Can Led Lights Be Put On A Dimmer Switch

Note that for leds you use the actual wattage not the equivalent wattage for an incandescent which gives the same illuminance lumens.

Can led lights be put on a dimmer switch.

This means that the led driver has built in circuitry that can detect the ac being chopped and dim the led light accordingly. 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. One could be tempted to connect non dimmable led lamps to a dimmer anyway.

Unfortunately that is not the case and the same is true of dimmable fluorescent bulbs paired with fluorescent dimmers. Not all led lights are designed with dimming capabilities. For example restaurants and hotels may want to set a certain ambiance using led lights on a dimmer. We re here to help.

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. 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.

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. Most light fixtures including the traditional halogen and incandescent will work with a standard dimmer switch. Contrary to popular belief it is possible to put a dimmer switch on led lights without the help of a professional. Add up the total wattage of all the bulbs and if this is less than the limit for that dimmer then it should work.

In rare cases this can even work. For a led driver to work with a triac type dimming switch it needs to be an ac phase cut dimming type led driver. The bottom line is compatibility. 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.

Now both leds and compact fluorescents cfls also have dimming options available. Some fixtures such as under cabinet and recessed lights may need special led dimmer switches for proper performance. 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. Brightness can t be controlled.

Make sure you have dimmable led lights. Need a sarasota electrician to install led lights with a dimmer that s compatible. That s often when we notice problems. So the first thing you ll want to do is make sure that you invest in dimmable led lights.

Also the dimmer switch must be one which is designed to control leds.