It’s the countdown to Christmas. As you try to wrap up your projects in time for the holidays, you’re bound to encounter a few issues on the job – but getting LEDs to dim effectively shouldn’t be one of them.
If this playlist of reimagined Christmas classics reminds you a bit too much of Christmases past, Zano Controls could be the solution you need to avoid last minute stress in the run up to 25th December.
‘Twas the last project before Christmas
And all through the house… the customer wants dimmable LED tape, the most notoriously difficult type of LED to dim. Once upon a time, you’d have said it can’t be done, or that they needed a bespoke dimming system to control it, but you’ve since learned it is possible – with the right dimmer. Your wholesaler has recommended the ZBARLED range, powerful dimming packs that can handle loads from either 0 to 300W/VA or 1000W/VA, and control from 32 points (which you probably won’t need for a kitchen/diner but it’s always good to know). You also pick up a digital plated dimmer, the ZLINELED, to replace a troublesome TRIAC dimmer that’s connected to some LED lamps in the sitting room: a simple job that shouldn’t take long.Buzzing around the Christmas tree
You get to the job and can instantly understand why the customer wanted the TRIAC dimmer replacing before they have guests over on Christmas Day. A high-pitched buzzing is coming from the dimmer: a common problem when out of date TRIAC technology is paired with new LEDs. You’ve read about this before, can explain the problem to the customer and get the dimmer switched out quickly. Now onto the LED tape.Deck the halls with LED tape
A lot of LED tape is needed: the client wants to add a decorative touch under counters and around a built-in bar area in a newly finished kitchen/diner extension. You’ve opted for the ZBARLED1000 to handle the large load, and it works like a charm, dimming the tape perfectly and adding a classy finish to a high-end project.Hark! The disgruntled customer rings
Job done! Ready to wrap up for the Christmas break, you’re heading home in the van when a customer call interrupts the ‘non-stop Christmas hits’ loop on the radio. Is it a problem with the LED tape? No. It’s the LED lamps in the dining room, the easiest part of the project. They’re flickering when dimmed below a certain point. If only there was some way to stop LEDs from dimming to levels lower than they can handle…Stay another day
Thanks to that flickering LED install, you’re back on the job a day later than planned. Up bright and early the next morning, you’re spending your Christmas Eve trying to find a last-minute fix to the LED flicker problem and keeping your customer’s festivities ‘merry and bright’. It’s not a problem with the dimmer: you’ve used the ZLINELED before and it’s your reliable go-to. You don’t think it’s the lamps, as they’re a reputable brand. What have you missed?My kind of presets
You take a look at online Zano’s resources to see if there is anything that could explain it, when you find a blog about Smart Settings: the easily programmable presets that keep the LEDs light output within an optimum range.That’s it. That’s the cause of the flicker. You follow their instructions and set the dimmers minimum level preset (and start level preset for good measure) so that the lamps no longer flicker at low levels and come on neatly at their desired lighting level. The customer is delighted. Better yet, it’s not even midday.
Silent night
It’s a peaceful Christmas Eve. No buzzing LED dimmers. No call-backs from unhappy customers. Just a Merry Christmas, thanks – at least in part – to Zano Controls flicker-free and silent LED dimming technology.Here’s hoping you don’t have any last-minute Christmas LED dimming disasters this December, but if you do, the ZBARLED is known as the ‘get out of trouble’ product for a reason. Our tech team are also available until 20th December to help you with any LED dimming queries or problems you might have.
If we don’t hear from you, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
#TeamZano