Dimmable LED lights are great for creating mood lighting – whether you're having a romantic night-in, watching a movie or even playing your favourite video game. Before you rush out to buy a new set of dimmable LED bulbs, this short guide will arm you with five useful nuggets of information that'll help you buy with complete confidence.
There are two main methods of LED dimming: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and analogue. In the case of PWM, dimmable LEDs work by creating a dimming effect. Unlike traditional lighting such as incandescent, dimmable LED bulbs don't rely on voltage to dictate their level of brightness. Instead, they essentially rely on a cycle of being on and off. These cycles operate in a matter of milliseconds, so you won't be aware of them actually turning on and off. For example, if you have dimmed your lights to 10%, they will be 'on' for 10% of the time and 'off' for 90%. For analogue, the process is more straight-forward. This is where the current is controlled to either dim or brighten the lights – increasing or decreasing accordingly.
The main cause of flickering with dimmable LED light can usually be traced back to the dimmer switch. Dimmer switches come with a minimum compatible load (in short, the amount of Watts it can process). Popular leading-edge dimmer switches are mainly designed for older bulbs on a higher wattage, so their minimum load will be high. In a lot of cases, you won't be powering enough LED bulbs to meet that minimum requirement as they consume such a low amount of energy (and fewer Watts). That's why it's important that you get a compatible LED dimmer switch to avoid any potential flickering. The quality of the dimmer switch you install will also have a bearing on the performance of your lights. A good quality dimmer switch will have different modes and ranges of dimming capability. Most of the time, flickering dimmable LEDs can be remedied by simply changing the mode on the dimmer switch, or resetting the dimmer to its factory settings.
Firstly, you need to make sure you have a compatible dimmer switch. It's likely that if you're upgrading from traditional halogen or incandescent bulbs to LED, your current dimmer switch won't be compatible. So, we'd recommend getting a specialised LED-compatible dimmer switch to allow for a smoother, quieter and flicker-free performance. If you are using 12v LED spotlights, such as MR16s or G4s, you will need a dimmable transformer. An LED dimmable transformer allows dimming of constant voltage LED products, and works with most standard dimmer switches, so you might not need to replace your existing dimmer switch. LED dimmable transformers are available in a number of powers. Make sure you know how many bulbs will be powered before buying your transformer. It's also important to remember that we strongly advise that the total wattage of all bulbs combined doesn’t exceed 80% of the transformer's wattage. For example, if you're powering four 4W MR16 bulbs for a total of 16W, then you'll need a 20W transformer to produce a sufficient amount of power (and the subsequent 20% wattage deficit).
You might be wondering why you're shelling out more for dimmable LED lights than non-dimmable LEDs. This is because dimmable LEDs feature additional technology that increases the cost of manufacture, and therefore the price (by about £1 per bulb or spotlight). They are also more expensive than halogen or incandescent bulbs. This is because they feature superior technology and come with long-term benefits. When compared to halogen bulbs, they: • Consume 90% less energy – saving big money on your energy bills • Last up to 20-times longer, so you don't have to buy constant replacements • Run a smoother, quieter operation – so you won’t have to suffer any buzzing, which is common among traditional bulbs when operated with a dimmer switch So, in the long run, LED bulbs will save you more money than you spend on them.
All the property experts say it: "location, location, location". And that doesn't just apply to real estate. You have to be tactical with where you install your dimmable LED bulbs. It's all about context and purpose. For example, if you're lighting a workspace or an area where you need focus, such as a kitchen counter, then dimmable LEDs are probably going to be of little use. In those situations we'd suggest you go for a non-dimmable cool white LED that casts a fresh glow to help you concentrate on the task at hand and see more of what you're doing.
Dimmable LED bulbs are perfect for creating mood lighting - that's when they come into their own. They're also ideal for living spaces, bedrooms and accent lighting. For movie nights-in or romantic meals, dimmable LED bulbs can be all you need to set the perfect atmosphere. They're also great for highlighting specific decorative items such as artwork or sculptures. Because they can be set at a different level of brightness to the rest of the room, it helps draw attention to otherwise innocuous objects in an impressive way. You can view our full range of dimmable LED bulbs and spotlights here.
Are you looking to switch up the look of your home? LED strip lights are a great way to make a major but inexpensive change to the look of your home.
Adding this kind of lighting is very versatile. You can place it behind, underneath, or around objects in your home to add a unique and multi-layered look.
If you’re considering buying a strip of LED lighting for any room of your house, first read these seven things you should know.
They’ll help you know everything you need to know in order to be prepared for adding a beautiful type of lighting to your home or office space.
The most common reason that people add LED lights to their home is to add a form of lighting that is unique and visually appealing.
It’s amazing what a difference these little lights will make. They are strong and powerful, so they emit quite a lot of brightness. Yet they are very small and compact, so they can be easily hidden when added to a room.
People use LED lights to add intrigue to any room.
Line your headboard in your bedroom for a nice lighting source that is unique compared to your typical lamp. Line the mirror in your bathroom for a beautiful glow.
Add LED lights to pieces of art, your home office, wall decorations, and more to add depth and dimension.
LED strip lights add a major difference in the look of a room, and they are super simple to add.
Installing LED lights in your home is very simple. Most strip lights come with an adhesive backing. All you have to do is carefully stick them on wherever you want them.
By finding a clean, dry, and level spot to apply your lights, you can make the process as easy as possible. Usually, people choose to place the lights in a more hidden and subtle space.
For example, lining the underside or backside of furniture or appliances will hide the actual strip of lights but still display the lighting in a prominent way. Even if you line the backside of a TV or computer monitor, the lights will reflect off nearby walls.
Strips of LED lights add a nice glow to any room.
Before buying LED strip lights, you should be aware of some of their best features.
The fact that LED lights can be dimmed makes them all the more appealing. They can be turned up bright to shine, or take on a mellow brightness to just add a simple glow.
Dimming a room full of lights can create a very intimate atmosphere. Dimmed LED lights are ideal for a bedroom or bathroom, where you may prefer the lighting down low.
The biggest reason people love using LED lights is how efficient they are. They save quite a bit on energy costs and last extremely long.
Many people consider LED lights to be the lighting of the future since they are so effective.
It’s important to keep them out of landfills when they do finally expire, but other than that, they’re a great lighting choice if you want your lights to last forever!
Energy efficiency is one of the main reasons that LED strip lights are so popular. They are much more energy efficient than other types of lighting.
Though they are more effective, you should be aware that LED lights are more expensive than other lighting options. This is considered by some to be one of the only downfalls of LED strip lights.
However, when you consider how much more efficient LED strip lights are, the cost is more than worth it.
They last much longer than other types of lighting. You won’t have to replace them very often.
Because of this, you may pay more up front, but you’ll pay much less in the long run.
When picking out LED strip lights, you may notice that there are quite a few options.
You can choose lights with different voltage strengths, lengths, and even a varying number of lights per foot. All of these factors will play into how your lights look.
If you purchase a set of lights with low voltage and a few lights per foot, they will be much weaker than other kinds of lights.
There are even different types of LED lights which emit different wavelengths and colors. In addition, some trips are more flexible than others.
You’ll need to talk to a lighting expert or try to figure out what kind would be best for your needs. It all depends on where you want to install the lights, how bright you want them, and what you want the final look to be.
The color temperature you choose for your LED strip lights will be one of the biggest factors in determining the look of your lights.
CCT, or Correlated Color Temperature, measures the color temperature of light in Kelvin degrees (K). The light can appear as anything from cool white to warm white depending on the CCT.
For example, a light at the low end (2000 – 3000 K) appears warmer. It has an orange or yellow feel to it.
Lights at the other end of the spectrum appear as a pure white light. The highest lights have a cool bluish hue to them.
Wondering where you can buy LED strip lights? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Birddog Lighting is committed to providing the highest quality products. Our customers want the best in lighting for any of their projects or home improvement needs, and that’s what we are here to provide.
Our lighting design blog contains all you need when it comes to inspiration and suggestions for your own lighting projects.
Feel free to email us and submit your photos for a potential display in our gallery of the best lighting projects. We are happy to showcase your work and provide inspiration to other people looking to add LED lighting to their space.
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