Welcome to our webshop, the destination for high-quality LED lighting. In this blog article, we would like to share how to properly dim LED lighting. Dimming LED lighting is a great way to transform the atmosphere in your home and save energy. Read on to discover how to get the most out of your LED lighting and create the perfect ambiance for any occasion.
How do I dim my LED lighting?
LED lighting is basically easy to dim. However, you need the right LED dimmer to achieve this. Dimming LED does not work the same as traditional lighting. For example, if you dim an LED lamp by 50%, you retain about 50% of the light output. With halogen, reducing the current by 20% results in about 40% of the light output remaining. This is due to the different dim curves of halogen and LED.
Choose the right dimmer
When dimming LED lighting, it is important to choose the correct dimmer. Not all dimmers are suitable for LED lighting, so make sure to purchase a dimmer specifically designed for LED lamps. These dimmers provide a smooth and stable dimming experience without flickering or buzzing noises.
Check compatibility
Before purchasing a dimmer, it is important to check compatibility with your LED lamps. LED lamps have different dimming ranges and some may not work well with certain dimmers. Carefully read the product specifications of both the lamps and dimmers to ensure they work well together.
Use a phase-cut dimmer
For most LED lamps, a phase-cut dimmer is the best choice. These dimmers work well with most types of LED lighting and offer a wide dimming range. Make sure to use a quality phase-cut dimmer to guarantee the best performance.
Try different dim levels
One of the advantages of LED lighting is that you can adjust the brightness to your needs. Experiment with different dim levels to create the desired atmosphere. Whether you want an intimate ambiance for a romantic dinner or bright lighting for reading a book, LED lighting can meet all your wishes.
Create zones with dimmers
If you want to light different parts of a room with different brightness levels, consider using multiple dimmers. This allows you to create zones and control the lighting in each zone separately. This is ideal for open spaces, such as living rooms, where you want versatile and adjustable lighting.
Save energy by dimming
An additional benefit of dimming LED lighting is that you can save energy. By lowering the brightness of your lamps, they consume less energy, resulting in a lower energy bill. Moreover, dimming the lighting can extend the lifespan of your LED lamps.
My LED lamps flicker, how do I fix this?
Flickering of LED lighting is usually caused by an incorrect dimmer. You always need an LED dimmer that matches the specifications of your lighting. LED dimmers have different properties and power ratings. Always pay close attention to how many lamps you will connect, the total power of these lamps, and the capacity of your LED dimmer.
Are all LED lamps dimmable?
The answer to this question is simply no. Not all LED lamps are dimmable. LED chips are powered by an LED driver, which is often integrated into the product and not visible. Some (larger) LED lamps, such as LED panels or recessed spotlights, have external LED drivers. This LED driver determines whether the lighting is dimmable or not. In some cases, you can replace a non-dimmable LED driver with a dimmable driver to make the lighting dimmable. Always check the lamp description carefully to see if it is dimmable or not.
Minimum and maximum load of the LED dimmer
When purchasing an LED dimmer, it is important to pay attention to the minimum and maximum power of the dimmer. Dimmers have different min. and max. power ratings. For example, this could be a minimum of 3 Watts and a maximum of 150 Watts. If you try to dim a single 2 Watt LED lamp with this, it will not work or not work properly. The same applies for an LED lamp of 160W. Add up the wattage of your LED lighting and check if the LED dimmer can handle the power.
Dimming multiple LED lamps with one LED dimmer
It is possible to dim multiple LED lamps with one LED dimmer provided it can handle the combined power of the LED lamps.
Which LED dimmer do I need?
The right LED dimmer depends on your specific situation and requirements. Pay attention to the following aspects when purchasing an LED dimmer:
- Check if your LED lamp is dimmable
- The combined power of your LED lamps must be within the capacity of the LED dimmer (10% below the maximum power)
- If you replace an existing dimmer and want to reuse the cover plate, check if the cover plate fits the new dimmer
- Check whether the LED lamp switches on phase cut-on or phase cut-off. A lamp that needs to be dimmed with phase cut-off will not dim with a phase cut-on dimmer and vice versa. Fortunately, this does no damage; it just won’t dim.
- If you want to control the lighting via an app or voice, consider a smart LED dimmer
