Hello everyone,
I thought I would add my two pence worth here. I have installed both the NJD DPX12 and the Loxone dimmer in my house. Partly because I wanted to dim lights when the Loxone dimmer was not yet available, but also because I liked the price of the NJD dimmer. I used to fit NJD dimer packs in installations, but now having lived with them my views have slightly changed...
Here my verdict:
1. Noise: The NJD dimmer is noisy, specially when you run lamps at about 70 percent. You really want them fitted out of the way somewhere. The Loxone dimmer is very quite, with the same load on it (200W GU10 Halogen).
2. LED Bulbs: The NJD dimmer has got a minimum load per circuit of around 60W, this means in order for it to dim GU10 LEDs that typically have 3.5 W you would need more than 18 on a circuit (I dont even have that many fitting sin my ceiling). The Loxone dimmer has no minimum load and can dim a single GU10 LED.
3. Short circuit protection: I have got 4 12 Channel NJD dimmer packs at home. This is not because I have got 48 dimmed lighting circuits, but simply because the triacs in the NJD dimmers keep blowing. The rating per channel on the NJD dimmer is 4A per channel and the dimmer pack has got internal fuses, still if a short occurs (halogen lamp blowing). The triac is damaged. The surge is so short that the fuese does not blow, but the triac is damaged. If the triac does survive (from my experience about 50/50 chance), then changing the fuse is a nightmare....
The Loxone dimmer has got short circuit protection with refusable links built in, which means that if a short occurs the link opens and then automatically is remade when the short is removed.
4. High loads: No question if you need to dim a kW of lighting on a single channel, then the NJD dimmer is your only choice, but I think your electricity bill will quickly be higher than your dimmer pack
5. Recent Quality and Delivery Problems: I had to replace one of my NJD dimmers recently (due to blown triacs) and tried to get one online... and guess what I couldn't so I had to start rewiring light circuits onto relays. I called up NJD and asked what the problem was and whether the NJD DPX was end of line. They said they had outsourced manufacturing to China and that production had been delayed. When I finally received my dimmer pack it had a very odd problem. Every few minutes the lights would flick off for the fraction of a second. I first I thought I was going mad, because everytime I stared at the lights they did not flicker. I then also noticed that it was only the GU10s, MR16 with their LV transformers were fine, because the short interruption of power was not passed through the LV transformer. Once I was certain the lights were flicking off now and again I turned on all the lights and then unplugged the DMX cable, thinking maybe there is a corrupt DMX packet being sent from the DMX extension... lights were still flicking off... So I contacted NJD support again. BTW they are really helpful! They said they had quality issues with the latest packs that were made in China and offered a replacement (in 2 month time...). So now I have 2 more Loxone dimmers and a few more LED GU10s.
Final Verdict: You get what you pay for. I think given the above everyone can make up their own mind. I still have 3 NJD dimmer packs in operation and touch wood so far they are fine, but if they go I know I will not be replacing them like for like.
I hope this helps someone.
Best Regards,
Philipp
Addition:I am using an NJD DPX4 (10A per channel) to "dim" an immersion heater to match the electricity produced by PV panels less the consumption of the rest of the house to make the most of the electricity I create. So rather than exporting electricity for 4.7p during the day and buying it back in the evening for 11.3p to heat my hot water I match the production with the consumption best as I can. The NJD DPX4 is performing very well here (no lights that can blow and kill triacs, large load, I do not care about the noise as it is fitted in the loft).
