Ledstrip on dimmer flickering when dimmed

[Polarizing]

Hi TV!

I have a koogeek dimmer switch connected to philips led strips (https://shopee.co.th/Philips-LED-Strip-31059-ไฟเส้น-พร้อมหม้อแปลง-LED-18W-5M-3000K-i.6941174.2332334391 ), with an adaptor in between. Whenever I dim the ledstrip with the koogeek, the ledstrip flickers. 
I will be installing new ledstrips connected to another koogeek dimmer. and I hope to buy something that is capable of dimming without flickering. What is the best way to go?
Is buying the same led strip and connecting it to a cheap transformer the best solution? (maybe something like this? https://th.aliexpress.com/item/32919221101.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.14661a7fax2QLM&algo_pvid=7803f890-0d96-4b36-9e22-70679ee20f08&algo_expid=7803f890-0d96-4b36-9e22-70679ee20f08-5&btsid=0ab6f82115966995950477289e2d18&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_)

Thanks!

[maxpower]

The cause is likely the dimmer fighting with the strips switching power supply.

 

Best to dim led strips at the low voltage point using  a PWM dimmer which are available from specialist LED shops.
 

[OneMoreFarang]

I don't think you can dim that kind of LED strip with that kind of power supply.

LEDs work different than light bulbs.

 

There are LED strips which are designed to be dimmed, often with a little remote. I.e. this:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ezbuy-led-strip-led-3528-5050-rgb-adapter-24w-5-i261593650-s402568561.html

 

[johng]

14 minutes ago, maxpower said:

Best to dim led strips at the low voltage point using  a PWM dimmer which are available from specialist LED shops.

Yes  Pulse Width Modulation  to dim LED's

if  anyone is interested in a D.I.Y project  ( yes I did get it to work eventually even made my own PCB )

https://www.instructables.com/id/Easier-WiFi-LED-Light-Strip-Controller/

 

spot the "un-deliberate" mistake  which worked out ok as I didn't have to drill loads of holes ????

 

[Metropolitian]

21 minutes ago, johng said:

spot the "un-deliberate" mistake  which worked out ok as I didn't have to drill loads of holes ????

 

The mask for transfering the pcb tracees ( either way, toner transfer or UV method with nailpaint) was flipped and you decide to go with the pcb and putting the nodemcu on the soldering side side ? ????

 

And the ground for some of the transies were you planning to connect them on the component side?

Edited August 6, 2020 by Metropolitian
<grounds>

[Metropolitian]

1 hour ago, Polarizing said:

I have a koogeek dimmer switch connected to philips led strips (https://shopee.co.th/Philips-LED-Strip-31059-ไฟเส้น-พร้อมหม้อแปลง-LED-18W-5M-3000K-i.6941174.2332334391 ), with an adaptor in between. Whenever I dim the ledstrip with the koogeek, the ledstrip flickers. 
I will be installing new ledstrips connected to another koogeek dimmer. and I hope to buy something that is capable of dimming without flickering. What is the best way to go?

I was thinking about the classic (trailing/leading edge cut) dimmers but this (the Koogeek) is a dimmer made for incandescent lights and will work with dimmable led lights (that are ledbulbs/T lights).

 

For ledstrips, which are fed at lower voltages you need a led dimmer dedicated for that task, just like the one from Philips in the shopee ad.

They get the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) at the right voltage and current.

 

When you feed PWM to a transformer(less) adapter it will act different.

[Polarizing]

5 minutes ago, Metropolitian said:

I was thinking about the classic (trailing/leading edge cut) dimmers but this (the Koogeek) is a dimmer made for incandescent lights and will work with dimmable led lights (that are ledbulbs/T lights).

 

For ledstrips, which are fed at lower voltages you need a led dimmer dedicated for that task, just like the one from Philips in the shopee ad.

They get the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) at the right voltage and current.

 

When you feed PWM to a transformer(less) adapter it will act different.

Sorry didnt get the message completely. You said I need the philips transformer like the one from the ad, but i got that hooked up already with my koogeek and its flickering at lower dim levels. So I should feed it with a PWM?

[johng]

2 minutes ago, Metropolitian said:

The mask for transfering the pcb tracees ( either way, toner transfer or UV method) was flipped

Yes correct ???? .. the original author's gerber file was (I think) correct   but I had a "brain fart" and  flipped image before laser printing ...tried the "cold transfer" method using  nail polish remover and isopropyl alcohol  which took a couple of attempts to get  the transfer to stick , didn't realise the mistake until looking for the tiniest little drill bit I could find in my collection.

[Metropolitian]

That Koogeek dimmer works on 230 volt (195-260 range) and is meant for drive 230 volt lights (those without adapters.)

There exist 230 volt led strips, mostly one color.

 

For drive 12 volts led strips you should look/think:

* dimmer module for wall , like the koogeek, that inputs and outputs 12 volt.  No need for a phone, but some models can be controlled by wifi.

* led dimmer which works on wifi/bluetooth , then you need a phone.

* led dimmer which works on infrared or radiowave,  these come with remote controller.

 

 

EDIT:

 

You can keep using the Koogeek dimmer when you replace the Philips Transformer/Adapter for a Dimmable Led Driver.

 

 

Edited August 6, 2020 by Metropolitian

[Metropolitian]

3 minutes ago, Polarizing said:

Sorry didnt get the message completely. You said I need the philips transformer like the one from the ad, but i got that hooked up already with my koogeek and its flickering at lower dim levels. So I should feed it with a PWM?

The pwm need to be coming from the adapter out, and never at an input of a adapter.

 

The Philips transformer is for steady output, with that setup you can't dim the led strip.

The ledstrip itself is able to be dimmed, but not by using that Philips transformer.

(well, a little bit but not smooth and as you encounter.. it flickers)

[maxpower]

15 minutes ago, Metropolitian said:

For ledstrips, which are fed at lower voltages you need a led dimmer dedicated for that task, just like the one from Philips in the shopee ad.

They get the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) at the right voltage and current.

Led strips are usually fixed voltage without any current control. Current is limited by resistors on the strip. This allows the strip to be cut to length using the same voltage limited driver.

[maxpower]

There are many ready made options on the Chinese market for DIY PWM dimming of single color strips.

As an example, the BC-331 uses a  0-10v or single pulse to control PWM.

 

 

 

[johng]

13 minutes ago, Polarizing said:

the philips transformer like the one from the ad, but i got that hooked up already with my koogeek

That looks like its just a transformer  220-240v to 12volts ?  fixed at 12 volts it provides no way of dimming

 the LEDs

[Polarizing]

27 minutes ago, Metropolitian said:

That Koogeek dimmer works on 230 volt (195-260 range) and is meant for drive 230 volt lights (those without adapters.)

There exist 230 volt led strips, mostly one color.

 

For drive 12 volts led strips you should look/think:

* dimmer module for wall , like the koogeek, that inputs and outputs 12 volt.  No need for a phone, but some models can be controlled by wifi.

* led dimmer which works on wifi/bluetooth , then you need a phone.

* led dimmer which works on infrared or radiowave,  these come with remote controller.

 

 

EDIT:

 

You can keep using the Koogeek dimmer when you replace the Philips Transformer/Adapter for a Dimmable Led Driver.

 

 

so coming back to my first post, if I buy that dimmable led driver from aliexpress it should work?

[Crossy]

1 minute ago, Polarizing said:

so coming back to my first post, if I buy that dimmable led driver from aliexpress it should work?

 

Not the AliExpress ones no.

 

You have a 12V LED strip, you need a 12V supply.

 

Usually one would use a 12V PWM dimmer, there may be units that are dimmable on the 220V side, I've not looked for them.

 

[Metropolitian]

10 minutes ago, Polarizing said:

so coming back to my first post, if I buy that dimmable led driver from aliexpress it should work?

No, as stated above, they are not for the led strips (12 volt) but they are for led downlights.

The leds inside those armature are chained in series to work on higher voltages.

 

 

[Polarizing]

59 minutes ago, Metropolitian said:

No, as stated above, they are not for the led strips (12 volt) but they are for led downlights.

The leds inside those armature are chained in series to work on higher voltages.

 

 

https://th.aliexpress.com/item/10000036267639.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.21961feepwNAJR&algo_pvid=6c0ff09e-27a7-4e9b-8e41-8e002f006bb5&algo_expid=6c0ff09e-27a7-4e9b-8e41-8e002f006bb5-1&btsid=0ab6d70515967102087384410e1237&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

This should work right? and the W on the led driver means: for every ledstrip I should take the sum of the wattage and add them to eachother and that number should not exceed that of the led driver?

Thanks

[Metropolitian]

8 hours ago, Polarizing said:

https://th.aliexpress.com/item/10000036267639.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.21961feepwNAJR&algo_pvid=6c0ff09e-27a7-4e9b-8e41-8e002f006bb5&algo_expid=6c0ff09e-27a7-4e9b-8e41-8e002f006bb5-1&btsid=0ab6d70515967102087384410e1237&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

This should work right? and the W on the led driver means: for every ledstrip I should take the sum of the wattage and add them to eachother and that number should not exceed that of the led driver?

Thanks

I don't have experience with those products to be honest but I've read the specifications and they should work for you.

[Crossy]

10 hours ago, Polarizing said:

https://th.aliexpress.com/item/10000036267639.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.21961feepwNAJR&algo_pvid=6c0ff09e-27a7-4e9b-8e41-8e002f006bb5&algo_expid=6c0ff09e-27a7-4e9b-8e41-8e002f006bb5-1&btsid=0ab6d70515967102087384410e1237&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

This should work right? and the W on the led driver means: for every ledstrip I should take the sum of the wattage and add them to eachother and that number should not exceed that of the led driver?

Thanks

 

Those look good to go. 

 

Yes, add up your strips, add 10% for luck and you should be gold.