Varilight Dimmers not dimming from remote.

[Hooloovoo]

I've installed a couple of varilight dimmers in my living room. I've programmed them to operate from one of my existing remote controls, and the on/off from the remote works fine from anywhere in the room. But the dimming function only works when the remote is within a couple of feet of the sensor, any futher away and holding the button down doesn't do anything. I've tried it with several different remotes and they all do the same thing.

Also, is there any way of bringing the light on at full brightness even though it was dimmed previously? It's a pain having to hold the button down and quickly release at full brightness - usually I miss the peak and have to have a second go!

Love the fade-to-on. Just a shame they don't do fade-to-off as well. If they did both I wouldn't care about the remote dimming because fade on/off is all I want them for.

[kevlar]

I've just replaced one of mine, it suddenly stopped working alltogether. Its the 2nd one that has failed on me too, I like them but am starting to think it might be worth spending a bit more money.

To answer your other question, no, I don't think there is any way to turn on at full brightness when previously dimmed.

I'm guessing your dimmer is faulty. I get mine from TLC-Direct and they replaced my first failure no problem at all as it was less than a year old.

[Hooloovoo]

I would be surprised if they are broken.

I have one single gang, and one two-gang, so that's three individual dimmer units all behaving in exactly the same way. I suppose they could all be from the same faulty batch, but I think that's unlikely.

I mean all the remote functions work if you're standing next to the switch, but from any more than metre away holding the button down on the remote doesn't do anything. If the lights are on and I press and hold the button, nothing happens until I release the button at which points the lights switch off.

I don't know if spending more money is the answer. I spent ages looking around at all the retro-fit remote dimmers and none of them work as I would like. It seems as usual the people who design the hardware never actually use it! I just ended up settling on the Varilights as being the cheapest way of (almost) doing what I wanted.

[Bruce_]

Do you have a plasma or large screen LCD TV in the same room? If so, unplug it and test the dimmer again.

Plasma/LCD TVs are well known causes of interference. The effect is it reduces the range of the remote.

[HandsomeBWonderful]

Originally Posted by Hooloovoo

I would be surprised if they are broken.

I have one single gang, and one two-gang, so that's three individual dimmer units all behaving in exactly the same way. I suppose they could all be from the same faulty batch, but I think that's unlikely.

I mean all the remote functions work if you're standing next to the switch, but from any more than metre away holding the button down on the remote doesn't do anything. If the lights are on and I press and hold the button, nothing happens until I release the button at which points the lights switch off.

I don't know if spending more money is the answer. I spent ages looking around at all the retro-fit remote dimmers and none of them work as I would like. It seems as usual the people who design the hardware never actually use it! I just ended up settling on the Varilights as being the cheapest way of (almost) doing what I wanted.

They are definitely not broken as I have exactly the same problem. I have 3 dimmers (+ 3 slaves) controlling 3 sets of downlights and all dimmers turn on/off perfectly, however, holding down the assigned buttons on the remote (Philips Pronto Neo) to dim them doesn't work for any of them. I need to do a few more experiments with the Neo to see if there's a problem with the buttons assigned to the dimmers (I think the assigned buttons may be set to an on/off function rather than a "continuous hold" function). I'll let you know the results.

It's not caused by any LCD/Plasma interference as I have the same issue with the lights in the kitchen and dining areas as I do in the t.v. room. In fairness, for the price they are still great value especially if used with the Varilight transformers. I have had mine for over 6 months now and haven't had to replace a single bulb yet (famous last words).

[Hooloovoo]

Originally Posted by Bruce_

Do you have a plasma or large screen LCD TV in the same room? If so, unplug it and test the dimmer again.

Nope, just a CRT for day to day use and a projector for movies.

[Hooloovoo]

Originally Posted by HandsomeBWonderful

a problem with the buttons assigned to the dimmers (I think the assigned buttons may be set to an on/off function rather than a "continuous hold" function).

Actually, that's an idea. Although I've tried different remotes all the buttons I've tested have been single-press type buttons not hold-down buttons. Maybe I'll try it again with a volume up/down button that I know works on a hold-down basis.

But that wouldn't explain why it dims perfectly on the existing button when the remote is close to the sensor.

[cossie]

I have the same problem with mine.

[Hooloovoo]

Sounds like they are just rubbish then.

[scottie50]

I've had the same problem since updating the software on my Harmony 885. Power button works fine on/off , but I use to be able to press and hold for dimming facility, not anymore. Are others here using Harmony remotes? I've emailed Harmony but are STILL waiting for a response