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clubnev

Flickering recessed lighting

3 years ago

My electrician has installed 3 LED recessed lighting fitures on a 16 foot ceiling. We are using a levitron dimmer. When all three LED lights are hooked up, the lights flicker for about 20-30 seconds when the dimmer is turned on high. If only 2 LED lights are hooked up, they do not flicker. My electrician thinks maybe we need a 20 amp dimmer because the ceilings are so high; that is taking more power for all three lights to reach the dimmer. . But he admits this is just a guess. Any ideas? Thanks. The LED lights are Juno's

Comments (8)

  • 3 years ago

    I could write a novel on the issues with LEDs and switch compatibility, and more than 50% of it would be filled with expletives...


    You need a dimmer that is compatible with the specific bulbs or fixture you have in there. If you have different bulbs/fixtures on the same switch good luck -- the dimmer has to be compatible with all of it. You might try a "true universal" dimmer, that might solve the problem. LeGrand has one, but you have to make sure what you buy is labeled as "true universal" -- read the specs, it's wasn't obvious from the package on the model I bought.

  • 3 years ago

    Its a Leviton dimmer rocker and their website says Lithonia is compatable, although I have a 12W LED and the two Lithoia lights are 10W and 14W. I wouln't think that would make a difference. The recessed light is a Lithonia 6" recessed downlight. I thought it was a Juno but I was incorrect. I may call Leviton.


  • 3 years ago

    I think something might have been misunderstood or typed wrong; 20 amps is 2400 watts @ 120V. In order to pull that amount of power, you would need like 200 of those 10W fixtures. Your electrician probably mentioned a 200W dimmer, as some dimmers made specifically for LED's are only rated for 100 or 150 W. But even so, 10+14+12 W is well under the max capacity of any quality dimmer.


    Not all LED's are dimmable, and like mentioned earlier, not all dimmers are compatible with all fixtures. Make sure your fixtures or bulbs are dimmable, and if they are, their installation instructions should list compatible dimmers. Instructions for your dimmers should also include a list of compatible brands and models of fixtures or bulbs. Make sure all your fixtures or bulbs are compatible with the particular dimmer you have. If not, I would recommend switching the dimmer with a Lutron dimmer, they are by far the ones that are compatible with the widest selection of LED's.


    clubnev thanked w0lley32
  • 3 years ago

    It sounds like you are experiencing flickering issues with your LED recessed lights when using a dimmer switch. This can be a common problem with LED lights and dimmer switches, and there are a few possible causes.

    One possible cause could be that the dimmer switch is not compatible with the LED lights. LED lights require a specific type of dimmer switch that is designed to work with their electronic components. If the dimmer switch is not compatible, it can cause flickering or other issues with the LED lights.

    Another possible cause could be that the wiring is not properly installed or connected. If the wiring is not connected properly, it can cause voltage fluctuations that can lead to flickering.

    It's also possible that the LED lights are not getting enough power from the dimmer switch. If the lights are not getting enough power, they may flicker or not work properly.

    Your electrician's suggestion of using a 20 amp dimmer switch could be a possible solution, as it would provide more power to the LED lights. However, it's important to ensure that the dimmer switch is compatible with the LED lights and that the wiring is properly installed and connected.

    It's also worth noting that the brand of LED lights you are using (Juno) may have specific recommendations or requirements for dimmer switches, so it's worth checking their documentation or contacting their customer support for more information.

    Overall, I would recommend discussing these possible causes and solutions with your electrician to determine the best course of action for resolving the flickering issue with your LED lights.

    clubnev thanked Krista Deng
  • 3 years ago

    I was wrong about the Juno light - it's a Lithonia and Leviton's website says it's compatable. I have three recessed lights about 16 feet high. The lights only flicker when the third light is lit. we've checked the wiring, changed the bulbs and changed the Leviton dimmer switch. Of the three lights, once a third light is connected, it flickers, which led my electrician to believe it's a power problem. They will stop flickering after 20 seconds or so. And they only flicker when the dimmer is turned all the way up.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    WOlley, switching to Lutron might be a good idea - I had Lutron dimmers on our old house with several different kinds of dimmable lights and not had a problem. I might try that. Easy test and not expensive.

  • 3 years ago

    My electrical walkthrough is coming up, and now I plan to ask for Lutron dimmers :)