LED lights flickering when they are dimmed?

The most common issue with flickering is the dimmer and downlight compatibility issues. The dimmer and downlights must talk together in sync. Using old dimmers designed for halogen lights can cause LED globes to fail early or not work at all. Even if they do light up, it won't be long before you see your light bulbs start to flicker.

You want to use LED dimmers for LED downlights and, if possible, the same brand that it has been tested on. This should prevent compatibility issues and also give you an avenue to go back to the supplier more easily if there is an issue.

We have reviewed a number of different dimmers in our blog here and found that the MEDM by Diginet this dimmer is that good that is dims some non-dimmable products! We highly recommend making the investment in quality dimmers as buying cheap dimmers will cost you more in money in the long run. 

If you need help choosing the right dimmer (or light and dimmer combination), we're happy to help.

A note on traditional dimmers

Dimmers for traditional lights are specifically engineered for high wattage load incandescent bulbs. They work by evenly changing the amount of current that flows into the bulbs. They also go through a rapid on/off cycle to cut down the amount of energy that flows into the circuit.

The dimming effect is a result of the "persistence" of older light bulbs. When these bulbs get switched off, they go through a gradual "shut" down process. Since the dimmer quickly turns on and off, though, the lights never go out entirely.

Instead, they stay somewhere between, thus; the dimmed effect.

LED bulbs, on the other hand, don't have this permanence. They stop emitting light almost right after they stop receiving current. As such, dimmers designed for older types of bulbs may cause LED lights to flicker when dimmed.

The ripple effect is a side effect of "ripple control", which is a form of electricity load control. Ripple control is a common practice in Australia, especially in NSW and QLD. It allows electricity suppliers to manage the on-peak demand for electricity.

Without ripple control, electricity grids wouldn't be able to cater to everyone's needs. Besides, not controlling the loads can damage power plant facilities. If this happens, it can take them a long time to go back online.

A critical part of ripple control is reducing the amount of energy supplied to some areas of AU. This decrease usually occurs at the same time every day, whenever the on-peak demand is. In some places, it can be between 7 and 10 in the morning, as well as 5 and 10 in the evening.

Since ripple control reduces energy supply, one of the first things it can do is to cause LED lights to flicker. This is again due to the bulbs' low energy requirements.

Having numerous home appliances can make the ripple effect more obvious, though. Even if the energy supply drops, these devices will continue to consume the same amount of energy. So, there would be little, if any, left to power your LED lights.

Sometimes, flickering LED lights are a simple case of loosely-fitting bulbs. In this case, the socket isn't getting enough proper contact with the bulb itself. Because of this, even the slightest bulb movement can lead to intermittent flickering.

Please note that even LED downlights (or "recessed lights") can also loosen over time.

With that said, the first thing to do with flickering downlights is to screw their bulbs in tighter. Be careful when handling the bulbs, as excessive force can still cause them to crack. Don a glove too, to stay on the safe side, even if LED bulbs don't generate a lot of infrared radiation.

Over time, dust can accumulate on the surfaces of your LED bulbs and creep into the socket. If you haven't wiped your lighting fixtures for a long time, dirt may be behind your flickering light bulbs. Now's an excellent time to do some cleaning and brush away dirt build-up in and around the sockets.

It's best to unscrew the bulbs first so that you can give the sockets a deeper clean. Also, be sure to turn the power off prior to cleaning the light sockets!

Fun fact: Australia's home renovations market is a $32 billion sector. Why? Because many of the homes in the Land Down Under have been around since the early 1980s.

With that said, many of these older homes have developed a wide array of electrical problems. If you live in one of these houses, they might be the reason your LED lights keep flickering.

If cleaning the sockets and securing the bulbs don't fix the flicker, call an electrician. You may be dealing with malfunctioning electrical wiring that can pose fire hazards.

Dimmable LED lights will work even if you install them in a regular socket without a dimming feature. However, this defeats the purpose of investing in dimmable lighting products.

Non-dimmable LED bulbs in dimmers, on the other hand, are likely to flicker and even hum. They may still dim like the actual dimmable ones, but only if you set the dimmer to 100%.

Moreover, the use of non-dimmable LED lights in dimmers can affect their service life. The more often they flicker, the shorter their lifespan will become.

Do your LED bulbs flicker whenever you turn on high-voltage/wattage appliances? These include the electric stove, wall or room air conditioners, heaters, or washers.

In such cases, these "ghostly" experiences with your LED lights have to do with inrush current. This is the initial energy drawn by appliances when you first switch them on. Because they suck a lot of power, they can cause a voltage reduction.

If your LED lights hook up to the same circuit as the appliances, they may flicker or dim. Keep in mind that LED lights are already up to 75% more energy-efficient than old halogens lights. Since they use much less energy, further reducing the flow of current to them can make them turn on and off.

This is why appliances that require a lot of power should have their own circuits. This way, they won't interrupt the flow of electricity to other devices, like your LED bulbs.

Having a lot of appliances is fine, so long as your meter box can accommodate them all. This is the component that delegates electricity to all parts of your home, after all. If the one you have don't meet your growing energy demands, the first sign would be flickering LED lights.

As mentioned above, inrush current happens when you first turn on an appliance. However, as you keep adding appliances to your home, a circuit overload can already occur. The current that they demand from your electrical system is more than what it can handle.

As with faulty wiring, an electrician can help you determine if your meter box can still meet your needs. If not, then you'd likely need to upgrade to one with a higher rating. Aside from fixing your flickering LED lights, this also prevents electrical hazards.