LED light bulbs and dimmer switches.

[Avantegarde]

The two are supposed, sometimes, not to be compatible. What is the problem?

[swill453]

The two are supposed, sometimes, not to be compatible. What is the problem?

An LED is an electronic component, and is nothing like a filament in an incandescent lightbulb. Normal dimmer switches simply reduce the voltage to the lamp. If the LED and associated electronics aren't specifically designed to handle varying voltage then what happens is unpredictable.

Scott.

[UncleEbenezer]

Check what the LED says. A majority are labelled as incompatible with dimmers. But plenty - usually more expensive - also say dimmer-compatible.

Once you have dimmer-compatible, the next question is whether it works with your existing dimmer circuits. It would be above my pay grade to comment on that.

[servodude]

Once you have dimmer-compatible, the next question is whether it works with your existing dimmer circuits. It would be above my pay grade to comment on that.

SD looks in the cupboard at his four different useless dimmer compatible globes and sighs; content that he ended up with a smart globe and control.

[Nocton]

We have LEDs that are compatible with dimmers and work OK. Got them from Wilko.

[Lootman]

Check what the LED says. A majority are labelled as incompatible with dimmers. But plenty - usually more expensive - also say dimmer-compatible.

Yeah, my wife often wants to change our light fixtures. It drives me nuts but that is a separate issue.

Anyway we had a LED fixture in our AV room which worked perfectly with the dimmer switch. Then we swapped it out for a new LED fixture and bulbs started popping regularly. LED bulbs usually last for years so this was a problem.

Solved it by buying and fitting a third LED fixture. Moved the old one into our basement where there is no dimmer switch and it works just fine.

Read the small print.

[jfgw]

Some dimmer switches don't work with LEDs, or might work if you replace one of the lamps with a halogen one. One solution here is to replace the dimmer. They are available which can be programmed for leading edge or trailing edge so you have more than one chance of them working. They can also be programmed for minimum and maximum brightness. I have had success with the Varilight ones:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/varilight-v- ... hite/94816

You can buy the module on its own to replace one in an existing switch plate, which may be preferable if you want your fittings to match.


Julian F. G. W.

[Zevs5656]

Thank you all for the recommendations, we will definitely look at the proposals at our leisure.