Problem with dimmable LED lights
Discussion
I have 4 LED lights in the bathroom installed by a qualified electrician, with a dimming switch.
All worked fine.
Then we get a progressive problem over about 2 weeks - the lights get dimmer from their original brightness, and then go out sequentially, the one closest to the switch first after about 20-30 mins.
But they aren't failing, when you switch off the light, and back on, they come back on (but still at a reduced brightness vs when they were new).
The electrician has replaced the driver once and is investigating, but I thought I'd throw the problem out there... I'm guessing it's possible a brand mismatch.
http://luxreview.com/article/2016/02/10-things-you...
All worked fine.
Then we get a progressive problem over about 2 weeks - the lights get dimmer from their original brightness, and then go out sequentially, the one closest to the switch first after about 20-30 mins.
But they aren't failing, when you switch off the light, and back on, they come back on (but still at a reduced brightness vs when they were new).
The electrician has replaced the driver once and is investigating, but I thought I'd throw the problem out there... I'm guessing it's possible a brand mismatch.
http://luxreview.com/article/2016/02/10-things-you...
There are so many compatibility issues between dimmers and LEDs it's a minefield. The Varilight V-Pro dimmers seem to be one of the better ones out there, I have these working well with Screwfix LAP branded mains powered GU10 dimmable LEDs. You need to "program" them though to get the full dimming range.
C0ffin D0dger said:
There are so many compatibility issues between dimmers and LEDs it's a minefield. The Varilight V-Pro dimmers seem to be one of the better ones out there, I have these working well with Screwfix LAP branded mains powered GU10 dimmable LEDs. You need to "program" them though to get the full dimming range.
I've got a VPro IR dimmer, controlling 4 LAP dimmable LEDs and a wall light. I had to leave a standard filament lamp in the wall light, as without it the LEDs won't completely switch off.It also randomly responds to other remote commands, like switching the lights off when I turn the volume down on my Denon AVR, or press "rewind" on my BT TV box.
clockworks said:
C0ffin D0dger said:
There are so many compatibility issues between dimmers and LEDs it's a minefield. The Varilight V-Pro dimmers seem to be one of the better ones out there, I have these working well with Screwfix LAP branded mains powered GU10 dimmable LEDs. You need to "program" them though to get the full dimming range.
I've got a VPro IR dimmer, controlling 4 LAP dimmable LEDs and a wall light. I had to leave a standard filament lamp in the wall light, as without it the LEDs won't completely switch off.It also randomly responds to other remote commands, like switching the lights off when I turn the volume down on my Denon AVR, or press "rewind" on my BT TV box.
Just replaced the modules in my existing dimmers with these so they have a physical on/off as well as dimming: https://www.varilight.co.uk/configurator/product.p...C0ffin D0dger said:
There are so many compatibility issues between dimmers and LEDs it's a minefield. The Varilight V-Pro dimmers seem to be one of the better ones out there, I have these working well with Screwfix LAP branded mains powered GU10 dimmable LEDs. You need to "program" them though to get the full dimming range.
I have, mostly, the Screwfix LAP branded bulbs in my house, 3 rooms are on dimmers. They've been fine and I've never experienced the issue the OP has got. I will say though that I did have 5 Meridan/Meridian bulbs from Toolstation and 4 out of the 5 failed within 2 months of light use. When they failed, they would dim out, then back, then out then off - without touching the dimmer switch.It could be a case you've got a faulty batch?
You could try a switch just to eliminate one aspect but most likely it's a dimmer issue. I carry about 6 different brands of LED dimmer module on the van and try them all until one works without buzzing etc, compatibility is a constant issue. The problem is rather than start again with a clean sheet and make LED lamps/dimmers that work together best they make everything as backwards compatible with filament lamps as possible, so what you end up with is a compromise.
Sometimes you even find 4 lamps will dim fine on dimmer brand "a" but 10 lamps buzzes, wont dim low etc, 10 needs dimmer brand "b" for best results. Even though everything purportedly does the same function!
I used to find the megaman gu10 bulbs really good but they've changed the electronics and now they seem to buzz quite audibly on everything bar varilight dimmers.
Sometimes you even find 4 lamps will dim fine on dimmer brand "a" but 10 lamps buzzes, wont dim low etc, 10 needs dimmer brand "b" for best results. Even though everything purportedly does the same function!
I used to find the megaman gu10 bulbs really good but they've changed the electronics and now they seem to buzz quite audibly on everything bar varilight dimmers.
hairyben said:
You could try a switch just to eliminate one aspect but most likely it's a dimmer issue. I carry about 6 different brands of LED dimmer module on the van and try them all until one works without buzzing etc, compatibility is a constant issue. The problem is rather than start again with a clean sheet and make LED lamps/dimmers that work together best they make everything as backwards compatible with filament lamps as possible, so what you end up with is a compromise.
Sometimes you even find 4 lamps will dim fine on dimmer brand "a" but 10 lamps buzzes, wont dim low etc, 10 needs dimmer brand "b" for best results. Even though everything purportedly does the same function!
I used to find the megaman gu10 bulbs really good but they've changed the electronics and now they seem to buzz quite audibly on everything bar varilight dimmers.
I’m pleased to hear that from a professional. Sometimes you even find 4 lamps will dim fine on dimmer brand "a" but 10 lamps buzzes, wont dim low etc, 10 needs dimmer brand "b" for best results. Even though everything purportedly does the same function!
I used to find the megaman gu10 bulbs really good but they've changed the electronics and now they seem to buzz quite audibly on everything bar varilight dimmers.
I simply have no joy with LED lighting at all. I fitted some LED brake lamps to my car and the net result was the front lamps turned on permanently and couldn’t be turned off!!!
I’ve replaced 12v halogen spots with LEDs and in a room of 10 lamps there will always be one that doesn’t light, one that flickers and another that buzzes.
And I’ve never found a 250v LED plus dimmer combo that works.
I really want to change everything in the house to LED but it does seem to be a real minefield.
DrDeAtH said:
If you need to put a bit more load on the circuit, add in a resloade. It helps if using a dimmer switch or a lightwave rf switch.
Is there a purpose-built (and tested) load module on the market, or just a case of adding a wire-wound resistor to simulate the load of a filament lamp?Presumably this would be wired across one of the LED fittings, rather than inside the switch backbox?
I've never been successful with dimming LEDs either, as ben says you think you find a combo that works but on the next job you do it doesn't work because you fitted 8 LEDs and on the one that worked there were only 7, its a stupid problem that doesn't need to exist.
It can work because loads of LEDs dim perfectly when the correct gear is used, take a £20 LED tape light, it will dim smoothly without any issue using a £10 controler so price has nothing to do with it.
I'm an electrician and I've still got about 50 12 volt halogen downlights in my house, mostly on dimmers, they are about 7 years old and I've not had to change one transformer yet and maybe 6 lamps in that time. I have no intentions to change them to LED any time soon. Granted they are not on a lot but using dimmers on halogens negates so many problems associated with halogen downlights. Plus LEDs give off a horrible light compared to halogens.
It can work because loads of LEDs dim perfectly when the correct gear is used, take a £20 LED tape light, it will dim smoothly without any issue using a £10 controler so price has nothing to do with it.
I'm an electrician and I've still got about 50 12 volt halogen downlights in my house, mostly on dimmers, they are about 7 years old and I've not had to change one transformer yet and maybe 6 lamps in that time. I have no intentions to change them to LED any time soon. Granted they are not on a lot but using dimmers on halogens negates so many problems associated with halogen downlights. Plus LEDs give off a horrible light compared to halogens.
mickmcpaddy said:
I'm an electrician and I've still got about 50 12 volt halogen downlights in my house, mostly on dimmers, they are about 7 years old and I've not had to change one transformer yet and maybe 6 lamps in that time. I have no intentions to change them to LED any time soon. Granted they are not on a lot but using dimmers on halogens negates so many problems associated with halogen downlights. Plus LEDs give off a horrible light compared to halogens.
I quite like the white light from the ones we have.On a side note, they do of course strobe, which you don't get with halogen, and it starts to show as banding in photographs taken indoors. Slightly annoying
I found a VPro dimmer with Philips leds worked nicely. The Philips bulbs have a very good spectrum (2700K and to my eyes identical to a typical incandescent). Dimming worked as expected, but I was careful to buy dimmable bulbs as obviously not all are.
The only complaint was that some would go a little green at very low brightness (around 30% or lower), rather than dimming towards orange as a filament would. They have "warm glow" LED bulbs available now which dim towards orange and so look better at low brightness.
The only complaint was that some would go a little green at very low brightness (around 30% or lower), rather than dimming towards orange as a filament would. They have "warm glow" LED bulbs available now which dim towards orange and so look better at low brightness.
Flibble said:
I found a VPro dimmer with Philips leds worked nicely. The Philips bulbs have a very good spectrum (2700K and to my eyes identical to a typical incandescent). Dimming worked as expected, but I was careful to buy dimmable bulbs as obviously not all are.
The only complaint was that some would go a little green at very low brightness (around 30% or lower), rather than dimming towards orange as a filament would. They have "warm glow" LED bulbs available now which dim towards orange and so look better at low brightness.
They don't dim towards orange. They have white and amber coloured LEDs so when the whites dim the amber shows more. It's a trick. The only complaint was that some would go a little green at very low brightness (around 30% or lower), rather than dimming towards orange as a filament would. They have "warm glow" LED bulbs available now which dim towards orange and so look better at low brightness.
E36GUY said:
They don't dim towards orange. They have white and amber coloured LEDs so when the whites dim the amber shows more. It's a trick.
If it gives the same effect I don't much care how it's actually done tbh. All white LEDs are a "trick", as long as the trick works, who cares? That said I've not seen them to see how effective it is.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff