LED flickers - you can do that
LEDs are used from party lighting to model trains. If one of the small lamps flickers, there can be many reasons. We show you the most common causes and suitable solutions in this practical tip.
You can do that against flickering LEDs
If your LED does not light up steadily but flickers, this usually has one of the following four causes:
- The wrong dimmer: Many dimmers are designed for halogen lamps or conventional light bulbs. LEDs often flicker on such dimmers. In this case, get suitable LED dimmers for the home light, for your model train or other self-made electronics.
- The wrong LED: Some LEDs cannot be dimmed at all or only with side effects. Read on the packaging whether your LED can be dimmed. We advise you in another practical tip when buying dimmable LED lamps.
- The wrong transformer: Especially if you have switched from halogen lamps to LEDs, the wrong transformer can be the problem. This is mostly used in the lamp. Many transformers have short-term voltage peaks that can cause your LED to flicker or even damage them. The problem is solved with an LED transformer.
- AC voltage: LEDs are diodes and intended for DC voltage. If there is an AC voltage, they can flicker or even break. On websites about model railways, such as Modellbahn-Mahrer, you will find simple circuits for one-way rectifiers and bridge rectifiers that solve the problem.
