Optimizing your LED lighting

By Teun / Feb. 7, 2024

LED is a vast improvement over the lighting of the past. There are many advantages when you convert your lighting to LED. But problems can also arise with LED lighting, such as flickering. How can you optimize the performance of LED lights? Here we explain some of the problems that can occur with LED lighting and help you solve them.

We offer simple solutions to make sure your LED bulbs perform at their best. Discover helpful tips and enjoy the full benefits of LED lighting.

• Why does my LED bulb stay on?
• Why is my LED bulb flashing?

Why does my LED bulb stay on?

Maybe you recognize it: you turn off your LED bulb, but the bulb remains dimly lit. How can this be and what is going on here? Among other things, it could have to do with the wiring in your home or a leakage current that keeps your LED bulb on. I'll take you through the problem and the solutions to it!

• Inductive voltage: In homes with lots of wiring or long stretches of installation wire, the phase and neutral wires can generate a slight inductive voltage. While this may sound complex, what it really boils down to is that the wiring produces some sort of "leakage voltage. It has nothing to do with a fault in your connection or a problem with your LED bulb; it is simply a characteristic of alternating electrical voltage. This characteristic can cause your LED bulb to stay on even when all the switches are turned off.
  
  What can you do about this? Fortunately, there is a simple solution. You can install a special filter, a kind of electrical buffer called an "RC snubber" or a "capacitor. This filters out the excess energy, allowing your LED bulbs to turn off completely when needed and thus will no longer burn.

• Leakage current: In many electrical devices, you will find transformers and/or capacitors, and they are often the culprits when it comes to small leakage currents. Unfortunately, it is difficult to prevent this from happening, and as a result, your LED bulbs may remain dimly lit.
  
  One solution is to disconnect not only the phase, but also the neutral wire. By disconnecting both wires, you can not only reduce leakage current, but also prevent your LED lights from staying on after. You can use a two-pole switch for this task.
  
  Solving this problem can vary depending on the cause. In some cases, replacing the switch or checking the wiring may be sufficient. In other cases, you may need to consult an electrician for a more thorough examination and repair.

Why is my LED bulb flashing?

Flashing of an LED bulb can have several causes. I'll take you through various reasons and possible solutions to them.

• Dimmers: Not every LED bulb is dimmable. If you connect a non-dimmable bulb to a dimmer, the bulbs won’t receive enough power, causing them to flicker. So always check to make sure you’ve purchased a dimmable bulb. It’s also possible that you’ve connected the LED bulb to the wrong dimmer. Not all dimmers are suitable for LED lighting. Installing the wrong dimmer can also cause a buzzing or beeping sound. Some dimmers are designed for traditional incandescent bulbs and may not work properly with LEDs. Therefore, check whether the dimmer is suitable for LED lighting and consider installing a specific LED dimmer if necessary. Read more about installing LED lighting here.
  
  
• Power fluctuations: An LED bulb can also flicker without a dimmer, fluctuations in the power supply can also cause LED bulbs to flicker. This can occur, for example, due to electrical wiring problems or if other devices on the same circuit consume a lot of power. If the lights flash when a heavier appliance is on (e.g., the dishwasher), then the lights and the heavier appliance are connected in the same group. If necessary, have the electrical system checked by a professional.
  
  
• Driver: Are your LED lights suddenly starting to flash when they never did before? Then perhaps the LED driver is damaged. One way this can happen is through overheating. If you have the option, try another LED bulb on the same socket to see if the problem is with the bulb itself. Does this bulb also flicker? If so, the driver may need to be replaced.
  
  
• Smart bulb: Check to see if you’ve installed a smart bulb in the socket. A smart bulb will flash to establish a connection. Read more about smart lighting here.