Question regarding Tiella sola rail kit
Hi. I’d like to use the Tiella Sola Rail Kit (800RAL5) with a dimmer. The Tiella installation guide says that it can be used with a standard incandescent dimmer. What I’d like to do is have a 150w track kit (with 7 - 20 watt Sola lamps) and a 100w track (2 Terra pendant lights) switched to a single gang box and also be dimmable. Enter the Lutron’s Dual Dimmer switch (MA-L3L3-WH). Can this work? Can you explain Tiella saying it is ok to use with a standard incandescent dimmer but most switch manufacturers say that a low voltage electronic dimmer must be used? I really appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks in advance.
Answer: You can still use the regular incandescent dimmer to control the electronic transformer for the Tiella Sola Rail Kit. The only minor disadvantage is that you might run into a higher risk of shortening the lifespan of the electronic transformer because it takes a bigger toll on the transformer when you run it with incandescent dimmer. We are also told by our sales rep for Tech / Tiella Lighting that during the last 8 years of her service, she did NOT have any problems when a customer uses incandescent dimmer. Of course, you can always use the low voltage electronic dimmer if you don’t mind the higher pricing.
As for the incandescent dimmer itself, its lifespan would not be affected. If you are interested to purchase the Lutron 1p 300w Dualdimmer (MA-L3L3-WH), your cost is $60 apiece, and the Tiella Sola Rail Kit 5 head $217.50.