A Guide to Dimmable Lighting and Its Different Lighting Methods

Incandescent and fluorescent lights are a thing of the past. Today, dimmable LED lights are leading the way when it comes to the most advanced lighting technology. LED lights offer glare-free lighting conditions that are both energy efficient and provide longer-lasting power than traditional bulbs. From conventional to home use, LED lights were created to replace old technology and conventional light sources. As not all LED lights are dimmable, it’s important to shop carefully so you can cater to your home or business needs and pick the perfect lighting for your space.

Why Should You Choose Dimmable LED Lights?

Dimmable light fixtures serve multiple purposes in commercial and home settings. The updated technology caters to your needs. For instance, LED under cabinet lighting illuminates kitchen countertops for ease when cooking or reading recipes so that you don’t strain your eyes. Dimmable LED lighting is created to fit your lifestyle instead of making you adjust to your environment. Powerful LED flood lights brighten up walkways, parking lots, and doorways where you need higher visibility for more peace of mind. Lighting can have an enormous effect on workers’ productivity, which is why dimmable LED lights present the perfect opportunity to personalize lighting to employees’ needs.

Dimmable LED lights are energy-efficient, which will save you money on electric bills. The dimming feature enables you to get long-lasting use out of LED lights, as light dimmed to half of its brightness, only requiring half the energy to power the bulb.

Dimmable LED lights are not only practical but also serve aesthetic purposes to set the tone for your home or business. Dimmable LED lights come in different color temperatures that truly set the mood. So whether you want a relaxed atmosphere around the dinner table or bright lights at the office—you can customize dimmable LED lights for your space!

Are All LED Lights Dimmable?

Not all LED lights are dimmable, however, there are simple steps you can take to ensure the light you are purchasing can dim and will dim with your circuit. We make it easy to shop for dimmable LED lights with our dimmable search filter. However, if you are shopping elsewhere, check out our tips below for more clarity.

Check the Packaging: Verify on the product label whether the light is dimmable or not. This should be laid out clearly in the product description or technical specifications. Be careful not to put a dimmable LED light on a non-dimmer switch and vice versa to avoid damaging the bulb or using the bulb at full capacity.

Check for Bulb and Switch Compatibility: In the past, switches were designed for bulbs with higher wattage output. Leading-edge dimmers are much less suitable for dimmable LED lights compared to trailing-edge dimmers. Be sure to check the compatibility of the bulbs with the dimmer switch.

What Are Some Common Dimming Compatibility Issues?

A dimmable LED light’s performance hinges on the type of dimmer it’s paired with. LED bulbs are most compatible with trailing-edge dimmers while leading-edge dimmers are more suitable for incandescent and halogen bulbs. This is because the leading-edge dimmer outputs a much higher wattage (between 250W and 1000W). Trailing edge dimmers are more optimal for LED bulbs as they have similar power ranges and even do a better job at dimming more traditional light bulbs than leading-edge dimmers. If you try to pair a dimmable LED light with an incompatible switch, you may run into some of these common issues outlined below.

What Are the Differences Between Non-Dimmable and Dimmable LED Lights?

The biggest difference between dimmable light fixtures and non-dimmable LED light sources is the ability to control the brightness in a room or work area. Non-dimmable LED lighting contains a specific type of driver that only accounts for two modes: On or Off. While dimmable LED lighting can adjust its brightness based on how you wish to set the ambiance of the room. So whether you want festive outdoor LED landscape lights to light up a walkway in your home or LED downlights to keep students relaxed while they take tests at school—dimmable LED lights can be adjusted based on your changing needs.

How Are LED Lights Dimmed?

Dimmable lighting seems to brighten and dim like magic, which begs the question, “how do dimmers work?" Dimmable light fixtures rely on a cycle that’s different than traditional lighting. For instance, incandescent lights generate heat to glow while LED lights rely on a driver to operate the current and diminish light. An LED driver is an electronic device that regulates the electrical current supplied to the LED lights. The voltage required for LED lights operates anywhere from 1.8 to 3.3 volts but fluctuates depending on the color and type of LED.

All dimmable LED light fixtures need an LED driver to adjust the voltage output signaled by the dimming switch. This current can be regulated in one of two ways. Pulse width modulation (PWM) switches currents on and off at high frequencies while constant current reduction (CCR) or analog dimming, adjusts a steady current that is continuously connected to the source.

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

PWM dimming utilizes rapid switching that allows the driver signal to be switched On or Off. It operates at an output speed of thousands of times per second that prevents the bulb from flickering and forms a rectangular waveform to adjust the device’s current.

Analog Dimming

Analog dimming is less expensive and complicated compared to PWM dimming. Analog dimming adjusts an LED’s current and can be located remotely from the lighting fixture. It digitally dims devices for ease of use.

What Are the Different Types of Dimmable Lighting?

Most desire to simply flip a switch to brighten up their room, but before you purchase an LED light it’s important to find out which dimming type is most compatible with your bulb and driver.

Leading Edge Dimming

Leading-edge dimming cuts the waveform at the beginning and is the most common type of dimming. The most widely used device is a TRIAC dimmer. TRIAC dimmers were created with incandescent lights in mind and may present some compatibility issues with LED lights. LED drivers may pull in more current, causing the light to flicker. However, some manufacturers are now solving this problem with flicker-free designs.

Trailing Edge Dimming

Trailing edge dimming is not as common compared to leading-edge dimming. This type of dimming cuts the wave at the tail end of the AC sine wave, hence its name. While not as popular as other dimmers, these types of dimmers may be quieter and smoother compared to leading-edge dimmers. They are a great fit for dimmable LED shop lights to give customers a comfortable shopping experience.

0-10V Dimming

0-10V dimming was most widely used with fluorescent lighting, but still pairs well with LED lights if you plan to update your lighting to dimmable LED light fixtures in the future. This type of dimming utilizes a low voltage 0-10V DC signal to operate the light from zero to ten volts—meaning you can dim the room down to 10% or 0.1%! However, one of the drawbacks of the design is that the light still may run even if the dimmer is turned off.

Interested in our variety of dimmable products? Look through our selection of dimmer switches and find the right match for your residential or commercial needs!

Article Written by Jason S.

Jason is a Product Marketing Manager. His goal is to get reliable and safe products into the hands of customers—all at an affordable price. His client-focused initiatives bring high-quality products to market that exceed consumer expectations while fulfilling the purpose they were designed to achieve.