Domoticz

Hello,

Lidl (Netherlands) is selling LED bulbs for a few bucks a piece, so we've decided to equip every light with a LED bulb.
Feels good exchanging 25watt bulbs with 3watt bulbs

But, I've encountered something weird:
When I placed the LED bulb in a light that is connected with a AWMR-230 switch, the bulb stays on. When I turn the light on or off, it flickers a bit, and than stays on.

Can anyone explain to me what is going on and how I can fix this? (Except putting the old fashion bulb back in..)

The AWMR230 does not have its own power supply. It is simply connected between phase and light bulb. The other side of the light bulb is connected to ground / null. When used with a normal light bulb, this AWMR230 gets power through its phase connection and the light bulb filament, to ground. Since this is only a very small amount of power, the filament in the light bulb will not glow and basically act as a thin wire. When the lamp is on, the AWMR230 will 'steal' a few volts from the light bulb to power itself. If that light bulb is going at 227 volts instead off 230, no one will notice.

But if you put in a very low powered light bulb, then the light bulb might require less power than the AWMR230 would need to do its job properly. Then, the LED light could light up, just from the power that the AWMR230 needs, in order to work.
Probably when you switch on the light, the AWMR230 tries to switch on the light but does not have enough power to do so, or to switch to its mode of stealing a few volts from the light bulb and stay on. Some flickering might occur and then it resets to its 'off' state, making the led lamp light with the standby current it needs.

You need to replace this AWMR230 for another KAKU module that has two input terminals for phase and neutral, and two output terminals that will go to the light bulb. (unfortunately, in most cases, that means you need to run an extra wire (blue, neutral, null) and also, that KAKU is bigger, and does not have the two white switch input wires)
You can also try to make your lamp use more power, so the AWMR230 can steal enough power to do its job properly:
add more bulbs, or add a small normal light bulb, use another type/brand of LED bulb.
Also, do not try KAKU dimmer modules. They will also not work properly.

Replace it with AWMR300, the AWMR230 is not compatible with led

Stuntteam wrote:Replace it with AWMR300, the AWMR230 is not compatible with led

Good idea. I didn't know about this AWMR300, yet.
This one will need a neutral connection (blue wire), and will have its own power, so it will work, regardless of how little power your led bulb needs.

niceandeasy wrote:The AWMR230 does not have its own power supply. It is simply connected between phase and light bulb. The other side of the light bulb is connected to ground / null. When used with a normal light bulb, this AWMR230 gets power through its phase connection and the light bulb filament, to ground. Since this is only a very small amount of power, the filament in the light bulb will not glow and basically act as a thin wire. When the lamp is on, the AWMR230 will 'steal' a few volts from the light bulb to power itself. If that light bulb is going at 227 volts instead off 230, no one will notice............

Thanks for the clear explanation!

Stuntteam wrote:Replace it with AWMR300, the AWMR230 is not compatible with led

Time to sell all my 230's
Thanks for the tip!

1, the led bulbs must be dimmable, most are not (see specs or manual).
2, the dimmer should be able to dim led bulbs.
Last months I replaced nearly all halogen bulbs by dimmable Osram led bulbs and replaced the Kaku dimmers by Qubino dimmers.
Defenetly not cheap but I'm sure in the end it will be cheaper.