UK USA transformer causing lights to flicker???

[Madkibg]

Hi,

I have American tenants who use transformers. When they do, the lounge spotlights and kitchen light flickers. These are on dimmers. Can something be done about it??

TIA!!

 

[Megawatt]

Hi,

I have American tenants who use transformers. When they do, the lounge spotlights and kitchen light flickers. These are on dimmers. Can something be done about it??

TIA!!

What transformer are they using or is it the power company’s transformer.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Some LED / dimmer combinations are just barely stable. Any slight change in the supply characteristics starts them flickering, and this might be what is happening here. The transformer(s) are causing a teeny bit of waveform distortion that normally wouldn't be an issue, but it is disrupting a marginally incompatible dimmer. There's no reason why a transformer, in theory, should cause a problem, but some commercial units designed down to a price, especially if they are really made for the 220V or 60Hz market, can pull a rather distorted waveform if your mains voltage is on the high side.

I would venture an opinion that some transformers wouldn't cause this effect, but the cure probably lies in finding a more tolerant LED / dimmerr combination, not least because you might find other types of equipment that might trigger the same behaviour in the future.

 

[Madkibg]

What transformer are they using or is it the power company’s transformer.

To be hi eat, I'm not sure. Its a big blue American one lol. Its from the usaf

 

[Madkibg]

To be hi eat, I'm not sure. Its a big blue American one lol. Its from the usaf

Honest, not hi eat ??

 

[Lucien Nunes]

If it is a USA-made transformer, then it should be checked for suitability for 50Hz. Can you post pics? Does it run warm when powered up but without any appliance load on it? Does it hum much? These would be signs that the core is magnetically saturating due to the lower frequency, which can cause it to draw a spiky waveform that might upset the dimmers.