Why your new dimmer switch is making your lights flicker
In short: You upgraded your lighting to set the mood, but instead of a soft glow, you got a strobe effect. Flickering lights are a common frustration when installing dimmers, but the culprit is often a hidden mismatch between your switch and your transformer.
When a homeowner experiences flickering track lighting after installing a dimmer, the issue usually lies in the compatibility between the switch and the transformer. To fix the problem, master electrician Heath Eastman suggests first identifying which type of low-voltage transformer is powering the lights. These devices step down the standard 120VAC line voltage to either 12VAC or 24VAC, but they achieve this through very different mechanical processes.
The first category is Electronic Low Voltage (ELV) transformers. These use electronic circuits to manage the voltage reduction, making them smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective. However, they have a shorter lifespan, typically lasting about 5 to 6 years. The second category is Magnetic Low Voltage (MLV) transformers, which utilize copper wound around a steel core. While MLVs are larger, heavier, and more expensive, they are much more durable, with a lifespan between 15 and 20 years.
The mismatch occurs when the wrong dimmer is paired with these specific loads. For instance, a Universal Dimmer is designed to handle dimmable LED, CFL, incandescent, and halogen bulbs, but it is generally not compatible with MLV or ELV loads. Conversely, an Incandescent or Halogen Dimmer is built specifically for those bulb types and will not work with LED or CFL bulbs. If you are using recessed lights that rely on magnetic low-voltage systems, you must use a Magnetic Low Voltage (MLV) dimmer. If your system uses electronic low-voltage transformers or dimmable LED loads, an Electronic Low Voltage (ELV) dimmer is required. Understanding these distinctions is the key to moving from a flickering nuisance to steady, adjustable light.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Troubleshoot a Dimmer Switch | Ask This Old House
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