Can You Put Led Lights On A Dimmer Switch

How to know if your bulbs and dimmer are compatible.

Can you put led lights on a dimmer switch.

If only one switch controls the light purchase a single pole dimmer. 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. If testing reveals your box isn t grounded you can still install the dimmer but you must use a plastic cover plate and make sure no bare metal parts are exposed. Test it again for a ground.

Some dimmers are universal and will work for both single pole and three way circuits but read the packaging to be sure. With a three way dimmer you can control a light with two switches. Led and fluorescent dimming works a little differently. It s a common misconception that any led dimmer can be paired with any dimmable led light bulb.

This means that the led driver has built in circuitry that can detect the ac being chopped and dim the led light accordingly. A common issue with led dimmability is sudden turn on or turn off when you try to adjust light levels with your dimmer switch. Then place the leads of a voltage tester between each screw terminal and the metal box. The cost for installing a trailing edge dimmer usually ranges from 60 to 200 depending on the contractor you hire and ease of the installation.

Or your led lamps may simply flicker or flash when paired with certain dimmer switches. 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 dimming the bulb will likely cause erratic behavior such as flickering or buzzing and ultimately may cause damage to the bulb. You will need a three way dimmer and a three way switch. When purchasing your new dimmer switch you ll need to know whether the lighting circuit is a single pole lights controlled from one location or a three way lights controlled from two locations.

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. This lets you dim from one location and turn the lights on and off from another. Led dimmer switches are a great way to save on electricity and set the right ambiance for your home. Contrary to popular belief it is possible to put a dimmer switch on led lights without the help of a professional.

Here s how we d describe some of those symptoms. For example a 600 watt incandescent dimmer can support up to eight 75 watt bulbs. If you have a leading edge dimmer that doesn t work with led bulbs you ll want to contact a professional about installing a trailing edge dimmer. Turn the power back on.

The bottom line is compatibility. If you try to use a dimmer switch with a standard non dimmable led driver then the lights will go off or may start to flicker.