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Posted By: Gregtaylor Dimming of receptacles - 04/06/05 04:17 AM
Can somebody help me find a code citation that prohibits the dimming of receptacles in a dwelling? I seem to recall a thread from a short time back, but I can't find it.
Posted By: Active 1 Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/06/05 04:32 AM
I can't help you with the code referance. I do have a solution.

Lutron has special Rec and cord caps for dimming use. The cord cap is slightly different but will work in any outlet. The dimming rec has a smaller size terminal and a rejection bump. No other cord cap fit it.

Call for prices first. List price seems high. They claim to be the only maker of such a thing.

Tom
Posted By: Electric Ian Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/06/05 12:13 PM
Or this: http://www.jalanes.com/IBS/SimpleCat/product/ASP/product-id/304602.html
Posted By: Electric Ian Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/06/05 12:19 PM
Oh, the code reference:
404.14(E)
Posted By: George Little Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/07/05 12:05 AM
Active one I just inspected a home with this Lutron dimming receptacle device installed. While it is a Listed device it doesn't satisfy the requirement for receptacles in the wall space. I gave the contractor an option of changing to a "standard" receptacle or adding a "standard" receptacle. He added a standard receptacle.
Posted By: Gregtaylor Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/07/05 12:18 AM
OK, so it's not that I can't dim a receptacle, just that the dimmer must be rated or listed for that purpose.
What I actually want to do is dim cabinet lights that have a X-FMR mounted above a cabinet, so the recep isn't a convenience recep in the first place. The lutron recep sounds like a good idea anyway.
Posted By: Active 1 Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/07/05 01:15 AM
Gregtayler,

Lutron makes 2 versions. A split version with 1 regular & 1 special dimmer rec. The other one both sides of the duplex are made for the special dimmer plug.

If they had the split version (with one side normal) wouldn't that satisfy the wall spacing.

For a fixed cabinet a wip fed transformer might be cheaper and easier.

Tom
Posted By: SolarPowered Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/07/05 03:02 AM
An interesting thing about that Lutron recept is that, while it has a ground contact, it doesn't appear that there exist any plugs with a ground pin that will actually mate with the recept--their plugs are two-pronged. Unless I missed one somewhere.
Posted By: jes Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/07/05 09:16 AM
There have been issues applying dimmers to general use receptacles since you cannot predict what will be plugged into it later on. Some appliances react very poorly to receiving a solid state dimmer output!! Likewise, the system you are trying to connect MUST be rated for connection to a dimmer and may specify the correct device(s) to use. Certain dimmers are NOT rated to operate magnetic devices such as transformers. Be careful!!
Posted By: zapped208 Re: Dimming of receptacles - 04/07/05 10:04 AM
Gregtaylor,- If you can hard wire this transformer,OK, If not just make the recep a single one.
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