Dimming LED lights, what do you have to pay attention to? | Lampandlight (2024)

FAQs

Dimming LED lights, what do you have to pay attention to? | Lampandlight? ›

LED bulbs. Not all LED bulbs are dimmable, so when purchasing LED bulbs pay close attention whether it is dimmable or non dimmable as it is shown on packaging or website details. LED dimmable bulbs are only compatiable with LED dimmer switches.

In LED lamps the driver is built-in and cannot be accessed. The LEDs and driver come as a single sealed item. An LED lamp. The driver is in the lamp base and the unit is sealed, so there is no possibility of connecting any dimming control wires.

There are two types of dimmer switch for mains dimming in your home; leading edge and trailing edge. Trailing edge switches work best with LEDs. If your dimmer switch is old it's likely a leading edge switch and worth changing to a trailing edge version.

Use an LED Dimmer switch

A standard dimmer switch cannot be used with an LED light as you will never be able to dim the LED light either completely or not very well. LED lights need their own special electronic dimmer switch to have a fully functioning and dimming light.

Not all LED bulbs are created to dim, and if installed with a dimmer, are likely to not respond well or at all. Secondly, not all dimming controls work with LEDs. If you installed LEDs and connected them to a dimmer for your previous incandescent lighting, it is likely they are not compatible.

If you install a non-dimmable LED light on a dimmable switch, you might have it set at 100% the entire time to ensure it operates correctly. The bulb can start buzzing or flickering once you lower the power threshold to the fixture. Those activities can damage the product or significantly reduce its lifespan.

Although you can install a dimmer switch for LED lights, the technology is different than that of incandescent and halogen bulbs. You must ensure that the LED light is dimmable. If it is not indicated in the product description, then the light cannot be dimmed. It's as simple as that.

The dimmer you may have might be a leading-edge dimmer that's used for halogen and incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs are only suitable for LED ready dimmers or trailing edge dimmers.

Simply connect the two output wires from the power supply to the dimmer unit, and then the two input wires from the LED strip. The dimmer simply acts like a valve, and the power supply unit will automatically provide the rated current and voltage to depending on the dimmer's knob position.

This is usually stated on the packaging or on the instruction leaflet. Dimmable LED lamps (which all have an electronic driver in their base) and other fittings comprised of LEDs and an integral driver, are more expensive than non-dimmable types, so if it doesn't say “Dimmable” on the packaging it probably isn't.

What happens if you use a regular dimmer on LED lights? ›

Using incompatible dimmers can cause flickering, noise, wasted energy, and reduced bulb lifespan. Ensure the dimmer you purchase is compatible with LED bulbs to avoid these issues.

yes, newer dimmers still work with incandescent bulbs. The only real performance difference will be the slope; they are more precise on the dim end. Since tungsten bulbs need a certain minimum, you might have slightly more "dead zone" before the bulb kicks on.

Typically, LED dimming problems occur because the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing or, more specifically, the LED lamps aren't in sync with the controls, or dimmer switches. In order to get LED lamps to dim, you need a proper pairing between the lamp and the controls.

Therefore, as long as the LED lamp's actual wattage and heat released is less than the socket or fixture rating, you should not encounter any issues. LED lamps do get warm, but they only emit a fraction (~15%) of the heat that an incandescent bulb emits.

Remote control-operated light bulbs or fixtures is another option to dim lights without a dimmer. Smart lighting options allow you to dim the lights, change color, and even set timers with the help of your smartphone.

Although you can install a dimmer switch for LED lights, the technology is different than that of incandescent and halogen bulbs. You must ensure that the LED light is dimmable. If it is not indicated in the product description, then the light cannot be dimmed. It's as simple as that.

Overall the LED dimming performance is regulated by the capability of the LED driver/chip and the compatibility of the dimming circuit. Since there are a huge number of possible combinations of lamps and dimmer, it is very difficult to produce an LED lamp that works in all dimming environments.

In most cases, all models of LED bulbs are available in a dimmable version. But they are not always standard dimmable. Make sure the product name or specifications mention 'dimmable'. This way you can be sure that the LED bulb is dimmable.

Generally, LEDs will last longer if they are dimmed. The main reason for this is temperature. All other things being equal, keeping an LED cool will extend its life. Over time, the light output of an LED gradually reduces – this is called lumen depreciation.