Kevin Vick with Dave Dudik (Design Engineer – General Electric)

Dimming of an LED Light Bulb for Incandescent Replacement

Within the next few years, incandescent light bulbs will be phased-out of production and will no longer be available for purchase. LED, or light-emitting diode, lamps are one alternative light source, and are said to be the future of lighting with their high energy efficiency, durability, and extremely long life. LEDs require a DC input and are therefore combined with electronic drivers to convert the standard AC signal to the necessary DC signal. However, this results in a drastic reduction in performance when connected to a TRIAC (triode for alternating current) dimmer, the most common household dimmer, and causes most LED lamps to be non dimmable. The effects of various TRIAC dimmers on an AC waveform will be investigated, as well as the effect of these altered waveforms on the performance of electronic drivers. A statistical approach for characterizing dimmer compatibility of electronic drivers will be developed, along with a quantitative test method for comparing dimming solutions. This method will be implemented in the selection of the most effective dimming driver for use in the future LED lamp design.