Dimming non-dimmable LEDs
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:53 pm
Please forgive the ramblings of a newbie.. but
As far as I know LED lights are diodes and only function when current passes in one direction. Since the mains supply is alternating current, a diode will only illuminate on the positive or negative excursion. I assume one of two possibilities exist. LED lamps consists of a bridge rectifier so they can exploit both +ve and -ve voltage swings OR LEDs are wired back to back.
Either way, could I not reduce the brightness of LED lights by simply wiring a diode in series with it.
It works with incandescent lights - why not LEDs ones?
Peter
As far as I know LED lights are diodes and only function when current passes in one direction. Since the mains supply is alternating current, a diode will only illuminate on the positive or negative excursion. I assume one of two possibilities exist. LED lamps consists of a bridge rectifier so they can exploit both +ve and -ve voltage swings OR LEDs are wired back to back.
Either way, could I not reduce the brightness of LED lights by simply wiring a diode in series with it.
It works with incandescent lights - why not LEDs ones?
Peter