lickering LED Lights with a Dimmer? A Quick Fix for a Common Problem!

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to share a useful tip I came across for a very common and frustrating problem: flickering LED lights when used with a dimmer switch.
I recently upgraded my hallway lights and replaced my old halogen bulbs with some nice, energy-efficient dimmable LEDs. The dimming function worked, but the lights would often flicker slightly, especially at lower brightness settings. It was incredibly annoying!
After doing some research, I found out this is often a compatibility issue. Many modern LED bulbs don’t draw enough power (they have a low “load”) for the dimmer switch to work correctly, especially if the switch was designed for old incandescent or halogen bulbs. The low load can cause a small amount of residual current to flow, which makes the LEDs flicker.
The solution? A bypass capacitor.
A bypass capacitor (sometimes called an LED bypass or load resistor) is a small electrical component that you wire into your lighting circuit. It’s designed to absorb that small amount of residual current, providing a stable load for the dimmer switch and preventing the flickering.
Here’s the general idea:
What it does: It effectively ‘tricks’ the dimmer switch into thinking there’s a higher electrical load, so it can function correctly with your low-power LEDs.
How to install: These are usually wired in parallel with the first light fitting in the circuit. You can typically find simple, plug-and-play versions that just clip into a terminal block at your ceiling rose.
Safety First: Important! Always turn off the power at the main consumer unit (fuse box) before doing any electrical work. If you’re not confident with wiring, please get a qualified electrician to install it for you.
This simple component solved my flickering issue completely, and now I have perfectly smooth dimming at all levels. It’s a great, cost-effective fix that can save you from having to replace all your switches or bulbs.
Has anyone else had a similar experience or used a bypass capacitor for this issue? I’d love to hear your thoughts or any other tips you might have!