How many LED lights can I put on a dimmer switch?

A rule of thumb commonly used to calculate a load for LED dimmers is to divide the stated maximum load by 10. For example a 400W dimmer switch should have no more than 40W of LED bulbs connected to it, which would equate to eight 5W bulbs.

Do you have to have a special dimmer switch for LED lights?





A standard dimmer switch cannot be used with an LED light as you will never be able to dim the LED light either completely or not very well. LED lights need their own special electronic dimmer switch to have a fully functioning and dimming light.

Why is my dimmer switch not working correctly?

If your dimmer switch suddenly stops working, there could be issues with the electrical wiring. If it’s not installed correctly or the wires come loose, the switch might stop working. You might hear a buzzing or crackling sound if wiring is the issue. When you suspect a wiring issue, hire an electrician to inspect it.

Why dont LED lights dim all the way?

100% with incandescent) LED Bulbs may not shut off at lowest dim setting: this is caused by the dimmer thinking the bulb is completely off due to the low amount of wattage an LED consumes.

What happens if you overload a dimmer switch?

new jersey — Did you know that you can accidentally overload a dimmer switch? If you do, it can become hot to the touch – sometimes extremely hot – to the point where it can become a fire hazard. Here’s how to avoid this happening using only some simple math. The majority of dimmer switches are rated for 600 watts.

What size dimmer switch do I need for LED lights?





Generally speaking, you will be looking for either 600 watt max load or 1000 watt. When choosing dimmers for dimmable LEDs or CFLs, you should not load a dimmer higher than approximately 25% of the rated load for the dimmer.

Why are some LEDs not dimmable?

Damage or failure – LED driver, circuit or LED is damaged or fails. Load below minimum – The power load of the LED lamp is below the minimum required by the dimmer. Mixed models- Different models of LED will likely have different drivers – since drivers behave differently this could result in dimming issues.

Why are my dimmable lights not dimming?

One of the most apparent reasons for dimmer switches not being able to dim all the way is the lack of compatibility between the dimmer and bulb you have used. There are dimmable bulbs and non-dimmable bulbs; if you were to use a non-dimmable bulb with a dimmer switch, it wouldn’t work out at all.

What happens if you put a non dimmable LED bulb in a dimmer?

If you install a non-dimming LED bulb in a circuit with a dimming switch, it will likely operate normally if the dimmer is at its 100% or fully on. Dimming the bulb, will likely cause erratic behavior such as flickering or buzzing and ultimately may cause damage to the bulb.

Why are half of my LED lights dim?



Voltage drop comes into play when your LED strip runs, your wiring, or both, are too long. The resistance in these conductors adds up – and your LEDs start to operate below their optimal voltage range, resulting in dimming.

Why are my LED lights not working?

Heat buildup, screwing bulbs too tightly, or placing LEDs in improper electrical circuits and accessories are common causes of LEDs stopping working. In addition, poor quality capacitors, drivers and diodes are also leading factors in reducing the life of LED bulbs.

How do you fix ghosting LED lights?

3 options here:

  1. Change the LEDs to an approved product- may not solve the problem.
  2. Change dimmer to the PD-6ANS- most likely would solve or at least reduce the “ghosting” you are experiencing.
  3. Try the LUT-MLC- lots of posts on this, Lutron reluctantly has mentioned the MLC with dimming now.


What causes LED ghosting?

This may be due to the type of light switch or dimmer or an incorrectly connected switch. Even an unfavorable cable routing can be responsible for the glow. The afterglow issue is usually only visible after converting from old light bulbs to LEDs.

What is ghosting in lighting?

Ghosting is a faint lighting from residual current in the inserts. Strobing is actually seeing the cycle rate in a GI bulb. You are likely losing sight of the ball from the reflection of the light on the ball, even with frosted bulbs.