Can PIXIE control garden lights? #
Both low voltage and 240V garden lighting can be controlled by PIXIE, using the right combination of products for the load type. This article covers the recommended product for iron core transformer setups, the load capacity of each PIXIE switching device, and the two electrical gotchas (power factor and minimum load) that decide whether an install will be smooth or not.
PIXIE controls low voltage and 240V garden lighting. #
Several products in the PIXIE range can switch garden lighting circuits. The right choice depends on the load type, and especially on whether iron core transformers are in play.
For iron core transformers: the Dual Relay Controller. #
The cleanest way to control garden lighting that runs through iron core transformers is the PIXIE Dual Relay Controller (PC206DR-R-BTAM). It is purpose-built for inductive loads, switches up to two independent circuits, and does not impose the minimum-load requirement that the smart switches do. No capacitors needed.
Two relays means up to two separate garden lighting circuits from a single device, each one controllable individually. On-wall control is then handled by installing one or two PIXIE Multifunction Switches (SMFBTAS) and pairing each to the corresponding relay.
Typical wiring scenario: two garden lighting circuits #
Why this combination works. The Dual Relay Controller is a PIXIE Master device with full scheduling, group and scene support. It behaves like every other Master device in the app, so the garden circuits show up alongside the rest of the home for sunset schedules, holiday mode, scenes and so on.
Having trouble? Swap the iron core for an electronic driver. #
If a smart switch is misbehaving on a garden lighting circuit (cutting out, flickering, hard to switch on), the fastest and most reliable fix is to replace the iron core transformer with an electronic driver instead. Most issues disappear with this single change.
This is not always possible because of mounting location, weatherproofing, or because the transformer is buried in the wall. Where the swap cannot be done, the Dual Relay Controller path above is the next-best option, and the load capacity and power factor information below is what determines whether a smart switch can handle the existing transformer at all.
The two transformer families behave very differently. #
Most garden lighting transformers fall into one of two camps. The electrical character of each one is what dictates which PIXIE device can drive it.
Iron Core Transformer #
Big, bulky, heavy. Presents an inductive load, which is harder on switching devices. High inrush current at switch-on, lower power factor.
Electronic Driver / Transformer #
Smaller, lighter, modern. Presents a resistive load typically, which is much easier on switching devices. Lower inrush, higher power factor.
What each PIXIE device can drive. #
Different PIXIE switching devices have very different load capacities, especially on inductive (iron core) loads. Check the load against the device rating before committing.
PIXIE Smart Switch (legacy 350W) #
PIXIE Smart Switch (current 600W) #
PIXIE Dual Relay Controller #
This is the practical reality: a circuit can sit comfortably under a device's wattage rating and still kill that device if the underlying load has bad electrical character. The next two sections cover the two specific characteristics that matter, and how to spot them before installing.
Power factor and inrush limits for the AM series. #
The SWL600BTAM and STS600BTAM devices are NOT compatible with drivers below the minimum specification shown below. Driving a load with worse power factor or higher inrush will shorten the switch's life and may cause irreversible damage.
Known incompatible drivers (as of March 2023) #
The following drivers are confirmed NOT compatible with PIXIE SWL600 or STS600 devices, because their power factor and inrush characteristics fall outside the spec above:
- Aquatran
AQD24V DC, 100W - Havit
HV965312V, 60W - QZAO weatherproof LED driver 24V, 200W
For loads using any of these drivers, use the Dual Relay Controller (PC206DR-R-BTAM) instead, or specify a different compatible driver up front.
Minimum load: the turns-on-then-off behaviour. #
PIXIE smart switches in the SWL350 and SWL600 series require a minimum load of 13W on the circuit. Below that, the switch cannot reliably keep itself closed.
The symptom is unmistakable: the switch turns the circuit on, and then turns it off again a few seconds later, with no input. This is a minimum-load issue, not a fault.
The fix. Every SWL350 and SWL600 box ships with a capacitor for exactly this case. Wire the capacitor across LOAD and NEUTRAL on the affected lighting circuit. This raises the effective load just enough for the switch to hold.
The Dual Relay Controller (PC206DR-R-BTAM) has no minimum load requirement at all, so this is one more reason to default to it for low-load garden circuits.
Installation manuals and datasheets. #
Reference documents for each of the devices mentioned in this article.
Specifying a garden lighting install? #
The Dual Relay Controller is the right answer for almost every iron core scenario. For everything else, get the transformer, the load and the smart switch all matched up before you commit.
