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led lights flicker on dimmer

Author

Jessica Young

Updated on August 17, 2026

LED bulb flickering can be traced in almost every instance to a non-compatible dimmer switch in the lighting circuit. Modern dimmer switches create the dimming effect by switching the power supply on and off many times per second.

How do I stop my dimmable LED lights from flickering?

Summary – How to stop LEDs flickering
Always drive LED products using an LED power supply that’s designed for the job. Make sure all your LED products are compatible with the control circuits and power supply you’re using.Check for loose wiring and other faulty connections. Consider using a constant-current LED driver.

Can a dimmer switch causes lights to flicker?

Dimmer Switches

One of the most common sources of flickering for LED bulbs is the use of dimmer switches. The majority of dimmers are made to handle higher electrical loads. This means that the low-voltage LEDs may dim or flicker if they are connected to higher-power dimmer switches.

How do I stop my LED bulbs from flickering?

Often the issue of flickering LEDs can be as simple as using non-dimmable LED bulbs on dimmer switches. It is a simple but commonly overlooked problem. The fix is also simple, just replace non dimmable LEDs with dimmable LED bulbs.

Do you need a special dimmer switch for LED lights?

A standard dimmer switch cannot be used with an LED light as you will never be able to dim the LED light either completely or not very well. LED lights need their own special electronic dimmer switch to have a fully functioning and dimming light.

How do I know if my dimmer switch is LED compatible?

Check Your Existing Dimmer

The type of dimmer switch and it’s minimum/maximum load range will indicate the compatibility with LED light bulbs. Trailing edge dimmers work best with LED light bulbs and leading-edge dimmers work best with traditional incandescent and halogen light bulbs.

Why do my downlights flicker when 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 on LED downlights will most likely cause flickering. This is not to say they won’t work, you will just need to test first.

Why do LED lights flicker when turned on?

Some electrical switches do have their own pilot lights which indicate if there is current or not. Such pilot lights usually take up a fraction of the current to stay illuminated. In the case of low voltage, if the right amount of current is not delivered to the LED lights, they will flicker for sure.

Can you use non dimmable LED bulbs with a dimmer switch?

If you install a non-dimming LED bulb in a circuit with a dimming switch, it will likely operate normally if the dimmer is at its 100% or fully on. Dimming the bulb, will likely cause erratic behavior such as flickering or buzzing and ultimately may cause damage to the bulb.

What bulbs work with dimmer switch?

Incandescent and halogen light bulbs work well with dimmer switches. However, due to many advances in lighting technology, CFLs and LEDs are catching up and doing a good job, the same as incandescent light bulbs do.

How do you fix a flickering LED downlight?

If the flickering stops, it’s quite likely just a loose connection. If the flickering persists (and a dimmer has been ruled out as the cause) then a new transformer may be required. An alternative solution is to do away with 12V MR16 lighting altogether and upgrade to a mains voltage LED downlight.

Can flickering lights cause a fire?

Yes, flickering lights can be a warning sign that there is a fire hazard in your home. When lights flicker all over the house and are not associated with a large or major appliance, such as an air conditioner, turning on it could mean that there is an issue with the wiring, which could cause a fire.

Why are some LEDs not dimmable?

Damage or failure – LED driver, circuit or LED is damaged or fails. Load below minimum – The power load of the LED lamp is below the minimum required by the dimmer. Mixed models- Different models of LED will likely have different drivers – since drivers behave differently this could result in dimming issues.

Can I install a dimmer switch on LED light?

If you plan to use an LED bulb, you need to make sure you are selecting an LED dimmer, as LED runs on a DC current. LED bulbs are also compatible with smart dimmer switches. While LED will work with CFL switches, CFL dimmers are still recommended for these bulbs.

Are all LED light fixtures dimmable?

While most LED bulbs are now dimmable, not all of them are and not all of them dim in the same manner Since LEDs consume such a low wattage, many types of dimmers do not function with LED in the same way that they do with high wattage load incandescents.

Why do my downlights flicker when 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 on LED downlights will most likely cause flickering. This is not to say they won’t work, you will just need to test first.

How do you fix LED ghosting?

3 options here:
Change the LEDs to an approved product- may not solve the problem.Change dimmer to the PD-6ANS- most likely would solve or at least reduce the “ghosting” you are experiencing.Try the LUT-MLC- lots of posts on this, Lutron reluctantly has mentioned the MLC with dimming now.