Dimmers allow you to control the amount of light in a room, which is a great way to reduce energy consumption. You can also use them to create different moods, such as a soft lighting for reading or a brighter atmosphere for cooking.
There are many types of dimmer switches available, and you may be confused about which ones will work best with LED lights. Two of the most common types are leading-edge dimmers and trailing edge phase-cut dimmers, both of which work by controlling the voltage at various phases of the alternating current in your lamp and reducing the power sent to it.
Both of these dimming techniques are safe, but the leading-edge dimmers can be slightly confusing to work with, because they don’t tell you how much current is actually flowing through the lamp. This makes them easier to confuse with regular incandescent bulbs, but can cause some of the same problems.
PWM, or pulse width modulation, is an alternative dimming technique that uses a simple electronic circuit to switch the output current of your LED driver on and off. The longer the “on” pulses and the shorter the “off” pulses, the brighter your LEDs will appear to be.
However, this technique can result in flickering of your LEDs, if the current is altered at low levels. Some drivers incorporate an Amplitude Modulation (AM) function that changes the input current to the LEDs rather than the output, resulting in less flickering.
Another method of dimming your LEDs is by switching the dimmer’s knob on and off. This is not as precise as a rotary type of dimmer, but it’s much safer and less complicated to install.
The most obvious solution to dim your LED lights is to install a dimmer. You can purchase these devices in many different shapes and sizes, but they all work the same way.
To connect a dimmer to your LEDs, first check that you have enough power. Many older lighting installations use a single three-way wire to carry power from one room to the next, so you will need to check this before you begin the installation process.
After determining that you have enough power, follow the instructions provided by the dimmer manufacturer to properly install your dimmer. Be sure to follow safety precautions, and only install this device if you are a licensed electrician or electrical contractor.
You can install your dimmer by disconnecting the wires from your wall box and reattaching them to the dimmer. Make sure to follow the dimmer’s installation instructions, and take note of any errors that you encounter during the process.
Once the dimmer is installed, you should turn it on and test it to make sure that it works correctly. If you do not, call a qualified professional to troubleshoot the problem.
Adding dimming controls to your LEDs can be a great way to save energy and reduce your monthly electricity bill. It can also help you achieve a more pleasing lighting environment, and it will allow you to easily adjust the amount of light in your home or workspace to match the needs of your guests.