In contrast to regular lightbulbs and halogen lamps, when dimming LEDs, you have to pay close attention to whether it is possible to even dim them at all. In addition to this, the right combination of dimmer, transformer and light source is crucial. In our guide, you will learn what you need to consider when dimming LEDs and come to understand the technology involved.
In rooms such as the living room or dining room, it is often beneficial to be able to adjust the main light in the room. For dining and socialising, for example, the lights might need to be bright, but for reading, watching TV, or for a cosy glass of wine in the evening, it could then be a bit darker. That’s why dimmers are the best choice for creating different lighting moods in a room. Dimming LED bulbs is not so easy – there are several factors to watch out for.
The on and off phase control dimmer
In principle, two different types of dimming are possible for dimming LED lamps: the phase angle dimmer and the phase segment dimmer. With the phase angle dimmer, the zero-voltage crossing of the sinus during the half cycle delays the switching on and therefore reduces the voltage consumption. The principle is similar for the phase segment dimmer, but here the voltage is switched on at the zero-voltage crossing, and then switches off during the half wave. However not all LED bulbs are dimmable. When buying LED lamps, you must always make sure that they are marked as “dimmable” on the packaging.
Conventional incandescent or halogen lamps can simply be dimmed by reducing the voltage. This is not the case with LEDs. They need a certain voltage (forward voltage) to shine at all. After that, the brightness increases very quickly as the voltage increases further. This means that the dimmer has to work very precisely with the voltage characteristic of an LED. Another difference: LEDs require a direct current, so the AC power from the socket must be converted by a technical ballast – and this must just be aligned for dimming. If this is not the case, either the lamp, the dimmer, or both can be damaged during a dimming attempt.
Which dimmer to use according to LED
The letters R, L, and C on the packages indicate the dimmer, the transformer and the LED. In order for the interaction of the three components to work, these letters must match for the three individual parts. For example, if you have a dimmable 230V LED, then you usually need a phase control dimmer (R, L) for normal transformers. Or if you have a dimmable 12V LED with electrical transformer, you will need a reverse phase control dimmer (R, C). This results in various combination options – but you should be aware of which transformer and which dimmer come into question when buying the bulb, to avoid troubles further down the line.
Which products this will work with…?
Fundamentally, in addition to phase control and reverse phase control dimmers, there are also universal dimmers that function both as phase control and reverse phase control dimmers. The dimmers must also match the charge of the lamp. Many dimmers are still designed for the higher base and maximum charges of incandescent and halogen lamps and therefore do not work with LED lamps, because modern LED lamps consume significantly less charge. In our online shop, you will find a large selection of dimmers, also designed for LEDs.
Advantages of dimmable LEDs
In addition to the different lighting moods you can create in a room with a dimmer, there are two other basic advantages of dimmable LED bulbs. By dimming them, the bulbs last longer, and you also save energy as you are supplying less power to the dimmed light.
Dimming without any problems
If you pay attention to whether the LED bulb is dimmable when buying, alongside which components the dimming function works with, you then avoid any nasty surprises. And when the work’s been done successfully, you can then clink glasses in your newly dimmed living room, celebrating that you can now create the perfect lighting for every situation. Cheers!
Useful products:
Universal rotary dimmer
Universal rotary dimmer for LEDs
