I would like to record a thank you to Superior Panel Technology for their excellent customer service in regard to a dimmer they made and I purchased through you.

Response from Superior Panel Technology: We are sorry to see that Mike had difficulty with the dimmer. Our single-circuit dimmer is our economical dimmer for customers that want to save money and have a quality dimmer We have sold thousands over the past 12 years. As a result of his input, we have decided to add as an option a pre-wired harness for our single-circuit dimmer (we have offered a pre-wired harness for our 2, 3 and 4 circuit dimmers for years). We have also added the installation instructions along with the wiring diagram to the document section so that you can see whats involved to make a wiring harness (all wires supplied are mil-spec WM22759 wire). We have never had one returned because it was difficult to wire. It is rare to even get an installation question. We provide colored wire and even put colored marks near the power transistor legs to avoid confusion and to allow for easier wiring. We are one of the few dimmer manufacturers that provide a controlling potentiometer that has a built-in circuit-breaking off switch. The potentiometer and switch are rated for 2 amps which is typically more than adequate for a panel lighting dimmer. The dimmer does have a heavy duty 115W rated power transistor. We offer this same dimmer in a 2, 3 and 4 circuit layout (see ACS #11-02046). The multi-circuit dimmers are mounted on a circuit board with a sub-D connector to make for easier wiring. The single-circuit dimmer wiring is simple enough that a circuit board would not be much of a time saver. Our multi-circuit dimmers are used in certified, new production aircraft. Superior Panel Technology also manufactures a line of pulse-width modulating dimmers (search ACS part number 11-10603) . These dimmers do not require a remote heat sink or wire harness (power-in, ground and power-out terminals). Our extreme duty PWM dimmer is capable of handling 400W at 28V or 200W at 14V. You should use a solid state dimmer instead of a PWM dimmer when a lighting circuit has more than one type of lighting (LED, incandescent or electroluminescent). Please see the article “Choosing the Correct Dimmer” in the document section. Feel free to call Superior Panel Technology at any time if you have any questions regarding our products (562)776-9494.

I have installed many of these units over the years and find installation to be very simple. Wiring is color coded, other markings make for simple installation. Minimal soldering of units contribute to ease of installation for even non certified mechanics.

I anticipated a more plug and play solution. The box came, and it was all the individual components with a wiring sketch. I would have liked a block diagram. I had to draw one to figure it out. If you are not electrically competent you don't have a prayer. If you are electrically competent you could by all the parts for considerably less. On the flip side it seems to work well now that it is installed.

I purchased this on the basis of the product description that the transistor was capable of handling 115 watts, which, at 14VDC is a bit over 8 amps, comfortably over the 5 amp load which is my worst case. Imagine my surprise when I find in the description actually delivered that the circuit is to be fused at 2 amps which is the figure of merit that Aircraft Spruce should have included in the specifications. The transistor is unmarked (the markings were apparently removed by the vendor), the potentiometer does not appear to be aerospace quality, and the diagram for the completed circuit does not identify the values of any of the circuit elements, which includes the transistor, the potentiometer, a capacitor and a resistor. The heat sink the transistor is mounted to appears to be of decent quality. There is also no identification of the hookup wire supplied, which at first glance does not appear to be aerospace quality. I would suggest one not buy this unless one have a max of 28 watts to be delivered, not 115 watts and you have a wide tolerance as to what is aircraft quality.