BG Nexus - Custom Dimmer Switches

LED bulbs do need an LED-compatible dimmer, and a trailing-edge model is the right type for most modern LED lamps. Specifically, check that the bulbs are marked "dimmable" and confirm the total LED load sits between the dimmer’s rated minimum and maximum wattage. This minimum matters because LED loads are very low, so just one or two bulbs on a high-rated dimmer can flicker or fail to dim. In contrast to older leading-edge dimmers designed for incandescent lamps, trailing-edge dimmers handle the low LED load far more smoothly and run more quietly. BG trailing-edge dimmers are made to BS EN 60669-2-1, the standard covering electronic dimming switches.

One-way and two-way dimming describe how many positions can control the same light. A 1-way dimmer controls a light from a single switch position, which suits most rooms with one entrance. A 2-way dimmer lets the light be switched from two places — for example both ends of a hallway or the top and bottom of stairs — with dimming available at one of those positions. Specifically, choose a 2-way dimmer only where you already have, or are wiring, two switch positions for the same circuit. Because the wiring differs, confirm whether the existing circuit is one-way or two-way before ordering, as fitting the wrong type means re-wiring.

The number of bulbs a BG dimmer can control depends on its wattage rating and the wattage of each bulb. Add up the total connected load and keep it comfortably within the dimmer’s stated LED range; for a large lighting circuit, use a higher-rated dimmer or split the load across two switches. Notably, LED lamps draw far less power than the old incandescent bulbs dimmers were originally rated for, so the practical limit is usually the dimmer’s minimum load rather than its maximum. Part P notifiable electrical work should be carried out by a qualified electrician, and all BG dimmers are made to the relevant BS EN 60669 switch standards.