Is It Possible To Dim Non-Dimmable LED Lights?

LED bulbs can either be dimmable or non-dimmable.

While you might conjure up thoughts of LED strips that you have total control over or smart LED bulbs that you can dim from your phone, many standard LED light bulbs just aren’t capable of being dimmed.

But can you make it work? For example, say you’ve accidentally bought non-dimmable LEDs. Is it possible to dim them anyway?

It’s impossible to dim non dimmable LED lights with a dimmer switch. They’ll either flicker, won’t turn on at all, or just run at full brightness. They will likely burn out faster, too.

In this article, I’m going to explain in more detail:

• The difference between dimmable and non dimmable LED lights
• What happens when you try to dim a non-dimmable bulb
• Whether you can convert non dimmable LED lights to be dimmable

Are All LEDs Dimmable?

Not all LED lights are dimmable. If you want to use an LED light with a dimmer switch, you have to make sure you purchase one that is advertised as being dimmable.

When it comes to regular LED light bulbs, there’s a real mix of dimmable and non-dimmable options – so don’t assume that you’re getting a bulb you can dim when you buy one.

Smart bulbs will always be dimmable, and LED light strips typically can be dimmed too.

Why Are Some Bulbs Non Dimmable?

The difference between dimmable bulbs and non dimmable bulbs is in the driver – the device which steps the voltage down to the level needed. Some drivers are designed to handle the varying current of a dimmer switch, while others aren’t.

It helps to explain the two different types of dimmer switches quickly.

A dimming circuit uses either Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) or Constant Current Reduction (CCR) dimmer switches.

PWM dimmers work by switching the current on and off quickly. The brighter light you want, the more time the current is ‘on’. Essentially, it makes your LED lamps flicker at what should be a non-visible rate.

CCR dimmers keep the current active at all times but lower the power levels.

The LED driver in a non dimmable led light works when the current is at max strength and is always on – so with either dimmer, it’ll have problems.

What Happens If You Dim A Non-Dimmable LED Bulb?

What happens with a non-dimmable LED when you try to dim it will depend on the type of dimmer driver being used – it will either:

• Visibly flicker
• Stay at full brightness even when ‘dimmed’
• Completely switch off when dimmed to a certain level

In PWM dimming, the bulb will probably flicker on and off. Which is technically what it’s supposed to do – but it will happen at a much slower rate than a bulb designed to be dimmed.

So instead of the flickering being invisible to the human eye, you’ll definitely see it (and probably develop a headache pretty quickly).

With CCR dimming, the bulb will typically stay at full brightness even as you start to dim it. Then, when the input voltage dips to a certain level, it’ll cut out completely.

Overheating Non Dimmable Lights

Regardless of the type of dimmer switch used, using non dimmable bulbs on the circuit will probably cause them to overheat, and potentially lose years off their lifespan.

That’s because they aren’t designed to handle the varying current. So while they won’t get anywhere near as hot as other light bulb types, this will cause the components to wear out faster.

Is It Dangerous To Use A Non Dimmable LED On Dimmer?

While using non dimmable LED lamps on a dimmable circuit can cause the bulbs to overheat, they won’t get to a dangerous temperature. They will simply wear out a lot faster.

It’s worth noting that overheating in this way can make using other types of non-dimmable light bulbs dangerous.

Non-dimmable incandescent bulbs would get very hot used in a dimmer switch circuit to the point of catching fire.

That’s at least a benefit of LEDs – they might not work properly if they aren’t designed to be dimmed, but they’ll at least be safe.

Can You Make A Non-Dimmable LED Dimmable?

The only way to reliably make a non dimmable LED light work on a dimmer would be to replace the driver. This is a highly technical job beyond amateur DIY, and it’d be almost as cost-effective to just buy a new dimmable bulb.

Sorry if you wanted to know how to dim non dimmable LED lights and were hoping for an easy solution – there isn’t one.

Non dimmable lights may occasionally work on certain power levels. Still, generally, it’s not going to be reliable, and lights will burn out faster.

If you have the budget, the best thing you can do is swap your LED lights for dimmable or smart bulbs.

Smart LEDs are always dimmable and controllable in various ways, including from your phone or via a smart speaker if you have one.

Then you can dim it to the perfect level whenever you want to, even from the couch.

The best part? You don’t even need a dimmer switch.

Final Words

There’s no worth in trying to use a non-dimmable LED light in a dimmer circuit.

If you already have LED bulbs and you’re upgrading to a dimmer circuit, you’re going to have to bite the bullet and replace the bulbs to make sure they work correctly.

So if you’ve accidentally bought non-dimmable LEDs, you should see if you can return them.

The golden rule when buying LEDs is to always check the packaging or the website’s specifications before you buy to make sure you know what you’re getting!

If you have problems with dimmable LED lights on a dimmer circuit buzzing, then check my guide on how to solve that too.