Dimmer switches

[rving4us]

Can you replace a dimmer switch with a standard on/off switch? We never use the dimmer and LED's that are dimmable cost more than non-dimmable bulbs.
Thanks

[2oldman]

Don't buy dimmable lamps.

[DrewE]

wa8yxm wrote:


Well any switch rated for 120 volts will handle 12 volts just fine.
(the reverse is not recommended or necessary true_)

While this is generally true in terms of voltage, it's not true that switch ratings are comparable for AC current and DC current. DC switching is more demanding, and switches (if they are rated for both) nearly always have lower ratings for DC operation than for AC operation. In practice, it's usually not a problem to use a standard AC rated switch on a DC circuit for non-critical applications. It's possible the switch might not have as long a life, but it usually works reasonably well.

The typical failure mode would be for the contacts to get welded together internally and the switch fail to turn off. For a light switch, that's not a particular safety concern, just a minor inconvenience; but for any applications where it's important that the switch always work reliably, it would behoove one to use a switch actually rated for the voltage and current and AC vs DC power used. (I'm thinking especially of things like power tools, etc. where it may be necessary to shut off things reliably in an emergency to avoid damage to property or harm to people.)

[wa8yxm]

rving4us wrote:
Can you replace a dimmer switch with a standard on/off switch? We never use the dimmer and LED's that are dimmable cost more than non-dimmable bulbs.
Thanks

The short answer is YES
the longer answer is finding a switch that fits. As someone said if they are using standard size switches like on the wall in your house.

Well any switch rated for 120 volts will handle 12 volts just fine.
(the reverse is not recommended or necessary true_)

Just make sure the switch can pass the current. and well. With LED's 10 amps is like 1,000 or more of incandescent light so you won't have a problem .

Switch ratings, both voltage and amps are "XX OR LESS".

But you can indeed use standard ON/OFF swirtches to replace the dimmers provided 1: They fit, or 2: you can make them fit.

(Enlarge hole and put in box. add face plate with new smaller hole)_

[shastagary]

there are plenty of rv light switches available to replace them with rv light switches

[ScottG]

A simple switch will replace it.

[pianotuna]

In theory, all DC switches should have arc fault protection.

[DrewE]

Yes, absolutely for 120V AC and nearly as certainly for DC lights. I'd do a bit of study to see how a DC dimmer is set up first, though; it's quite possible that the brains of the dimmer are separate from the switch and, depending on how things are set up, it may take something other than a plain switch to bypass the dimming function.

I wouldn't think that most DC LED bulbs would have trouble with a dimmer, whether or not they're officially rated to be dimmable. This is definitely true for the less expensive ones that use a plain ballast resistor or linear regulator. Ones that have some sort of a fancy constant-current switching regulator might behave less predictably with a dimmer that is also basically a pulse switching gizmo.

[Dutch_12078]

. duplicate info removed

[Dick_B]

Yes provided they are the standard switches that are available from any hardware store. Some of the RV devices seem to be made especially for RV's that screw into the wall instead of mounting in electrical boxes.