When do you need a special dimmer for led lights
Things to Consider When Installing a New Dimmer Switch for Led Lightsįollowing are the few points that you need to keep in mind before installing a dimmer for LED lights:ġ) All LED bulbs usually have six small diodes on their base.
WHEN DO YOU NEED A SPECIAL DIMMER FOR LED LIGHTS INSTALL
You can also install an app for your smartphone or tablet computer that will let you take control of the lights from anywhere in the house, so they’ll never be too bright or too dim if you’re trying to go to sleep. The switch will be the same size as an old-fashioned one, but it will include sensors that can remember the light level and set it to that brightness every time you turn the lights on. If you want to use LED lights and still have the benefits of a dimmer, try replacing your existing incandescent dimmers with programmable models. Replace Your Incandescent Dimmers With Programmable Models However, prolonged use of LEDs without a decent dimming system can shorten the life of your LED bulbs, so you should check the wattage on existing dimmers and choose bulbs that are compatible with those lower wattages. LEDs are meant for use with dimming systems that will reduce the amount of energy they use. If you don’t want to invest in a new dimmer, you can try replacing your LED bulbs with incandescent ones and continue to use the old incandescent dimmers. Stay With Incandescent Bulbs If You Are Frugal In addition, the lights will be more efficient when on low, and you won’t have to replace your dimmers. These kits are available at local hardware stores, and they work with incandescent bulbs as well as LEDs so you can keep your existing dimmers operable. Many people have found the most affordable solution by installing dimming kits. What to Do if You Have Incandescent Dimmers and LEDs in Your Home? 1. It may become even shorter if you try to use an incandescent dimmer with them. The average life expectancy of the LEDs is 100,000 hours when used on a linear-style dimmer. A standard linear-style dimmer can damage LED lights because it is designed to dim incandescent lights.ħ. Lower wattage LEDs will have a shorter life span if used on an incandescent dimmerĦ. If you try to dim LEDs with an incandescent dimmer, they get very heated and could catch fire, or the bulbs may explode.ĥ. LED lights that are installed in dimmable fixtures must be replaced with LED bulbs designed for dimming, like the TriLite® Control-LED.Ĥ. LEDs are very different from incandescent light bulbs because they have some built-in resistance to reduce the amount of voltage reaching the bulb and put out less light per watt.ģ. Incandescent bulbs have no resistance, so you can dim (trimmed back) with a standard linear incandescent dimmer.Ģ. Reasons Why You Can’t Use an Incandescent Dimmer with LED Lightsġ. You may think this won’t work for bright bulbs or dim ones, but it’s a common problem. The reason for this is because these types of a switch aren’t able to put out enough heat at low wattages, which means they aren’t producing light either. If you’ve ever used a dimmer switch, then you might have noticed that the bulb changes color from white to yellow as it gets dimmer.
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It works well with incandescent bulbs because they produce heat when they’re turned on and can adjust the bulb’s brightness based on how hot it gets. They do this by altering how much power gets through, based on how dim or bright you want the light in your home. How Do Dimmers Work?ĭimmers work by adjusting the voltage that’s sent to a bulb. This blog post will discuss what type of bulb you need if you want to use an incandescent dimmer with LED lights or a different bulb that doesn’t work well with them. If you’re using LED lights, an incandescent dimmer won’t work because of their voltage needs and wattages.
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While this may be an excellent option for some, it’s not always the best choice for all types of bulbs. It gives you the options to set different levels of brightness from high to low. An incandescent dimmer is a great way to control the light in your home.