What is beam angle?
Learn the simple difference between a narrow spot and a wide floodlight.
What exactly is leading edge and trailing edge dimming?
To understand the difference, it helps to know what a dimmer is actually doing. The electrical power in your home flows in a constant, rapid wave (an AC sine wave). A dimmer's job is to reduce the brightness by chopping up this wave, only letting a portion of the power through to the bulb. The more it chops, the less power the bulb gets, and the dimmer the light becomes.
The key difference between dimmer types is *which part* of the wave they chop.
The two types of dimmers
Leading edge dimmers (the old standard)
This is the older, more basic type of dimmer. It works by chopping off the front part (the "leading" edge) of each power wave. Think of it as a sudden, sharp interruption of power in every cycle.
This method was designed for old, high-power incandescent bulbs. Those simple bulbs were like workhorses. They could handle this rough 'on-off' jolt of power without any issues.
The problem: The sensitive electronic driver inside a modern LED bulb sees this sudden jolt of power as a shock. This shock can confuse the electronics, leading to that infamous buzzing sound and flickering light.
Trailing edge dimmers (the modern solution for LEDs)
As you might guess, this newer, more sophisticated dimmer does the exact opposite. It lets the power wave start smoothly and then chops off the back part (the "trailing" edge).
This is a much gentler, smoother way to reduce the power. Think of it as easing off the accelerator instead of slamming on the brakes.
The benefit: This soft-touch approach is perfect for the low-power, delicate electronics in LED bulbs. The result is what you were looking for all along: smooth, silent, and stable dimming all the way down to the lowest levels.
How to choose the right dimmer?
Ready to solve your dimming problems for good? Here's all you need to know.
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First, check your bulbs: Before anything else, make sure your LED bulbs are actually "dimmable". It will always be clearly stated on the box and often on the bulb itself with a specific symbol. Non-dimmable bulbs will flicker and fail with *any* dimmer.
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Always choose "trailing edge" for LEDs: This is the golden rule. If you're buying a new dimmer to use with LED lights, it should be a trailing edge model. The packaging will often say "LED Compatible," "For LED," or simply "Trailing Edge."
- Check the load range: Every dimmer has a minimum and maximum power load (e.g., 3W - 70W). Because LEDs use so little power, it's important to make sure the total wattage of your bulbs is above the dimmer's minimum. For example, four 5W bulbs (total 20W) will work perfectly on a 3W-70W dimmer.
Bringing it all together
So there you have it. The secret to perfect, cozy lighting isn't a secret at all. For your modern, energy-efficient LED bulbs, you simply need a modern dimmer to match.
By pairing your dimmable LEDs with a trailing edge dimmer, you ensure they get the smooth, stable power they need to operate silently and flawlessly. It’s a small detail that turns a flickering frustration into the perfect atmosphere you've been looking for.
Need help finding the right dimmer for your project? Check out our range of LED-compatible dimmers or ask the experts at Fixerio.
