Can LED Lights Be Dimmed? - A Guide To Dimmable LED Flash

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Can LED Lights Be Dimmed? - A Guide To Dimmable LED Flash

Light bulbs have evolved a lot since 1879 when the first incandescent lamp or incandescent light was made. Electric current was allowed to pass the filament in the bulb which then lit up. But today all homes are dazzling with bright white lights of LED bulbs. These bulbs are not only efficient in energy consumption but also provide angled light, hence bright. But what if you want to give more of a laid-back look to your home?

Looking for a dimmable led flashlight? Wondering are led lights dimmable? Don’t worry we have all the answers here…  The short answer is that it depends on the situation. Some bulbs, you see, are dimmable, whereas others are not. Fortunately, manufacturers do a good job of informing us of this on their packaging. Another factor that influences dimmability is dimmer switches. Older switches were designed to meet the high wattage requirements of incandescent and halogen bulbs.

This worked well until LED technology was developed, which uses approximately 60% less energy than its predecessors. It is now common practice to replace old incandescent bulbs with LEDs while leaving the dimmer switch in place. In this guide, we will explain how to easily determine whether an LED is dimmable or not, as well as which LED dimmers to use. Also, we will check out some top-rated Dimmable LED lights. So start reading!!!

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What Are Dimmable Light Bulbs?

What Are Dimmable Light Bulbs?

When the output of a LED bulb is reduced and light appears to be no longer crisp white but duller. The more the power of the bulb is decreased the more the brightness decreases. These LED light bulbs come with a remote, a slide, or a knob. The luminous element in an LED lamp is an LED. The term LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. The higher the current flowing through an LED, the more light it produces. In the opposite direction, the less power there is, the less light there is.

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Does One Need A Dimmable LED Flash?

Coming home from a tiring day at the office one looks forward to loosening up a bit and switching up to more of a comfy setting. Or you may want to study in bright light during the day and then transition to a more muted light to Netflix and chill and enjoy the evening! Moreover, incorporating dimmed LED lights in your house during Christmas or Halloween Lighting Ideas can amp up the decor itself. Dimming your LED bulb can be a great option to changeover your mood completely.

Dimmable LED flash comes in handy here! The light-emitting diode is dimmer when less power passes through it and vice versa. Therefore, by controlling the electric current passing through it we can allow the bulb to decrease its brightness. Now that we know whether you need dimmable lights or not, the question is are LED lights dimmable, specifically all of them?

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Are All LED Bulbs Dimmable?

No, not all LED lights can be dimmed. Brands make lights that are dimmable and ones that aren’t so usually it’s mentioned on the packaging of the bulb. It’s necessary to watch out for the non-dimmable ones because they can’t work with an internal or an external dimmer either.

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How Can You DIM Your LED Lights?

How Can You DIM Your LED Lights?

They can be dimmed using a dimmer. If the LED light is being replaced by an incandescent bulb then it is important to buy a new dimmer as its power won’t be enough to evenly illuminate the bulb faintly or it may even start flickering. In this case, you’ll be needing a new dimmer for your LED bulb with a trailing edge of 0-150W. Around 85% of the LED lights will work on this power. While the filament bulbs can be easily dimmed LED bulbs don’t necessarily work in the same manner. They can neither be switched ON nor switched OFF nor in between. So, methods like analog dimming and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) can be used to bring out a dimmable LED flash.

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Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

The pulse Width Modulation method works by playing with time and the speed with which it causes the light to flicker. As mentioned before LED lights can’t be dimmed so PWM allows the light to switch ON and OFF with such speed that the human eye can’t notice it.

The extent of dimming depends on the period of time the light is switched ON. For instance, if the brightness is set to 60%, the LED light will be switched ON for 60% of the time and will remain switched OFF for 20% of the time.

This can work in normal circumstances but will cause hindrances when doing videography as a camera can easily capture the flaw. This method is not applicable in studios or during shooting. So another method for producing faint LED lights is used.

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Analog Dimming

It is a much easier option but can cause other issues. The LED light color at lower electric current changes a little. As analog dimming works by decreasing the quantity of current reaching the light, it can be the reason for the LED light changing its original color.

Concluding, it depends on your use and eventually the type of LED bulb and the dimmer you use. We recommend checking the compatibility of both the LED light and the dimmer before deciding on any of the two.

Basic LED Dimming Guidelines

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Check The Bulb

Choose a dimmable LED bulb if you want a dimmer effect. Look for the image, which is prominently displayed on product packaging and online listings by manufacturers.

Note: Be more careful while cutting any strips for attaching a dimmer, if you wondering which strip to cut check out our guide can you cut led light strips?

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Use A Dimmer That Is Compatible

As previously stated, you can use a traditional dimmer with an LED bulb. You could even try connecting a non-dimmable LED bulb to a traditional or trailing edge dimmer. However, this will not provide you with the best dimming experience. The dimming effect will be less than desired, there will be flickering and buzzing, and both the bulb and the dimmer will be damaged. It is best to use a compatible dimmer, such as a trailing edge dimmer.

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Select Tried And True Options

As the LED market grows, many manufacturers have jumped at the chance to profit from it. However, some manufacturers have used inferior materials to produce LED bulbs. As a result, the market has become oversaturated with subpar LED products that fail to perform as expected, burn out quickly, and even catch fire. Order your bulbs from a reputable supplier who can guarantee their safety and performance to save you from trouble.

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Build A Mockup

if you have a bulb, then try to connect it to your dimmer. Make sure that you have a matching bulb and dimmer. Check for issues such as flickering, buzzing, strobing, and so on. When these issues arise, you will most likely require a new bulb or dimmer. On the other hand, if there are no issues, you're good to go. You can now enjoy a dimming experience. Examine what works best in your space. Aside from that, you can approach a lumen master at thelightwire.com for assistance and guidance.

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Dimmable Vs Non-Dimmable LED Lights

Dimmable Vs Non-Dimmable LED Lights

If you are looking for a stable lighting option for your place then non-dimmable lights are the best option. If the same non-dimmable LED lights are installed throughout your house then switching them ON together will brighten up your space quite a bit and will create a more lively atmosphere while on the other hand, while dimmable LED bulbs provide a more subtle hue to your home. A plus point with them is that the brightness can be adjusted according to your mood.

If compared to incandescent bulbs both consume less energy resulting in a lower amount of bills to pay. But dimmable LED lights do have an added advantage, considering their dimmable feature they do use up less current when their brightness is reduced and their light is customizable. Summing it up, dimmable LED bulbs can be personalized and are even lighter in your pocket than non-dimmable lights.

Top Dimmable LED Flash

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Amazon Basics 60W Dimmable Bulb

Amazon Basics 60W Dimmable Bulb

Amazon Basics offer dimmable LED lightbulbs in a variety of wattages and sizes, with lifespans ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 hours. LED light bulbs last longer and use less energy than incandescent bulbs, making them an easy and environmentally friendly choice. These dimmable LED light bulbs emit clear daylight and soft white light, as well as incandescent-equivalent lumens and correlated color temperature.

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Dimmable Ascher Vintage LED Edison Bulbs

Dimmable Ascher Vintage LED Edison Bulbs

An Ascher E26 LED light bulb has a 20,000-hour average lifespan. To save over 90% on your lighting electricity bill, replace a 60W incandescent bulb with a 6W LED bulb. They are designed to fit into E26 screw bases and to be installed directly into fixtures. Chandeliers, pendant lighting, and wall sconces can be used indoors or outdoors. Typically used to decorate a home or business. There is a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom, a bar, a coffee shop, and a restaurant.

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ASD Ultra Thin LED Recessed Lights

ASD Ultra Thin LED Recessed Lights

Soft, warm lighting creates a welcoming environment and promotes relaxation. The installation of a white round 4-inch LED recessed light is straightforward. 4-inch white round LED recessed light with a frosted lens. It requires no functional space and is therefore ideal for low-ceiling apartments and low-profile installation. an intelligently designed diffuser that emits soft even lights while reducing shadows. If you love Soft Lighting, find out more here at soft white vs Daylight.

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Are Your Dimmable LED Bulbs Flickering?

Dimmable LED bulbs do flicker, the reason being the inconstant supply of voltage to the bulb. As soon as the voltage drops the bulb’s light fades away and it sheds light unsteadily. LED bulbs consist of electronic drivers which maintain a stable voltage supply but due to low-quality electronic drivers or substandard LED bulbs themselves, they then tend to perform poorly. Loose wiring or broken circuits can also be a reason for the unwanted flickering of LED lights.

There are two types of flickering; invisible and visible. Invisible flickering is not noticeable by the human eye and doesn’t harm your eyes much but does result in unnecessary strain on your eyes while reading or writing. Whereas, visible flickering can be visible to bare human eyes and is much more detrimental to your health and can cause serious health issues like epileptic seizures to some.

A solution to dimmable LED light bulbs flickering?

Firstly, a compatible driver is crucial for a LED bulb to stop flickering, A proper one will balance all the high peaks on the sine wave producing more consistent power and also eradicating unnecessary noise.

Secondly, addressing the changes in voltage will also put an end to the unstable light. The more the appliances are connected together the more the bulbs will flicker. Therefore making sure that the amount of current being supplied is enough to provide power to all your appliances like your refrigerator and others that need more power. An ideal situation would be that the light bulb’s circuit is entirely separate from the big appliances’ circuit.

Last but not least, if you have already considered the first two solutions but the bulb just does not stop flickering then it is time to either check the components of the LED bulb and replace it if it is still under warranty or just simply call a certified professional to examine all the wiring around the place and allow him to come up with a solution himself.

Why aren't some LEDs dimmable?

A dimmer switch's electric circuit dims the brightness of each connected light. This technology does not always work with LEDs. If you want a dimmable light bulb, you must purchase a product with a consistent feature that works with a dimmer switch.

Conclusion

As light remains an important part of our life, superior quality LED light bulbs can be promising for our health, money, and lifestyle. LED light bulbs save a great amount of energy while also being customizable. The solution to their problems are quite straightforward and they are easy to work with.