Can you mix LED and incandescent lights on a dimmer?

Switching out incandescent light bulbs for LED bulbs is a great way to cut down on your monthly energy bills. Well, the answer depends: Yes, LED lights work on a dimmer when: You have “dimmable” LED light bulbs. You use an LED compatible dimmer.

Simply so, can you mix LED and incandescent lights in the same fixture?

Mistake #1: Mixing LED bulbs with incandescent bulbs is ok. No, it is not. Mixing LED with incandescent lighting causes poor performance. If using both on the same circuit, your incandescent light will draw more power, causing the LED to flicker.

Additionally, can LED lights be used in incandescent fixtures? Yes, in many cases, you can simply replace your bulbs separately, one by one. Replacing your existing incandescent or halogen bulbs with durable LED bulbs offers numerous benefits. You enjoy an even better light performance and benefit from very low energy consumption.

Considering this, do you need special Dimmer for LED lights?

Use an LED Dimmer switch 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.

What LED light is closest to incandescent?

The popular colors available for LEDs are "warm white" or "soft white," and "bright white." Warm white and soft white will produce a yellow hue, close to incandescents, while bulbs labeled as bright white will produce a whiter light, closer to daylight and similar to what you see in retail stores.

29 Related Question Answers Found

What is the difference between LED and incandescent dimmers?

The main difference is that you have a smaller dimming range (typically 70-90% range vs. 100% with incandescent or halogen). LED Bulbs may not shut off at the lowest dim setting like traditional bulbs. With LED bulbs you cannot limit the power to the driver, because if you do, the bulb would flicker or just turn off.

Can I put a 100w LED bulb in a 60w?

LED bulbs that deliver 800 lm are considered to have equal light output to standard 60W bulbs. If your fixture is rated to accept 60 Watts, you can safely use 75W, 100W, or even 125W equal bulbs (which all draw less than 50 Watts of power) instead.

Will LED bulbs work in any fixture?

As long as the mounting base (socket) is the same size and type, you can use an LED bulb in an existing fixture. If the mounting base isn't the same size and type, the LED bulb will not fit the socket. You should never use a bulb with a higher wattage than what is recommended for the fixture.

Can I put an LED bulb in an incandescent fixture?

Some LED bulbs say they're OK in enclosed fixtures. LED bulbs are often larger (even if the mount is the same), so an LED might not fit. If the fixture or circuit runs a small amount of current through the bulb at all times, this can cause a LED bulb to stay lit.

Why do LED bulbs not work in some lamps?

Heat Heat is a killer of bulbs. Yet the heat sink surrounding the actual LED diodes of the bulb is the reason some LEDs are considered unattractive. This heat sink draws heat out and away from the diodes, keeping the bulb cool and allowing the LED to glow longer.

Can you connect LED lights to regular lights?

The short answer is no. You can't use LED replacement bulbs (if you can find them) to replace traditional mini lights on a traditional light string. It may seem like a good idea, cost-effective and simple. However, the wiring for your classic lights is different and unsuitable to handle LEDs.

Are LED and CFL bulbs interchangeable?

When you replace CFL with LED bulbs, you're dramatically reducing the cost of replacement lamps as well as maintenance time and fees. LEDs also use significantly less power than other lighting options.

What happens if you put a non dimmable LED bulb in a dimmer?

?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.

Why do my LED lights flicker on a dimmer switch?

LED bulb flickering can be traced in almost every instance to a non-compatible dimmer switch in the lighting circuit. LED bulbs don't have glowing filaments. When the dimmer switch goes off and on many times per second, the LED bulb becomes a flickering strobe light.

How do I know if my dimmer switch is led?

Any dimmer switch is compatible with incandescent or halogen light bulbs as the following conditions are met:

The dimmer switch is rated for the same voltage as the lighting application.
The total wattage of all lamps is less than or equal to the maximum wattage rating on the dimmer switch.

What type of dimmer switch do I need for LED lights?

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.

What is the best dimmer switch for LED lights?

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Insteon SwitchLinc Remote Control Dimmer at Amazon.
Best Budget: Philips Hue Smart Dimmer Switch at Amazon.
Runner-Up, Best Budget: Lutron Maestro Companion Dimmer at Amazon.
Best Smart Dimmer Starter Kit: Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Lighting Starter Kit at Amazon.

Can I install a dimmer switch on any light?

Most dimmers are designed to fit a standard wall box opening, which makes it easy to replace the switch for any incandescent or halogen light with a dimmer. With a three-way dimmer, you can control a light with two switches. You will need a three-way dimmer and a three-way switch.

How many lights should be on a dimmer switch?

As an example – if you have a dimmer switch with a maximum rating of 400W (rule of thumb translates to 40W) you can run five 7.1W dimmable LED light bulbs (see example below for further explanation).

How many lights can a dimmer switch control?

So, no, a normal dimmer won't run 15 incans. You'll have to find a heavy duty model. The selling point of a dimmable CFL is that it does not require a special dimmer. If you want an energy efficient bulb that dims well, you may want to consider the new LED bulbs.

What wattage dimmer switch do I need?

If you're installing a dimmer switch, keep in mind that each switch is rated to handle a maximum wattage. If you're trying to dim six 100-watt lightbulbs, use a switch rated for at least 600 watts.

Can LED bulbs catch fire?

LED lights do not emit light from a vacuum as most other bulb types do. Overheating is one of the reasons a bulb could start a fire, but that is highly unlikely to happen with LED lights. They may feel hot to touch, but they produce light at a significantly lower temperature than other bulbs.