Lamp flickers or does not work: what can you do?

A lamp that does not dim even though it says dimmable, or that flickers at low power: that is almost never the lamp alone. It is the combination of lamp, dimmer and sometimes the wiring.

The lamp flickers at low power

The most common cause: the dimmer is not suitable for LED, or the total wattage is below the dimmer's lower limit. Many dimmers need at least 10 or 20 watts, while your LED only draws 8.

Solution: a dimmer with a low lower limit, or more lamps on the same dimmer. See which dimmer works with LED lighting.

The lamp glows faintly when switched off

That is caused by residual voltage on the line, often with a switch that has an indicator light or with long cable runs. A suppression capacitor solves it, or a switch without a light.

The lamp does not work after replacement

Check that the light source is seated properly, because with G9 and GU10 a pin is easily skewed. Also check that you are not above the fitting's maximum wattage; that is on the rating plate.

If it is not that, it is usually the circuit or the switch, not the lamp.

One of several lights does not work

With fittings that have several sockets, that almost always means a loose or faulty light source. Unscrew it and screw it back in; if that does not help, swap it with a socket that does work. If the problem stays with the same socket, it is in the fitting.

The lamp gets warm

An LED gets lukewarm to warm at the base, that is normal. If it gets too hot to hold, check whether the shade has enough ventilation and whether you are using too high a wattage.

Something else is wrong

In doubt about the wiring, or can you smell something? Leave it alone and switch off the circuit. More about working safely is in hanging a lamp yourself.

Think it is the product? Report it via our complaints page; you will receive a confirmation within one working day.

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