Can Led Lights Be Put On A Dimmer Switch

One could be tempted to connect non dimmable led lamps to a dimmer anyway.

Can led lights be put on a dimmer switch.

Not all led lights are designed with dimming capabilities. Unfortunately led loading cannot be calculated the same way as a traditional incandescent or a mains halogen light bulb. Brightness can t be controlled. Also the dimmer switch must be one which is designed to control leds.

In rare cases this can even work. 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. 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.

We re here to help. 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. Most light fixtures including the traditional halogen and incandescent will work with a standard dimmer switch. When operating a non dimmable led on a dimmer many undesirable side effects can occur.

The bottom line is compatibility. Check the box or product description first to make sure they re dimmable seen below. It takes a very specific fixture to be able to dim to your desire. For a led driver to work with a triac type dimming switch it needs to be an ac phase cut dimming type led driver.

Note that for leds you use the actual wattage not the equivalent wattage for an incandescent which gives the same illuminance lumens. Contrary to popular belief it is possible to put a dimmer switch on led lights without the help of a professional. Need a sarasota electrician to install led lights with a dimmer that s compatible. 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 fixtures such as under cabinet and recessed lights may need special led dimmer switches for proper performance. That s often when we notice problems. But in most cases the following effects may occur. It s a common misconception that any led dimmer can be paired with any dimmable led 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. 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.

So what happens if you use non dimmable leds on a dimmer.