Normally, the brightness of incandescent light bulbs could be faded at anytime and with the development of technology in modern era, LED lights are now very famous not only for their prices, roles but also their effects from indoor to outdoor activities and dimmable and non-dimmable light bulbs are not exception.
In this article, we will be able to see the main differences between dimmable and non-dimmable light bulbs so as to have the best experience and look about them.
Contents
The Difference Between Dimmable And Non-Dimmable Light Bulbs
Before we discuss the differences between dimmable and non-dimmable bulbs, you need to comprehend the meanings of these concepts first. So without further ado, let’s go !
The Meanings Of Dimmable And Non-dimmable Light Bulbs
Your lighting needs are often complex. For instance, when you are doing stuff which requires concentration and productivity or when you are having a romantic dinner with your partner. These are the perfect periods of time for dimmable light bulbs to do their part adjusting the brightness or lumen levels of LEDs which depend on your needs.
So, if you are working, the lights should be brighter than usual and if you are eating dinners, the lighting condition is normally dimmer.
What about the non-dimmable LEDs ? If you want your lighting experience to go on consistently. This types of LED lights will be a good choice because they all maintain the same brightness or lumen level which are very suitable for anyone who needs to keep an unique atmosphere or mood.
These two kinds of LEDs have wonderful advantages, but just like every single type of LED light or houseware, they also have their own defects, so your decisions of buying are extremely crucial . Dimmable LEDs should be used when you want to make your bulbs brighter or dimmer as your requests and for those who want the same level of brightness, they should use the other kind.
Dimmable light bulbs are usually used at places like schools and houses because these spaces are in need of adjusting lumen levels more often. In the meantime, non-dimmable LED lights are comfortable for places such as warehouses due the unimportance of lumen levels.
Before you make a purchase, you should take an issue of dimmer switches into consideration. Non-dimmable light bulbs are not going to affect the dimmer switches, but the dimmable LEDs will.
Dimmer Switches And Their Compatibility With The Bulbs
Before using dimmable light bulbs, a dimmer switch’s installation need to be effectuated. Not all dimmer switches are compatible with all dimmable lights and you really don’t want to waste your time and energy going back to the shops for changing, so you should pay attention to the compatibility problem.
Non-dimmable lights which the dimmer lighting is nowhere to be seen, so they don’t need the dimmer switches to be installed.
Places Using Dimmable and Non-Dimmable LEDs
We’ve discussed the applications previously and in this paragraph we are going to talk about this in more detail.
The levels of brightness when you are using dimmable LED lights are complex and flexible, so you can use this kind of LED light at spaces at home like bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms which you can adjust the lumen levels individually to warrant the best experience in your own house.
However, the opposite is true for non-dimmable bulbs when you want the same brightness all the time, so places using this type of bulb normally are warehouses, closets or spaces with security tasks which are extremely important for the security guards because they need a 100% concentration while working, so they can’t do their job without lighting condition with the same level of brightness.
One more example, when you drive at night, it is impossible to see the road, so you need a specific brightness to help you gather good vision while you are driving and non-dimmable lighting is an indispensable solution for drivers. You can see how essential this kind of LED light is.
Energy Effectiveness
Dimmable LEDs are now famous for their efficiency. The energy they use is less than traditional incandescent bulbs with the number of 80% and of course they are able to last longer. This will help you to decrease the numbers on your energy bills in a long period of time.
However, there is no concept of savings when it comes to non-dimmable lights, but like we did mention the applications of them, this light fixture still maintains a high level of efficiency and importance.
The Price
The non-dimmable fixtures are quite cheaper than dimmable LEDs because they are not including the dimmer switches and their installation which contribute to total costs.
NOTE
Before installing dimmable bulbs, it’s essential to check compatibility with both the type of light source (LED, incandescent, etc.) and the dimmer switch.
Consider your choices which have connections to usage, purpose to make decisions.
Perhaps dimmable lights and the necessary dimmer switches have a higher cost. You should take your budget and priorities into consideration when you choose between dimmable and non-dimmable before making a purchase.
The choices are personal, they depend on many aspects such as requirements of spaces or their applications.
Can A Non-dimmable LED Light Be Used On A Dimmable Switch?
You can also use a non-dimmable LED light with a dimmable switch. However, this action is not recommended. The set up should be done 100% at the same level of brightness to warrant the right operation. When you reduce the power level by using a dimmer switch, the bulbs will start flickering which is going to result in damage and lifespan decreasing. Therefore, you should pay attention to the compatibility, also the warranty of the bulbs.
The Samples Of Dimmers For Dimmable Lights And Their Operating Principles
There are two kinds of dimmers which are leading-edge and trailing-edge samples. These two kinds all work on LED lights. However, the leading-edge design is used more often for incandescent bulbs than LEDs.
The other type which is normally used for LEDs. Although they are not common, the range of wattage is worked appropriately.
With CCR (Constant Current Reduction) or PWM ( Pulse-Width Modulation ). The levels of brightness will be able to be adjusted through your preferences. Having installed the bulbs correctly, your concern about the energy-saving problem was nowhere to be found.
The CCR dimming helps control the forward current electric to the bulbs and can create light which is dimmable.
LEDs lights, turned on and off very quickly because the time of changing are calculated with the numbers of milliseconds, all thanks to PWM dimming technology. It is impossible for us to witness the changes of brightness levels by our naked eyes.
Can A Non-dimmable LED Bulb Be Turned Into A Dimmable One?
Unluckily, you can’t make this action happen. When the manufacturing is effectuated, the components and circuitry to adjust are available in dimmable light bulbs.
How To Make Choices Of The Correct LED Bulbs For Your Dimmer Switch Become Easier ?
Like we mentioned at many parts of this article, you should pay close attention to compatibility between the bulbs and the dimmer switches.
To avoid wasting your time, make sure that the bulbs bought are noted as dimmable.
The wattage of the bulbs connected to dimmer switches is extremely important, so the switch’s load capacity’s warranty should be ensured which can’t be exceeded.
Finale
Throughout the article, we’ve discussed the differences between dimmable and non-dimmable light bulbs, their applications and operating principles.
We hope this article will help you have more comprehension about these two kinds of LED light bulbs.
We appreciate your time reading our article. Thank you!
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