Can Led Lights Be Put On A Dimmer Switch

When operating a non dimmable led on a dimmer many undesirable side effects can occur.

Can led lights be put on a dimmer switch. Check the box or product description first to make sure they re dimmable seen below. But in most cases the following effects may occur. Contrary to popular belief it is possible to put a dimmer switch on led lights without the help of a professional. Unfortunately that is not the case and the same is true of dimmable fluorescent bulbs paired with fluorescent dimmers.

So what happens if you use non dimmable leds on a dimmer. New led fixtures can be so bright and efficient you have to take the lights down very low on the dimmer in order to get them to the right level. Note that for leds you use the actual wattage not the equivalent wattage for an incandescent which gives the same illuminance lumens. Make sure you have dimmable led lights.

This means that the led driver has built in circuitry that can detect the ac being chopped and dim the led light accordingly. Now both leds and compact fluorescents cfls also have dimming options available. That s often when we notice problems. We re here to help.

It takes a very specific fixture to be able to dim to your desire. Need a sarasota electrician to install led lights with a dimmer that s compatible. The bottom line is compatibility. Most light fixtures including the traditional halogen and incandescent will work with a standard dimmer switch.

A good rule of thumb to apply one that is used by most manufacturers is to take the maximum rating of the dimmer switch and divide by 10 or in other words use 10 of the max. In rare cases this can even work. Some fixtures such as under cabinet and recessed lights may need special led dimmer switches for proper performance. It s a common misconception that any led dimmer can be paired with any dimmable led light bulb.

Brightness can t be controlled. However you need to familiarize yourself with ways to safely install a dimmer switch to ensure that it adheres to the national electrical code requirements. Some led bulbs are designed for use with standard dimmer switches while others are not. Unfortunately led loading cannot be calculated the same way as a traditional incandescent or a mains halogen light bulb.

Add up the total wattage of all the bulbs and if this is less than the limit for that dimmer then it should work. For example restaurants and hotels may want to set a certain ambiance using led lights on a dimmer. So the first thing you ll want to do is make sure that you invest in dimmable led lights. Not all led lights are designed with dimming capabilities.

Led light bulbs can be used in light fixtures controlled by dimmer switches but you may well find that traditional dimmers may not work or may work inadequately with some led bulbs.