mode to shut everything down before any problems occur.

My recommendation is to first figure out what type of transformer it is: Either magnetic low-voltage, or electronic low-voltage. Ideally you would contact the transformer manufacturer (or look up their specs online) to figure that out. Other rules of thumb: if the transformer's big & bulky, it's probably magnetic - conversely if its lightweight, it's probably electronic. If its only one transformer controlling all of the lamps together, it's probably magnetic - conversely if its one of those transformers where the transformer and light bulb come togheter as one assembled unit and then snap into the track, it's probably electronic.

Then make sure the dimmer is rated for magnetic low-voltage, or electronic low-voltage (depending upon what the transformer is).

Hi Jay,
Ive suspect that there's a problem in the main line of the wiring. Since four halogen bulb are already replaced with a new bulb and bypassed the dimmer switch concentrate now on the wiring and the main panel board. Look for a tripped/busted breaker on the box, reset it.Replaced if busted. If nothing works, you need to check the wiring on the ceiling for open.
Hope it may help you.
Have a nice day!
Thanks for using fixya.
JDVillanueva

I am going to stick my neck out a little with this one although I agree with BoomerP. The clue of halogen bulbs is feeding my answer. Halogen bulbs require a high voltage transformer to operate and won't normally work with a dimmer but I never tried it. Bypassing the switch should bring them on though. If you have the proper voltage at the switch and they don't work with the switch bypassed, its probably a bad transformer in the fixture. Good Luck. Be careful.

are you using one of those florescent bulbs? They generally can't be dimmed.

You said they are 50 watt GU10's, so I would assume they are 120V halogens, and you must simply have gotten a bad dimmer. But if these GU10's are 50 watt equivalent (LED's or CFL's) then the bulbs will have their own transformers built into them, and would be incompatible with a dimmer switch. It also might be the case that you have low voltage halogens which would use a transformer, shared or individual, and these would also be incompatible with a dimmer. (I don't know offhand if GU10's are available with low voltage halogens.)

If each pendant has an individual transformer that is about the size of a hotwheel then you need a dimmer specifically for ELECTRONIC LOW VOLTAGE. A lot of electricians don't know that the different types of lights require different dimmers. Most store bought dimmers are for incandescent lights only, and some nicer dimmers like the Lutron Maestro's are rated for incandescent or MAGNETIC Low Voltage which require a different Sin wave interuption. I don't know that leviton makes a dimmer in that style for Electronic Low Voltage. You could install a Lutron DVELV300P-Wh, but that is a Decora opening. http://www.lutron.com/CMS400/WorkArea/downloadasset.aspx?id=25437
Here is a link to explain the difference in how the dimmer needs to work. Good luck!

The Lutron Maestro dimmer isn't rated or designed to operate low voltage lighting as it is a 120 V-AC rated electronic dimmer. You should either install a standard low voltage ON/OFF switch on this installation or obtain a dimmer rated for use on low voltage lights.

You need special low voltage dimmer designed for use on the low voltage pucks lights you have installed. Usually the low voltage is either 12, 24, or 36 volts, depending on the manufacturer of your particular light set. Once the correct dimmer is in place, the problem with the flickering and pulsing of the lights, should cease.

If you still are having this problem and you can't find a low voltage dimmer, you can contact the maker of your low voltage light kit and they can provide you with an acceptable dimmer option for your lights.

Most Home Depot and Lowe's carry the low voltage puck light kits, and usually have accessories for these lights, including dimmer switches that will work with them.

Hope you find this Very Helpful and best regards!

PS: I found this old, unanswered question and wanted to provide a solution to close out the problem and clear the question from the site.

What is the dimmer rated for? Your load on the track appears to be 200 watts. A standard dimmer will burn out, you need to look on the dimmer to see what it is rated for. Did it run hot with the dimmer before you had this problem? They make dimmers for higher wattage that will do the job for you.

Certain dimmers can control standard incandescent lamps that use 120 volts while other dimmers can control low voltage xenon or halogen light sources that use 12 or 24 volts.