Flickering LED Spots Why?

[thecount]

I have purchased spotlights as below, but they are flickering when I dimmed them down to around 15-20%.
We have installed 8 x ALUSSO LED Recessed Ceiling Lights, 7W 580LM LED Downlights Dimmable, 30MM Ultra Slim Round Black Spotlights
https://amzn.eu/d/6MQuB9Z
We are using this dimmer which states:

Input Voltage: 90V - 250V, AC 50/60Hz
• Load Power: 500W(INC), 300W(LED)
This is the dimmer:

CNBINGO Smart Dimmer Switch for LED, Work with Alexa, Google Assistant, Smart Life App, WiFi Touch Light Switch with Glass Panel, Backlight, Neutral Wire Required, 1-Way, 1-Gang, Black
https://amzn.eu/d/046zlvd

Any ideas where I have gone wrong?

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

What you are experiencing is quite common. It is due to incompatibility between lamps and dimmer. Unlike "old" lamps that just had a wire in a bulb that gets very hot and glows brighter and brighter. LED's have to have electronic drivers, not all drivers work with all dimmers. (Some drivers are in the lamp fitting, some are external)

The dimmer should be a trailing edge type. I have a programmable dimmer for my LED lights by varilight, no flicker at all, and the lamps can go really dim. (Yes, my previous dimmer was just not very good.)

 

[binky]

As per Richard's post above, dimming led is not a simple thing. Unless you manage to buy compatible gear, it just doesn't work, and that is very hit and miss. Or you buy a DALI dimming system, which you really won't like the price of....

What I would suggest is buying osram or Phillips lamps, being far better quality than other makes, it may work with your dimmer, but there's no guarantee if that. I have found the above lamps with a varilight dimmer works well.

 

[runningpiglet]

I have purchased spotlights as below, but they are flickering when I dimmed them down to around 15-20%.
We have installed 8 x ALUSSO LED Recessed Ceiling Lights, 7W 580LM LED Downlights Dimmable, 30MM Ultra Slim Round Black Spotlights
https://amzn.eu/d/6MQuB9Z
We are using this dimmer which states:

Input Voltage: 90V - 250V, AC 50/60Hz
• Load Power: 500W(INC), 300W(LED)
This is the dimmer:

CNBINGO Smart Dimmer Switch for LED, Work with Alexa, Google Assistant, Smart Life App, WiFi Touch Light Switch with Glass Panel, Backlight, Neutral Wire Required, 1-Way, 1-Gang, Black
https://amzn.eu/d/046zlvd

Any ideas where I have gone wrong?

You can sometimes get incompatible led lights and dimmer to cooperate by having a small filament bulb in the system. You could try 7 LED and 1 filament/halogen?

 

[thecount]

would that not look a bit out of place?

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

Yep.
I also doubt it will solve the problem, since you have a compatibility problem. It does stop LEDs from glowing when they are switched off. (But that is not the problem you have)

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

I have purchased spotlights as below, but they are flickering when I dimmed them down to around 15-20%.
We have installed 8 x ALUSSO LED Recessed Ceiling Lights, 7W 580LM LED Downlights Dimmable, 30MM Ultra Slim Round Black Spotlights
https://amzn.eu/d/6MQuB9Z
We are using this dimmer which states:

Input Voltage: 90V - 250V, AC 50/60Hz
• Load Power: 500W(INC), 300W(LED)
This is the dimmer:

CNBINGO Smart Dimmer Switch for LED, Work with Alexa, Google Assistant, Smart Life App, WiFi Touch Light Switch with Glass Panel, Backlight, Neutral Wire Required, 1-Way, 1-Gang, Black
https://amzn.eu/d/046zlvd

Any ideas where I have gone wrong?

Short Answer:- "You Haven't Gone Wrong"

Longer Answer:-

Many years ago... (Pre-LED)....
Dimming lights in your house was relatively straight forward and simple....

You bought a dimmer switch and a light bulb from maybe Woolworths/Homebase/B&Q, or if you were brave.. from a local electrical wholesaler....

All you had to worry about was....
Is the lamp a Bayonet or Screw fitting.. and do you want, Pearl/Clear/Candle lamp etc.. and what Wattage lamp(s) do your require to operate....??

Dimmer switches have always had a 'Min' & 'Max' wattage they required for satisfactory operation.. And in simple terms traditional lamp(s) and the dimmer worked by tweaking the 230v AC to reduce the light output of the lamp(s)....

But LED's are much lower wattage and do not have 230v AC directly onto the element that creates the light.. Or they would go 'Bang'!
LED's are Light Emitting Diodes that require a much lower DC voltage, typically 12v or 24v..

So they either have electronics, (LED driver's), built into the lamp or external to the lamp, to control the light output...

LED drivers need to be dimmable, And the dimmer switches must be compatible with LED's for correct dimming operation...

BUT.. the reality is that far too many 'LED' dimmer switches AND 'dimmable' LED lamps are simply NOT compatible with each other!!!!!!!!!!

If the lamps are specified as "dimmable", it may be worthwhile to contact the manufacturer to enquire of what dimmer switches they recommend for correct operation??

Dimming used to be simple task.. But even for competent electricians it has become a "Pain in the bum"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I very much doubt that you have done anything wrong!

 

[Mike P]

Varilight dimmers are very forgiving and is my choice of dimmer for led’s

 

[thecount]

So We're at final fix stage. Had 8 of these spotlights installed as we don't have much void and we like the look of them being flush:

ALUSSO LED Recessed Ceiling Lights, 7W 580LM LED Downlights Dimmable, 30MM Ultra Slim Round Black Spotlights

https://amzn.eu/d/f949MZK
Wanted a black gloss smart dimmer switch so we installed this BUT we are getting flickering which is noticeable at 15% -20% dim

https://amzn.eu/d/9DwZ71H
Have tried an alternative smart dimmer thinking it was that but no joy

I have also tried installing these Anti-Flicker LED Adaptor Module but they don't work:

https://www.ledkia.com/uk/buy-accessories/4468-flash-save-anti-flicker-led-module.html
Also tried this Varilight Glowfix load regulator :

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLGF.html
I'm guessing I need to find compatible set here but can't find anything that matches the dimmer smart switch and the LED spots
Any ideas anyone?

Threads Merged

 

[Murdoch]

Try a Hamilton led dimmer module