Keeping 250w of LED permanently dimmed

[biggiles]

I have a rather large set of LED lights which come to 250 watts on the same circuit (50 x 5w 240v dimmable LED bulbs). It's rather bright! They are controlled through a wifi switch for on/off.

I want to dim these lights down to something like 20% of brightness (precise value not very important). But finding a dimmer which can do this is tough. Most dimmers aren't rated for 250w of LED. The several expensive high-power LED dimmers I have tried (trailing edge etc). default to being "off" when the power is turned on from the wifi switch, as they are sophisticated little devices.

I've also tried a wifi dimmer, but they default to 100% brightness when turned on, rather than the "last dim-ness".

Does anyone know of a simple low-tech LED dimmer which will default to being "on" and last dim-ness when power is provided? Or is there any device which will cut the power to 20% (non-adjustable), suitable for LED lights?

[biggiles]

That looks like a great option Mr Pointy - thanks!

[biggiles]

Sheepshanks said:

Mr Pointy said:

I'm still not clear why the V-Pro dimmer in series with the Wi-Fi switch wouldn't do the job.

I don't know what the issue is - maybe start-up current? - but one thing is the V-Pro says up to 30 lamps and the OP has 50.

So much help everyone - thank you. It feels like two key alternatives are the V-Pro (despite saying max 30 lamps) or an old-tech high-watts dimmer (thanks for the suggestion scottyp123).

The lights are on a festoon string (good quality, decent cable), so no question of making into a pair of circuits. And I'd rather not replace the bulbs if possible!

I wasn't aware of the inductive nature of switching on LEDs (thanks VEX), but that's presumably why lots of the higher-power old-tech dimmers aren't rated for LED.

An alternative option is the Varilight V-COM I have found, which is rated up to 600w of LEDs: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLMKP600.htm... edited to say that's actually for triac dimming.

But since Mr Pointy has kindly done the "will it default to on" test, I'll get the V-PRO first, and see how it copes with 50 bulbs. Thanks everyone!

xyz123 - good point that changing the bulbs is an option - they are arty LED ones, so Plan A is to avoid replacing them. If a £20 dimmer solves the problem, then that's good.

Edited by biggiles on Sunday 28th March 20:26

Edited by biggiles on Sunday 28th March 20:28

Edited by biggiles on Sunday 28th March 20:48

[biggiles]

Mr Pointy said:

The Varilight V-Pro range has a 300W option & comes on at the last brightness (set by the knob). Could you wire one of these in series with your wi-fi switch?

https://www.varilight.co.uk/dimmers/v-pro.php
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLMJP300.htm...

It's only been a couple of weeks of daily on/off, but the Varilight V-Pro 300w is running with 50 LEDs. I have them turned right down to just 16w overall power (says the wifi switch) and it's perfect. As specified, the dimmer resumes to former state when the wifi switch turns on.

The Varilight instructions said max 30 lamps, and the actual unit attached to said instructions had a sticky label saying 20 lamps, but "so far so good" with 50. Fingers crossed it lasts a few years at least.

Thanks MrPointy.