RadioRA2 Dimmer for Sylvania LED?

[garybozek]

I'm a homeowner that is trying to find a remote controlled dimmer for the LED bulbs I have installed. I have searched the Lutron site and cannot find an RA2 dimmer (that uses the Pico remote) that is compatible with LED bulbs. I would appreciate if someone could:
1. Tell me if there is an RA2 dimmer, with the Pico remote, that is compatible with my LED bulbs,
2. Direct me to the technical sheets to confirm

I have the Sylvania (OSRAM) LED 15BR30 / DIM / 827 bulb (Part # 78809).

Thanks,

GB

[Bailey]

LUTRON added a list of approved screw in type bulbs for the systems. Look at page four for your bulb listed with the RRD-6NA.

www.lutron.com/technicaldocumentlibrary/3682994a_CFL%20LED%20Bulb%20list_Resi%20Systems.pdf

Any Pico would work, but the 3 button with Raise lower is most popular- PJ-3BRL-GWH-T01

[beotownsend]

Yep, either the 6NA or the 10ND should work. Looks like the 10ND gives a little better overall performance, but the 6NA will give you greater odds of future compatibility if you decide to change the bulb. Looks like that bulb you are using should be treated as a ~50 Watt load, so keep this in mind if you have a very large switch leg (10+ Bulbs).

I'm assuming you have a RA2 System installed, which pretty much requires a Main Repeater? Picos are basically like a 2-3 Button Wall-Keypad, you can program any button do whatever you want. If no RA2 system, there's also the Maestro wireless system that is more of a stand-alone product that is designed for do-it-yourselfers. The RA2 system will need a certified programmer (who can also assist you on the correct dimmer choice, pico, etc.).

[garybozek]

Thank you for the information, gentlemen.

What I am confused about, is the technical data sheet on the 6NA says " -6NA is designed for use with permanently installed incandescent, electronic low-voltage, magnetic low-voltage, or tungsten halogen only." Since I'm not in the industry, I don't know which of the categories listed on the spec sheet covers LED bulbs. Taking it at face value, it doesn't endorse the use of LED bulbs with the dimmer. From my research, LED bulbs seem to require a high startup current which traditional dimmers may not supply; so I'm concerned about finding a solution that does work with the LED bulbs.

FYI - I have a circuit of 6 LED bulbs, and I want a hands free dimming solution (preferably to replace the existing switch with a dimmer). Nothing purchased yet.

[hanshi]

The 6NA dimmer (and 10ND as well) are UL listed to control up to 150W of approved CFL and LED loads. The spec sheet needs to be updated to reflect this.

One of the issues with LED dimming is not the startup inrush current but the repetitive peak inrush current which occurs in both the negative and positive half cycles of the AC sine wave. This is caused by a more capacitive input side of the driver power supply which charges to full with the peak of the half cycle and discharges at the point where you transition between half cycles (zero cross). This characteristic is what causes the dimmer to see the load as up to 100W watts of load when the LED is listed as, for example, 8W on the box. While the average would still be 8W, the instantaneous spike of current leads to the incandescent equivalent rating of the lamp/fixture.

[Bailey]

And that is the BEST definition for inrush current I have heard. Thanks, hanshi.

[beotownsend]

Interesting about the UL listing; I have a project where the 15 Watt LED being used is Lutron tested for about 40 Lamps per switch leg in Reverse phase on a 6NA; obviously way above the 150 Watt number.