LED Tree Lights Too Bright

[toytrains25 10]

I have changed my indoor tree lights from the old bulbs to C6 LEDs.  Unfortunately, these new LEDs are way too bright and I'd like to know if there is an easy way to dim the LED lights?  My idea is to have an enclosed electrical box with a normal plug, a dimmer switch of some kind and a cord with a plug that will then plug into the wall outlet.   I've read other posts that seem to indicate a special type of dimmer switch is required. 

I've attached a crude drawing showing what I've been thinking about. 

If someone can tell me what components I would need, and how to connect them, I can probably do the rest. 

Thanks!

 

[Charlie E 7]

you can only use a dimmer if the lights are dimmable LEDs, do you have the box the lights came in

 

[toytrains25 10]

I'm 99% sure the lights aren't dimmable.  I don't have the boxes anymore. 

What would happen if I tried to dim them using some sort of connections like I drew?

[Charlie E 7]

 

if you try to dim them and they aren't dimmable, they just turn off

[Stephen Blue 24]

Used to have something like you're describing on our tree. Basically took an extension cord, cut it in half, and wired the two raw ends into a dimmer switch in a cheap box.

 

How will this work with your LED's? No idea, although I'll say a great number of my supposedly non-dimmable LED's do in fact dim, just not very smoothly. Your results may vary  

[diamondkilo 32]

they make these for the hassle free approach / and its UL listed.

inline dimmer

 

[Stephen Blue 24]

2 hours ago, diamondkilo said:

they make these for the hassle free approach / and its UL listed.

inline dimmer

 

Probably less of a fire hazard than my approach. Granted, when the one I pictured was built, I'm pretty sure Amazon was just selling books still. LOL

[Duct Tape 9]

when i bought some lights from Home Depot this year, I took a dimmer from the electrical department and tried it on the various LED lights.  None of them liked the dimmer.  Most of them just flickered.  

[Big J Illinois 471]

You can dobit, you HAVE to use a digital dimmer NOT one for incandescent lights...that's why they flicker...try that and let us know:)

[vette-kid 15]

Agnew with big j. I did it using a digital dimmer switch. I did it just like Stephen described. Cut an extension cord in half, wire that to the switch and put the switch in a wet location rated box with an "in use" cover. Mint that to a fiberglass pole or your choice of stake.

I tested various light strings with it and most did ok. Some would dim now than others, but I think they all did at least some.

Bottom line, it can be done and isn't difficult.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Sometimes I hate tapatalk. That first line is supposed to say " I agree" with big j.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[Thebug 36]

To cut the flicker use a snubber.  I have found that most Sylvania and all GE Christmas lights will dim

[Douggg 5]

On 12/21/2017 at 8:17 PM, toytrains25 said:

I have changed my indoor tree lights from the old bulbs to C6 LEDs.  Unfortunately, these new LEDs are way too bright and I'd like to know if there is an easy way to dim the LED lights?  My idea is to have an enclosed electrical box with a normal plug, a dimmer switch of some kind and a cord with a plug that will then plug into the wall outlet.   I've read other posts that seem to indicate a special type of dimmer switch is required. 

I've attached a crude drawing showing what I've been thinking about. 

If someone can tell me what components I would need, and how to connect them, I can probably do the rest. 

Thanks!

 

 

What you drew in the sketch should work just fine.  Here’s the thing with superbrite LEDs, there brightness will decrease the more you use them.  I have LEDs that use to be supper bright using them over time they are now not bight enough. 

The dimmer circuit you described will work with even non-dimmable LEDs.

You might want to take a look on www.banggood.com for LED dimmers. 

[mwalz 110]

Maybe some of you others may have more info but this may help. My LOR controller dims these supposedly non dimmable leds just fine. Not sure if it's the same kind of controller used fro wall dimmers.

[Douggg 5]

7 hours ago, mwalz said:

Maybe some of you others may have more info but this may help. My LOR controller dims these supposedly non dimmable leds just fine. Not sure if it's the same kind of controller used fro wall dimmers.

All depends on the design of the power supply.  All LEDs are dimable, but as the voltage decreases the different collored LEDs will have different levels of brightness.  Dimable LEDs have circuity to keep light levels at the same brightness.  

[toytrains25 10]

Found the perfect solution! 

A friend of mine had a variac (variable ac transformer).  Plugged my lights into it and turned the dial down until I found a voltage that gave me the brightness I wanted.  Turned out 89 volts ac is just perfect for our tree. 

This wouldn't work with outside lights, since the variac I have isn't weatherproof, but it is great for my indoor tree lights. 

Just thought I'd pass along this information.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help me!

Happy New Year!

[Douggg 5]

Could be made for outside.  R=E/i.  For 120v circuit you will need to drop 30 volts with a resistor to get to the 90v.   If the current draw is say .25a you would need a 120 ohm resister.  P=I*E. .25 * 30 ...  Let’s call it 1 watt.   A 120 - 150 ohm 1 watt resister is all you would need.  Make it water “tight’ by placing in a PVC pipe with end caps.