Can Led Lights Be Put On A Dimmer Switch

In rare cases this can even work.

Can led lights be put on a dimmer switch.

Most light fixtures including the traditional halogen and incandescent will work with a standard dimmer switch. It s a common misconception that any led dimmer can be paired with any dimmable led light bulb. One could be tempted to connect non dimmable led lamps to a dimmer anyway. So the first thing you ll want to do is make sure that you invest in dimmable led lights.

When operating a non dimmable led on a dimmer many undesirable side effects can occur. Unfortunately led loading cannot be calculated the same way as a traditional incandescent or a mains halogen light bulb. It takes a very specific fixture to be able to dim to your desire. Some fixtures such as under cabinet and recessed lights may need special led dimmer switches for proper performance.

Check the box or product description first to make sure they re dimmable seen below. For a led driver to work with a triac type dimming switch it needs to be an ac phase cut dimming type led driver. Now both leds and compact fluorescents cfls also have dimming options available. Not all led lights are designed with dimming capabilities.

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. Some led bulbs are designed for use with standard dimmer switches while others are not. The bottom line is compatibility. We re here to help.

So what happens if you use non dimmable leds on a dimmer. 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. For example restaurants and hotels may want to set a certain ambiance using led lights on a dimmer. 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.

Make sure you have dimmable led lights. That s often when we notice problems. Unfortunately that is not the case and the same is true of dimmable fluorescent bulbs paired with fluorescent dimmers. Brightness can t be controlled.

Note that for leds you use the actual wattage not the equivalent wattage for an incandescent which gives the same illuminance lumens. 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. Add up the total wattage of all the bulbs and if this is less than the limit for that dimmer then it should work. This means that the led driver has built in circuitry that can detect the ac being chopped and dim the led light accordingly.

Contrary to popular belief it is possible to put a dimmer switch on led lights without the help of a professional.