Why do my LED bulbs flickers when switch is off?

Joan
by Joan
In my bedroom, the light switch is off but the light on the ceiling flickers at the base of the led bulbs. Looks like lightning bugs at night.


  7 answers
  • Ana Bacallao Ana Bacallao on Apr 05, 2018

    I've never seen ths hapen with my LED bulbs. Check the connection for any loose wires.


  • Ken Ken on Apr 05, 2018

    If it is a plain on-off switch, you have wiring problems. If you are using a dimmer switch or an electronic remote-controlled switch, some are not made to use with the low power requirements of LEDs. Replace the switch with one that is rated for use with LEDs.

  • Connied804 Connied804 on Apr 05, 2018

    I have had that happen, too, but I didn't know for sure. It was fine with the regular bulbs, but when I put the LED lights in, it flickered. Mine was a fixture with 3 lights and when all three were switched to LED it didn't happen any more. Maybe that's why, but I really don't know.

  • Anne Brennan Anne Brennan on Apr 05, 2018

    Not sure if same issue, but had this issue in my moms guest room (drove me crazy). Research brought me to check for grounding (or lack of). Older house still had 2 wire electrical, allowing for a small current 'leak' that when enough built up, would flash the light. If you have grounded electrical, verify the ground wire on light fixture is connected.

  • Grandmasue10 Grandmasue10 on Apr 05, 2018

    This could be a dangerous situation. Have an expert take a look. You are also wearing out your LED's prematurely.

  • Ro Ro on Apr 05, 2018

    loose wires

  • William William on Apr 06, 2018

    Most of the time this happens if the light switch is a dimmer switch or has a dimmer incorporated to it. LED bulbs that are not dimmable will flicker. Either use dimmable LED bulbs or replace the switch with an LED dimmer switch. Another cause can be if there are only two wires and no ground at the fixture. Stray voltage normally goes to ground. Without a ground wire stray voltage stays in the wiring and is enough to cause the LED's to flicker since they are low voltage. This also affects CFL bulbs. They tend to glow/flicker. This does not occur with incandescent bulbs.