What happens if you use an incandescent dimmer with LED lights?

They don’t control as well as the new dimmers that are designed for LEDs and it will also drastically shorten the life span of the bulbs. With old incandescents you are just reducing the voltage across the element but with LEDs you are lowering the voltage to the electronics which fire the LED.

Do you have to use 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.

Do dimmable LED bulbs need a special dimmer?

Yes, LED lights require a special dimmer. An old fashioned incandescent dimmer switch will not work properly with LED bulbs. You cannot just simply lower the voltage to the LED driver.

What wattage LED dimmer switch do I need?

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.

Why are LED bulbs 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.

What is the difference between LED dimmer and incandescent dimmer?





The main difference is that you have a smaller dimming range (typically 70-90% range vs. 100% with incandescent or halogen). LED Bulbs may not shut off at the lowest dim setting like traditional bulbs. This happens because the dimmer thinks the bulb is completely off due to the low amount of wattage the LED consumes.

Why do LED lights flicker on dimmer?

LED bulbs don’t have glowing filaments. When the dimmer switch goes off and on many times per second, the LED bulb becomes a flickering strobe light. In rare cases, the flickering can be some other power supply issue, which may be the explanation if you don’t have dimmer switches.

How do I choose an LED dimmer switch?

Choose a dimmer with a wattage rating that meets or exceeds the total wattage of all the light bulbs the dimmer will control. For example, if the dimmer controls a fixture with ten 75-watt bulbs, you need a dimmer rated for 750 watts or higher.

Why do my LED lights flicker on a dimmer switch?

There are many reasons why an LED lamp can flicker, but the most common cause is a lack of resistance in the lamp to allow the dimmer curve to work correctly. This is not a new issue; it’s been around for a long time, but is becoming more “noticeable” with the major increase in LED usage.

How do I know what wattage my dimmer switch is?



Wattage rating is usually on a sticker on the light fixture. Multiply the number of fixtures by the wattage rating of each fixture.



Multiply result by 125% (1.25).

  1. 5 fixtures x 60 watts = 300 watts.
  2. 300 watts x 1.25 = 375 watts.
  3. Next higher wattage dimmer rating = 375 watts or higher (600 watts).


Does a dimmer switch reduce wattage?

Since dimmers generally work by chopping off part of the mains cycle (50 or 100 times per second), you do quite definitely take less electrical power by dimming. But the catch is that incandescent light bulbs become less efficient at anything other than their proper rated temperature (and hence power).

How many LED lights can be connected to a dimmer switch?



In General A Lot! An led dimmer switch has a standard rating of 600 watts. If you install 7 watt led bulbs or equivalent in your light fixtures this works out to 85 light bulbs. Although you would never have all of these lights on the same switch.

Do LED lights use less electricity when dimmed?

There are pros and cons to both methods, but the fact remains that dimmable LEDs absolutely save energy. What’s more, that energy savings is directly proportional to the wattage you choose. If your dimmer is around 50%, you’re saving the same percentage in energy.

What is the highest wattage LED dimmer switch?

1000 wattage

Standard household dimmer switches range from 150W to 1000W, so the highest wattage for a dimmer switch is 1000 wattage.

Why do some dimmers not work with LEDs?



The downside is that LED bulbs are extremely low-wattage (they use up very little energy), which means leading edge dimmers can’t read or control their circuitry very well. Trailing edge dimmers, on the other hand, have a much lower wattage range and can read and control LED bulbs easily and effectively.

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.

Are all LED light fixtures dimmable?

In most cases, all models of LED bulbs are available in a dimmable version. But they are not always standard dimmable. Make sure the product name or specifications mention ‘dimmable’. This way you can be sure that the LED bulb is dimmable.

What can go wrong with LED lights?

The Most Common Problems with LED Lighting

  • Most Common Problems with LED Lights.
  • Using the wrong current.
  • LED bulbs overheat.
  • Low quality solder and wire bonds.
  • Improper use of LED lighting.
  • Issues with color rendering.
  • Existing fittings and fixtures are incomparable.
  • Light Emitting Efficacy.

How do you make LED lights brighter?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: But you can use DMX cable to daisy chain them or you know but break they're basically daisy chained. And then what you do at the end of the strip.

Can I use an LED bulb in an incandescent fixture?

Can You Put LED Bulbs in Halogen and Incandescent Fixtures? If everything fits and is the correct voltage, yes, you can easily swap all your halogen and incandescent bulbs in your fixtures with LED replacements. The fitting of the bulb base is the first thing you need to keep in mind.