Light bulbs

[Arizona11]

We have had new lighting put in our lounge and dining room. We also have them on a dimmer switch but the bulbs flicker unless fully on. So we are getting no benefit from having a dimmer switch.

DAK of bulbs that can be used which don’t flicker. We are using screw-in candle size bulbs.

Thanks

[DrFfybes]

I'm guessing these are 'dimmable LED' lights, and an old dimmer?

If so you need a modern LED compatable dimmer switch. Of course, being modern, eco friendly, and high tech, you need to know what type of LED compatible dimmer you need, 'leading edge' or 'trailing edge'.

They're not very expensive, and should be a straightswap for the existing switch so a <cough> 10 minute job.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-l ... t_by=price

I did look it up once but I've since forgotten.

Paul

[csearle]

DAK of bulbs that can be used which don’t flicker. We are using screw-in candle size bulbs.

It is a complete and utter minefield. There are dimmers and lights from the same manufacturer that flicker!

Two basics: the lamps themselves have to claim to be dimmable (unless they are incandescent lamps, which are always dimmable). For dimmers it's best if they actually claim that they are for LED lamps. Even if you follow these two guidelines it doesn't guarantee success.

There are positive edge dimmers and negative edge dimmers. Some LED lamps seem to tolerate only one of these types, but which one is usually unclear.

I am loathed to make a recommendation, but when I'm faced with a flickering-LED-complaint from a client I usually arm myself with a Varilight V-Pro dimmer. The dimmer module can be detached from the faceplate and attached in place of the dimmer of the target switch.

The advantages of these are that the edge (+/-), the maximum dimming, and the minimum dimming can be programmed using the dimmer knob. This gives you the highest chance of getting any given LED lamp dimming properly. The potential downside is that occasionally twitchy customers fiddle about with the switch, switching it on and off in quick succession. This can inadvertently cause the dimmer to enter programming mode. This is exacerbated by the dimmers being soft-start - this gentle turning-on effect can lead impatient users to start fiddling rather than just waiting 300ms.

Chris

[XFool]

We have had new lighting put in our lounge and dining room. We also have them on a dimmer switch but the bulbs flicker unless fully on. So we are getting no benefit from having a dimmer switch.

DAK of bulbs that can be used which don’t flicker. We are using screw-in candle size bulbs.

There appear to be three different factors to consider here.

1. The LED bulbs (which, from the above, I assume you are using) have to be dimmable LEDs.

2. LED bulbs consume typically about ~1/10 the power of equivalent filament bulbs. Your old dimmer likely has a minimum power rating that is too high. For some reason they don't work properly on the lower consumption LED bulbs, even dimmable ones.

3. Modern dimmers have a different approach to dimming. They are called 'Trailing Edge Dimmers', as opposed to the old dimmers, which were just called 'Dimmers'! - but were actually 'Leading Edge Dimmers'.

From experience I can tell you that points 1 and 2 above are essential. I got a dimmable LED setup working - but not perfectly - using an old dimmer and points 1 & 2 above. How important point 3 is in practice I do not know.

viewtopic.php?p=639023#p639023

[XFool]

...Or, more precisely, the solution(?) for me:

viewtopic.php?p=639743#p639743