Budget Ultra Thin Recessed LED Compatibility Test - Essential Dimmer

[EricMiller]

I thought I'd try to contribute to the forum a bit instead of just consuming all of the great information here!

I am in the process of constructing my own home and planning for C4 lighting and since I have my Essential Dimmers ready to go (thanks Coolabode! @AK1) I thought I'd perform a little experiment.  

I set out to find a budget friendly and energy efficient solution for recessed lighting.  I fired up my computer and began looking up ultra thin canless LEDs and wholly paralysis by analysis there are thousands of brands, sku's, styles, colors, etc.  and beyond that how would I truly know if my selection was compatible with C4.  I ordered products from some of the most reviewed and popular brands on the web that met the ~$10 per light budget criteria (I did violate that threshold with the lithonia light but I wanted a comparison to a more expensive "name" brand to get a quality benchmark.

Products purchased:

Ensenior 6" Ultra Thin LED https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QSGRR1Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A61CMNCK0JTGW&psc=1

Sunco Lighting 6" Ultra Thin LED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089227DFJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Lightdot 6" Thin LED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09J7VWG1V?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Sunco Lighting 6" 3000k https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D2LFVKP?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Torchstar Essentials 6" 2700k https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GZ7NBTC?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Lithonia WF6 3000k https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ND1L263?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

 

I won't bore you with the testing procedures but each light was first and foremost tested for dimming compatibility with the Essential C4-V-FPD120 Dimmer and I am glad to say all products were compatible to varying degrees.  They all dimmed to a sufficiently low level using manual dimming while holding down/up on the switch.  Summary results of each product are as follows (evidence documented with the help of my daughter which considered this a science experiment - pretty cool):

Ensenior - mix of quality of construction, smooth responsive dimming, color temperature selectability make this the winner.

Torchstar - surprising build quality for a cheaper brand, quality dimming as well, topped Lithonia for no other reason than cost (11.25 per unit versus 17+)

Lithonia - similar build quality as Ensenior but not quite as responsive with the switch on command.

Sunco - I'll cover both products here.  These aren't to the same quality level as the three brands above, plastic junction boxes, no ground wire, etc.  They did however function but not as smoothly or as responsive as the brands above.

Lightdot - Similar to Sunco but often required pressing up on the Essential switch multiple times to get the light to turn on.  This did however, include a metal junction box and color selectability but at the end of the day the unpredictible operation of the light landed this one in last place.  It did meet the minimum qualifications of turning on, dimming and turning off.

 

Hopefully this information helps others in a similar compatibility search!  

 

 

 

[RAV]

11 hours ago, EricMiller said:

Ensenior - mix of quality of construction

Clarification - you're saying they cheaped out a couple of the parts?

[EricMiller]

3 hours ago, RAV said:

Clarification - you're saying they cheaped out a couple of the parts?

No, not at all.  They had both quality and functionality.