
You open up all of the packages and - what the heck? How do these things work? How do you turn them on? Welcome to the World of LED Drivers But bear in mind that the bulb will always function at its 100% capacity.You just returned from the hardware store with big dreams and an armload of LED strip lights. Dimmable LED bulbs not only allow you to adjust the light according to your needs, which may vary at different times of day, but they also help you cut down on your electricity bill when used at less than 100% capacity.Īnother related question that customers frequently ask is, Can I install non-dimmable LED bulbs with a dimming switch?

And if they are not compatible with your old dimmer, buying a new dimmer may be a smart move. Since dimmable LED bulbs are only marginally costlier than their non-dimmable cousins, they are worth the investment. However, the bulb will work at 100% output, which in turn defeats the whole purpose of buying a dimmable LED in the first place. Of course, you can use a dimmable LED bulb without a dimmer. If it won’t, you should consider upgrading to a new LED dimmer.

LEDs might not turn off at lowest dim setting (That happens because the dimmer assumes the LED bulb is fully turned off because of its low wattage usage)īefore you purchase an LED bulb, it is recommended that you check with the manufacturer if the bulb will work with your old dimmer.Smaller dimming rage (Roughly 70-90 percent range compared to 100 percent with incandescent bulbs).You may notice the following when you dim an LED with an old, incompatible dimmer: What that means is they may work but every now and then you may encounter some minor issues.īecause LEDs use such a low wattage, some old dimmers won’t function with them in the same manner as they work with incandescent bulbs, which consume high wattage. That’s because dimmable LEDs work with most old dimmers but not all of them.Īlso, with some old dimmers, LEDs might not work seamlessly.

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

One question that people shopping for LED bulbs ask, “Do I need a special dimmer switch for LED bulbs?” Sometimes LED bulbs work with old dimmers, sometimes they don’t. However, not all dimmable LED bulbs dim in the same way. Most LED bulbs, unlike incandescent bulbs or halogen bulbs, are dimmable.
