IKEA Tradfri 24V transformers work with Hue

Submitted by Andy Jenkinson on Fri, 04/06/2018 - 11:09

I was out shopping in IKEA this week (Milton Keynes, UK) when I happened across a few new additions to the Tradfri range of smart lighting: LED drivers!

  • Low output 24V transformer (10W) - 503.561.87: £12
  • High output 24V transformer (30W) - 603.426.45: £?? (can't remember if it was £15 or £18)
  • Power cable with plug and inline switch - £3
  • Daisy chain connecting power cable - £2

There is no information in store about these items, but on closer inspection I figured out that they are designed as a drop-in replacement for Ikea's Ansluta power modules. This means they drive LED lighting from the Norrfly, Omlopp, Irsta and Urshult range of strip, puck and cabinet lights.

I bought three 10W transformers and a few Norrfly lights to test them.

In retrospect I should have bought Omlopp as I intend to replace my kitchen cabinet lights (LEDs with integrated 230V power, which I have previously fitted with Sonoff devices for smart control). The Norrfly are intended for wardrobes.

How they work

The transformers have 24V PWM outputs (the low power version I bought has 3 outputs). Whereas the Ansluta range of LED drivers are compatible with the Ansluta wireless dimmers (which lack any smart app and home automation interface), these versions integrate with the Tradfri range of dimmers and gateway. Using either the remote controls or the Tradfri app to dim or turn off the lights varies the output voltage.

Hue Compatibility

Yes, they work with Hue. Each transformer appears in the Hue app as dimmable bulbs. The on/off and dimming controls work correctly. The bulb metadata show as model "TRADFRI transformer 10W" with software version "1.2.245". I didn't bother to connect them to the Tradfri gateway to check for firmware updates, I just connected them straight away to the Hue hub.

To connect to the Hue hub, this is what I did:

  1. Connect up a LED strip to the transformer
  2. Connect the transformer to mains power close to the Hue hub - the light will turn on
  3. Start a new light search in the Hue app
  4. Hold down the reset/pair button on the transformer (you can use use a pin)
  5. Keep it held until it appeared in the app - the light will dim, brighten, and flash.

Note that first I had initiated a touchlink (using the Hue API) as I assumed it would be necessary, but it turns out it wasn't for the second and third transfomers I added.

Further uses / Caveats

It's possible these could also be used to power other devices, but be aware of some caveats:

  • LED drivers typically lack the output power profile to drive variable loads such as motors, I wouldn't advise trying this
  • They output 24V voltage
  • The transformers appear as dimmable lights. Turning the LEDs on and off (at least via Hue) is not done by instantly switching on/off but by dimming (varying the duty cycle). This may affect how it behaves with relays.

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Comments

KAL (not verified)

Fri, 05/11/2018 - 11:45

Hello, thanks for postign the above, it's really usefull.

Could you calrify soemthing for me please as ikea Customer service seem to just read off the website?

Could i purchase a Tradfri driver, plug it in to the mains using a standard plug and then attach a number of LED Strips (ledberg) into the driver? Would this only control on/off via hue or would it have access to dim and/or change colour?

 

Thanks

 

Kal

Andy Jenkinson

Thu, 08/30/2018 - 02:40

Hi Kal, I believe the Ledberg series come with their own power supply, and I think it is 12V. It is therefore not compatible with the Ansluta, and hence Tradfri, drivers.

ASHISH SHRIVASTAVA (not verified)

Tue, 06/05/2018 - 01:51

Trädfri transformer conected to hue app even without connecting with a strip. Just pressed the reset button while searchin in Hue app.

JE (not verified)

Fri, 09/07/2018 - 10:56

Hello,

Were you able to see the driver/lights in homekit when linked to the Hue bridge ?
It works well in the Hue App but doesn't show up in homekit like the Philips bulb

Regards,

Andy Jenkinson

Fri, 09/07/2018 - 18:54

I don't use iOS so am not an authority, but as far as I know Hue only exposes Philips devices to HomeKit. Something to do with certification. Things may have changed though.

Je (not verified)

Mon, 09/10/2018 - 13:00

Thanks, I've been able to use homebridge as an alternative. If other one have the same issue, in homebridge in oder to only expose non philips hue lights (directly exposed to homekit if you have the squared bridge), use "lights": true and "nativeHomeKitLights": true in the homebridge-hue config

FC (not verified)

Mon, 11/05/2018 - 15:56

Two points to note, the dimming function is via PWM rather than voltage, they do not affect the voltage output voltage at all, just turn it on and off quickly to create a perceived change in brightness. Also, the Trådfri part is on a separate board inside, that can be removed and spliced into any power supply from 5-24V. I have modified mine to drive my non ikea 12V LEDs, and the remote control and dimming functions work perfectly. They will only ever work with 2 wire singe colour LEDs though.

Andy Jenkinson

Thu, 01/31/2019 - 23:35

You're right of course, a multimeter might show the voltage vary in line with the duty cycle but this is hardly the same thing. Personally I am using mine as it is (well, connectors aside) to power 24V led strips to save modifying much further just to use 12V ones.

I have also thought about using them to drive a 240V light circuit, I believe you can get PWM-driven addon boards designed for Arduino/Pi projects. Probably will need to do something about the voltage either for the microcontroller or the PWM output. Electronics is not my strong suit to be honest. The idea of doing this is that you end up with a standard lighting circuit with any number of bulbs that is Hue compatible. It's either this or modify a Hue bulb.

KT26 (not verified)

Wed, 11/27/2019 - 04:41

Hi. Old topic, sorry I have been digging for answers. How exactly did you modify the Ikea TADFRI wireless driver to output 12vdc?  Im hoping to drive standard 12v downlights from this unit.

Thank you

KT

Andy Jenkinson

Sat, 11/30/2019 - 01:33

He is saying he simply powered the MCU board from a 12V supply instead of the 24V that comes inside the unit. Just disconnect one and swap for the other.

AndrewFG (not verified)

Mon, 04/15/2019 - 17:01

Unfortunately, it seems that the IKEA remote controllers can no longer be used. They can neither a) be imported into the Philips Bridge, nor b) be bound to the Ikea lights (since binding them to the lights, causes the lights to become unbound from the Philips Bridge)..

Andy Jenkinson

Mon, 05/20/2019 - 08:13

It has never been possible to import them into the Hue bridge, only ever to join the Hue ZigBee network. The behaviour you describe is what occurs when the remotes have not been joined to it before attempting to pair with the lights. So long as you touchlink the remote beforehand, pairing with the light would not cause it to disassociate. So, whilst it's possible this behaviour has changed, I am not sure how and it is worth double checking as the process relies on standard ZigBee features so should continue to work.

Rob (not verified)

Sat, 05/18/2019 - 22:17

Thanks for this! Worked perfectly with the 10W driver and a set of Omlopp dimmable spotlights :-)

Robert Nylén (not verified)

Sat, 09/14/2019 - 11:45

Hi! I followed your instructions and the pairing successed. But after 10 sec. huehub lost connection with my led wireless supply (Model:ICPSHC24-10EU-IL-1). I can find the lamp (Dimmable light 1) but under it stands "Unreachable" and i cant control the lamp. Whats wrong?

Viking (not verified)

Mon, 11/04/2019 - 09:23

I tried connecting the 30w IKEA tradfri driver to 5x2w dimmable LEDs from different manufacturers, including IEKA's own G4 LEDs.  They all turn on/off correctly, but i couldn't find any LED type that the driver were able to dim. It couldn't even dim IKEA's own G4 LEDs.
My only conclusion is that it takes a special kind of PWM capable LEDs to work with these drivers, but I have not been able to find any with a G4 socket. 

Is my conclusion correct, and do anyone know where to find PWM compatible G4 LED's ?

Andy Jenkinson

Wed, 11/06/2019 - 00:40

Aren't G4 usually 12V? The tradfri drivers are 24V IIRC and not sure how they'd behave in series. However I have seen reference before to PWM G4 LEDS, I think even 24V ones, but I'm sorry I have never bought any. I'd try aliexpress for anything hard to find. Thinking about it for a minute though, I'm not sure how else a G4 LED bulb advertised as "dimmable" would be expected to work given it's DC input, but they are by no means uncommon. Quite possibly it does indeed mean PWM. Are yours indicated as such?

You could always make your own? Any 24V LED strip or the right individual SMDs would work.

April Williams (not verified)

Sun, 11/17/2019 - 14:09

Can someone help. I am trying to pair but with no luck. I select add light the hue apps searches, then I press the reset button and hold. The lights and flash but hue doesn't pick it up. I tried resting the bridge twice but no luck.

P.s. it does work with the IKea app? Where could I be going wrong?

Andy Jenkinson

Tue, 11/19/2019 - 01:20

I'm sorry it was a long time ago when I tried mine, it's quite possible the firmware on the driver is different now. I do seem to remember you have to hold it down for quite a while. However the first thing I would try is to reset the driver (hopefully it came with instructions to do this) and then try a touchlink search - the easiest way is with the Hue Essentials app.

 

Nicholas (not verified)

Mon, 12/09/2019 - 18:31

I just want to say THANK YOU for writing this post. I tried have a hue system and bought the ikea trådfri gateway to connect my lampa in my waredrobe. That was a nightmare. 1.5h of trying to pair the ”signal repeater” and remote I gave up. Then I read this and with low expectations tried it and it worked!! Super smooth. Now the ikea drivare runs smoothly with my hue system. The Ikea gateway I will happily return och burn. Nico

Peter (not verified)

Thu, 07/02/2020 - 14:43

Many thanks, your solution worked like a charm. Happy not to have an additional light system to use, but still everything on Hue!

Flemming (not verified)

Fri, 10/23/2020 - 12:52

I have seen some "Hacs" of this driver, and the unit is divided in a power part, and one controller part. The power is original 24V, but can be switched to 12V. You can also use the controllerboard with other lighning strips etc.

The question is: What is the voltage range for this controller board, and how much ampere can it handle.

Beth (not verified)

Wed, 11/18/2020 - 13:33

How exactly do you plug the Fornimma cable into the wall plug???!!!

 

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