Dimmer Switches for LED Lights: How to Choose One That Doesn't Flicker

Dimmers change how a room feels at night more than almost any other upgrade. But LED bulbs behave differently from the incandescent bulbs older dimmers were designed for, and the wrong combination can buzz, flicker or refuse to dim all the way down. Here's what to check before you buy.

Safety first. Turn off the power at the breaker before working on any switch, and have a licensed electrician handle wiring you're not comfortable with.

1. Make sure your bulbs are dimmable

Only bulbs marked "dimmable" on the box or the bulb itself will dim properly. Non-dimmable LEDs on a dimmer can flicker or fail early. If you have a mix in one fixture, replace them all with the same dimmable model.

2. Add up the wattage

Look at the actual LED wattage, not the "equivalent" wattage. Six 9W LED bulbs = 54W. Your dimmer must be rated for the total load on that circuit. Oxide rotary dimmers are made for dimmable LED loads from 3W to 100W per dimmer.

3. Check for a neutral wire

Many modern dimmers need a neutral wire in the switch box (usually a bundle of white wires joined with a wire nut). Oxide's single pole rotary dimmer requires a neutral; older houses sometimes don't have one at the switch. If yours doesn't, ask an electrician before buying.

4. Single pole or 3-way?

If the light is controlled from one place, you need a single pole dimmer. If it's controlled from two places (top and bottom of a staircase, two doors into a room), you need a 3-way dimmer setup. Oxide makes both.

5. Choose how you want to dim

• Slide dimmers: common, but the plastic slider is what most people want to get rid of.
• Rotary dimmers: a knob you push to turn the light on or off and turn to set the level. Simple, tactile, and it remembers the feel of older houses.
• Smart dimmers: app or voice control, usually in plastic.

Which lights to put on a dimmer

Dim the lights that set the mood: pendants, chandeliers, sconces, cans in living and dining rooms, bedroom lamps. Keep a regular toggle for lights you want at full brightness, like a closet, a garage or an exhaust fan. On a multi-gang plate you can mix both, for example two dimmers and two toggles on one plate.

Oxide brass rotary dimmers

Oxide dimmers have a knurled solid brass knob on a 2 mm solid brass plate, push on, turn to dim, for dimmable LED from 3W to 100W. They come in single pole and 3-way, alone or combined with toggles on 2, 3 and 4-gang plates, and fit standard US boxes.

• Brass rotary dimmer switches
• 4-gang plate, 2 dimmers + 2 toggles
• Double dimmer switch, 2 dimmers on a 2-gang plate
• 3-gang plate, 3 dimmers
• Build your own plate

FAQ

Why do my LED lights flicker on a dimmer?
The most common causes are non-dimmable bulbs, a dimmer not designed for LED loads, or a load below the dimmer's minimum. Use dimmable bulbs and a dimmer rated for LED.

Can I put a dimmer on any light?
On most lights with dimmable bulbs, yes. Avoid dimmers on fans, outlets and fixtures with non-dimmable drivers.

Do I need a neutral wire for a dimmer?
It depends on the dimmer. Oxide's single pole dimmer needs one. Check the box before you buy.