LED light bulbs are a brilliant invention but they haven’t been without their issues. At first, they all looked similar to lights in an operating room. Now, you can get them in a range of light colors and even dimmable. But sometimes a dimmable led flashes for no apparent reason. There are 6 main reasons for that flashing and all are easy to solve.
Table of Contents
6 Reasons Why a Dimmable LED Flashes
Dimmable bulbs will flash for several reasons. Even with the best brands of dimmable LEDs, you will occasionally get flashing. Work down this list from top to bottom in order to figure out why your dimmable LED is flashing and flickering.
1. LED Bulb is Non-Dimmable
Be very careful to read the fine print at the bottom of the bulb packaging to see if it is actually dimmable. It will also say “dimmable” just around the base of the bulb. Non-dimmable LED bulbs will suffer a range of symptoms if they are dimmed that include flashing, flickering, not turning on, not turning off, and more.
2. Dimmer and the Bulb are Not Compatible
A bulb and a dimmer must be compatible for the LED to dim appropriately. For the most part, Lutron and Leviton dimmers are compatible with most LEDs as long as they are labeled to work on LEDs. You can’t make a non-LED dimmer work for an LED bulb because the voltage just doesn’t go as low as most LEDs need in order to dim rather than turn off.
3. Other Appliances Turning On
LED bulbs may flicker or become dimmer temporarily when other appliances turn on such as an oven or a microwave. If appliances are on the same circuit as an LED bulb, they draw power voltage from the supply to the LED, causing this effect. Typically, other lights turning on will not be enough to dim an LED.
4. The Light Bulb is Dying
While LED bulbs are marketed as lasting decades, they do die eventually. When an LED starts to die, whether or not it is dimmable, it will start to flash. Another symptom the bulb is getting old is that it is dimmer in general when the light is turned all the way up.
5. Loose Wiring
For a circuit that was recently wired, or one where the wiring was just changed, it’s possible that the wiring connections became loose. This causes an interruption in the electrical charge going to the bulb and results in dimmable LED flashing randomly.
6. Defective LED Bulb
If you have a dimmable LED flashing and you’ve checked the other 3 reasons, try swapping the flashing bulb with one that you know works. Just like other products, bulbs can be defective. If the bulb that you know is good works okay, the first LED bulb was probably defective.
Finding a Good LED Compatible Dimmer
Dimmable LED bulbs flash and flicker the most when they are paired with an incompatible dimmer. Look on the back of the LED box to see which dimmers a bulb is compatible with and ask a lighting specialist if you are unsure. Because of the low wattage, you cannot use an incandescent dimmer, even if the LED bulb is dimmable.
Get Quality Products
Every dimmer brand has a compatibility chart that shows which brand of LED bulb it is compatible with. If you are unsure, ask a lighting specialist for help. However, more established and higher rated dimmer brands will typically have a wider range of compatibility. Discount dimmer brands may only be compatible with a few bulbs.
Best LED Dimmers to Consider
Lutron and Leviton are two dimmer brands that offer excellent compatibility with most LED bulbs. Especially for common brands of LEDs such as Satco, Sylvania, and Phillips, these two brands are great options. They also offer numerous different options for style and switch type so that you can customize your dimmer to your choosing.
LED Bulb Flickering When Dimmer is on High
If your dimmer is on high and an LED bulb is flickering, and not one single quick flash, it is probably due to a dimmer incompatibility. Try the bulb in a light socket that isn’t on a dimmer. If it stops flashing, the dimmer is the problem.
What if a Dimmer Light is Flickering on Low
LED bulbs will typically flicker when the dimmer is set to low because there isn’t enough voltage going to the bulb in order to keep it on at a steady rate. Try turning the dimmer up slightly and then set it to the lower setting.
Are Flashing LED Lights Dangerous
Flashing LED lights are not dangerous to the vast majority of the population. The major issue with flashing bulbs is that they are annoying and distracting. However, it is possible that if the bulb flashes at just the wrong pattern and intensity, it could cause a seizure in people with epilepsy.
What if My LED Bulb is Flashing or Strobing Quickly
A short period of quick flashing in an LED bulb is not usually a cause for concern. Even a good bulb with a compatible dimmer may have a short period of quick flashes. However, if the flashing lasts for longer than a few seconds, this is a good indicator that the light bulb is dying or your dimmer is incompatible. The best way to figure out the cause is to try a different light bulb in the socket. If that bulb does okay, the first light bulb is dying and should be replaced.
Conclusion
A dimmable LED flashing is not a cause for concern and is a common problem. In general, the best prevention for this issue is to buy good light bulbs and dimmer controls. However, solving the mystery of why your bulb is flashing is usually simple and always easy to fix. If you still can’t figure it out, take a bulb from your home to the hardware store and ask a lighting specialist to help you.