How to eliminate 12V puck light LED flicker?

[duesentrieb]

I have 12V DC kitchen under-cabinets that flicker. More noticeable at low dimmer settings. But also at higher settings, not as visible, but I feel somehow the flicker, tough to explain.
I was wondering what I could do, short of replacing all components. I am not new to the basics such as trying better dimmers etc.

My components:
1.) Dimmer: Insteon dimmer 2477 (currnelty) - played with others.
2.) driver: 60W 12VDC https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CP79QCZS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
3.) lights: 5x 4W https://www.amazon.com/Armacost-Lig...d=1727457813&sprefix=puck+ligh,aps,121&sr=8-5

I tried 2x different dimmer. Behavior is changing. But some flickering is always there
I also tried a LDS device: Lutron LUT-MLC which helped in the past with Insteon dimmers. In this case with the current dimmer it made it worse. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E9F084E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also tried another "Amazon" driver. Changed behavior, but some flicker. I try to avoid to replace as my current one is in a nice UL enclosure


What could I try next? Simply adding a resistor in parallel on the 12V DC side to create more load? Capacitor?

 

[davenn]

I tried 2x different dimmer. Behavior is changing. But some flickering is always there
I also tried a LDS device: Lutron LUT-MLC which helped in the past with Insteon dimmers. In this case with the current dimmer it made it worse. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E9F084E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also tried another "Amazon" driver. Changed behavior, but some flicker. I try to avoid to replace as my current one is in a nice UL enclosure


What could I try next? Simply adding a resistor in parallel on the 12V DC side to create more load? Capacitor?

Hi and welcome
It will be the dimmer units causing the flickering.
Hence why you observe more flickering at lower light level than at higher, brighter, levels. And also with different makes of dimmer.


Dimmers work by chopping up the DC voltage to produce a change in the on/off ratio of the voltage supplied to the LED/LED string.
I am not sure if there is a way to overcome that using a dimmer as it's working the way it should.
Someone else may have another idea.

Dave

 

[Bluejets]

Wrong driver....dimmible LEDs require not only the correct dimmer but also the appropriate driver.

 

[crutschow]

Since the driver has a DC output, I don't understand why its flickering.
Adding a large capacitor across the DC output (e.g. 1mF or larger) could help.

 

[Bluejets]

Had heaps where they used the wrong dimmable driver.......make those subject to flickering go nuts in the old peoples home.

 

[Externet]

Did you try to add a capacitor in parallel to the driver output ? -Or the supply for the LEDs ? (load line)

 

[duesentrieb]

Wrong driver....dimmible LEDs require not only the correct dimmer but also the appropriate driver.

Wrong driver .. how? Obviously, it flickers. But wrong type?

 

[duesentrieb]

Did you try to add a capacitor in parallel to the driver output ? -Or the supply for the LEDs ? (load line)

not yet. I wanted to check here first. I read somewhere that adding a capacitor could have a negative impact with such drivers (almost shorten during startup or so)

What I did. I used a Lutron LUT-MLC LDS device on the load side of the dimmer which sometimes helps with LED flicker or LED's not turning off 100%. In this case it did not help.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E9F084E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[duesentrieb]

Would there be any harm to add a resistor in parallel? the driver is 60W. The current LED max load is 20W.
I am thinking a 36 Ohm 5W resistor or so?

 

[Bluejets]

Wrong driver .. how? Obviously, it flickers. But wrong type?

Told you what the problem is, if you don't want to believe it, fine, go your own way.

As quoted, we have plenty where people make the same mistake and we fix it.

 

[Harald Kapp]

Dimming LEDs from teh mains side is tricky at best. As others noted before, the issue is moste likely due to a mismatch between dimmer and driver. It seems none of the dimmers you tried is on the compatibility list (from the driver's Amazon page):

Would there be any harm to add a resistor in parallel?

Parallel to the LEDs? No, but there wouldn't be any advantage either. The resistor would only produce waste heat.

 

[Martaine2005]

A good test for driver and LED compatibility is to add a small incandescent lamp/bulb across the live and neutral supply to the driver. If flicker stops, it’s obviously not compatible.

 

[WHONOES]

I expect that your dimmer is not switching fast enough for persistence of vision to dominate.
Speeding up the switching rate (frequency) would probably cure.

 

[Martaine2005]

I expect that your dimmer is not switching fast enough for persistence of vision to dominate.
Speeding up the switching rate (frequency) would probably cure.

Nice to see you on the forum again.

 

[WHONOES]

Thanks for those kind words Martaine2005.