Dimming - Help! The thermal protection in the dimmer is triggered.
No problem. The Niko dimmer is still working. When your dimmer has an automatic thermal protection, it will be triggered when the internal temperature of the dimmer is too high. In this situation the red indication LED on the dimmer will blink. The temperature inside a dimmer may rise when:
- LED lamps generate excess current peaks which may increase the internal temperature of the dimmer above the safety threshold. The original technology of LED lamps was very capacitive. This means that high current peaks can be generated during dimming. The current generation of LED lamps, and primarily the filament lamps, generate nowadays fewer current peaks. When you have LED lamps that are very capacitive, then try to configure another lamp profile on the dimmer (e.g. a lamp profile in reverse phase control) or reduce the amount of LED lamps of the lighting circuit or use less capacitive LED lamps.
- Modular dimmers inside the electrical cabinet are located right next to one another. The maximum permissible power loads are decreased with 20%. A minimal distance of 20 mm is required in order to utilise the maximum power load of the dimmer. Also, ensure that enough air ventilation inside the electrical cabinet. They are usually closed, which increases the temperature.
- The ambient temperature is too high. Check whether your electrical cabinet has enough ventilation or reduce the ambient temperature in the room where the dimmer is installed.
- The maximum permissible electric load is not respected. Pay attention with insulated wall installations (wood or plaster), when multiple flush-mounting dimmers are mounted next to one another, or when dimming 230V AC halogen lamps.
