Question:
I have recently put some smart LED bulbs into my ceiling fan (Lifx if the brand matters) and there is a bad humming noise. Previously there was some humming in at least one of the LED bulbs (they weren’t all the same and I don’t recall how many made it) but it was much more faint.
I have read that the issue may be the dimmer switch the lights are on, that it may need to be replaced with a special dimmer switch that works with LEDs. How can I tell if my switch is one of these dimmable LED switches or not? Can I tell by looking? I have a very basic multimeter but that is my only tool.
Answer:
As a general rule:
Incandescent bulbs — will dim with any dimmer
Fluorescent bulbs — require a dimmer-compatible bulb and a compatible dimmer
“Simple” LED bulbs/fixtures (i.e., not much difference whether fixture + bulb or “all in one”) – – require a dimmer–compatible bulb/fixture and a compatible dimmer
“Smart” LED bulbs/fixtures (and technically speaking, smart “any” bulb or fixture, but normally only found with LEDs for a number of technical & economic reasons that are irrelevant at the moment) – normally require “full” power and any dimming will be handled inside the bulb/fixture.