I love waking up to slowly increasing light, but finding dimmable LEDs that actually work well has been a nightmare. All the ones I’ve tried don’t have the dimming range of incandescents. They dim fine to half or a third brightness, then either shut off or flicker subtly—which is super annoying.
I’m frustrated that incandescents are no longer available because they dimmed perfectly by varying the filament temperature. LEDs, with their forward voltage, seem like they defeat the purpose of dimming.
Does anyone know of LED bulbs that actually dim close to darkness but still have a bright peak? Or could it be my dimmer switch causing the issue? It’s supposed to support dimmable LEDs, but the results aren’t great. Is bad dimming just the reality we live in now?
Update: The issue seems to be with the bulbs. Surprisingly, the Philips dimmable bulbs with their eye comfort tech solved the problem and were cheaper than some others I tried. Most “dimmable” LEDs on the market are awful—flickering and poor dimming range. Honestly, if an LED bulb doesn’t work with a basic dimmer, it shouldn’t be labeled dimmable.
The Philips Warm Glow series works well. It does go a bit uneven at the lowest levels, but it’s more like a shimmer than a flicker, and it’s pleasant. Philips Ultra Definition bulbs are another solid option.
What kind of dimmer do you have? Are there any other loads on the circuit? Instability in the power supply might also cause flickering.
Lian said: @True
Philips Ultra Definition Warm Glow bulbs are more affordable and dim well with most dimmers. They also have a great warm glow effect at lower levels.
These were my solution! I’m shocked at how much better they are compared to other LEDs I’ve tried.
@True
Commercial Electric dimmers are not great. I’d recommend switching to a Lutron dimmer, paired with Philips or Soraa bulbs. It’ll make a huge difference.
@True
Philips Ultra Definition Warm Glow bulbs are more affordable and dim well with most dimmers. They also have a great warm glow effect at lower levels.
Lian said: @True
Philips Ultra Definition Warm Glow bulbs are more affordable and dim well with most dimmers. They also have a great warm glow effect at lower levels.
While they’re great for consumer-grade bulbs, they don’t actually dim to 0.01%. They’re excellent, but true 0.1% dimming is rare and expensive.
The issue is likely phase dimming and budget constraints. You need a control protocol separate from the power supply for smooth dimming. Wireless systems like Meross or Philips Hue are good consumer options. For professional-grade setups, look into 0-10V or Lutron ecosystems. Theater-grade systems like DMX are overkill for home use but are the gold standard for dimming.
Tate said:
You might want to replace your dimmer. Lutron Maestro, Diva, and Caseta are great options. They work well with brands like Feit, GE, and Philips.
The Maestro and Diva dimmers are now available with Caseta tech. They were just released at the end of 2023.
Valid question! Dimming LEDs is tricky and has been an ongoing challenge in the industry. High-quality options exist, but they’re often spec-grade. I use USAI warm dim downlights, and they’re fantastic, but they’re pricey.
True said: @Eli
I get that, but on principle, I’m not spending a ton of money on light bulbs.
Totally fair. Just know that perfect dimming with LEDs often requires a bit of investment. It’s a limitation of combining analog tech (old dimmers) with newer digital tech (LEDs).