Common causes of LED flickering and how to diagnose them — from dimmer incompatibility to driver issues and voltage fluctuations.
Why Are My LED Lights Flickering?
\n80% of LED flicker issues are caused by dimmer incompatibility. Fix: replace the dimmer switch with an LED-compatible trailing-edge dimmer, or use bulbs rated for your dimmer model. Other causes: loose wiring, undersized/overloaded drivers, voltage fluctuations, or incompatible LED bulbs in the same circuit.
\nDetailed Answers
\n\nMost dimmers are designed for incandescent/halogen bulbs (100W+ loads). LEDs draw 80-90% less power, so the dimmer may not detect the load properly. Fix: replace with an LED-compatible trailing-edge dimmer (e.g., Lutron DVCL-153P, Legrand RHCL). Minimum load specs vary — check dimmer compatibility.
\nYes. Loose neutral wires (most common), loose line connections at the switch, or loose connections at wire nuts all cause intermittent flickering. Confirm: jiggle the switch plate — if flickering changes, wiring is loose. Turn off breaker, tighten all wire nut connections.
\nNo. Quality LED bulbs with stable drivers do not flicker. Flickering is a sign of: 1) dimmer incompatibility, 2) low-quality driver, 3) voltage fluctuation from heavy appliances (fridge, AC starting), or 4) a dying bulb (capacitor failure). Replace flickering bulbs.
\nMost common cause: undersized LED driver. Calculate total strip wattage + 20% headroom. If driver is undersized, replace with a higher wattage model. Also check: connections at solder/crimps, voltage drop over long runs (inject power at both ends for runs >10m at 24V).
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References: NEMA SSL 7A-2015, IEEE 1789-2015
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