In modern home and commercial environments, LED lights are widely welcomed in modern home, commercial and industrial lighting for their advantages such as high efficiency, long life and environmental protection. However, many users will encounter a common problem when using LED lights - LED lights flicker. LED lights flicker, which not only affects the lighting effect, but may also cause discomfort to the eyes. When this phenomenon occurs, users will suspect that it is a problem with the lamp. In fact, it is not the case. In fact, there is a high probability that the led driver supply problem is "making trouble". So, how does the power supply affect the flickering of LED lights? How does the power supply affect its stability? This article will explore the reasons for the flickering of LED lights and their solutions.
Before understanding the reasons for the flickering of LED lights, we first need to understand the working principle of LED lights. Light-emitting diodes are a semiconductor light source that is very sensitive to current and emits light when current passes through it; that is, an electroluminescent semiconductor electronic device in which electrons and electron holes recombine to release energy in the form of photons. Therefore, LED lights have high requirements for the stability of the power supply.
Ⅰ. Common manifestations of LED light flickering
LED flickering is generally divided into two situations:
（1）Visible frequent flickering: The light flickers frequently, sometimes bright and sometimes dim like "breathing", or even suddenly on and off.
（2）Subtle flickering (stroboscopic) that is difficult to detect with the naked eye: The luminous flux of the electric light source fluctuates at a certain frequency. When we point our mobile phones at the light source, we can often see stripes, and the light jumps or flickers one by one, which is caused by stroboscopic.
These problems seriously affect the lighting experience and even affect health. So what is the root cause?
Ⅱ. Power supply problem is one of the main reasons
The core of LED light is semiconductor light emitting diode, which is very sensitive to current. The LED power supply is the key component that drives it to emit light stably. Therefore, once there is a problem with the power supply, the LED light cannot work stably.
The following are several power supply problems that may cause flickering:
（1） Unstable voltage
The unstable mains input of the led driver is one of the main reasons for the flickering of LED lights. Or the power supply voltage fluctuates greatly, and it does not have a voltage stabilization function, causing the LED lights to receive unstable current, then the brightness of the LED lights will fluctuate, that is, flickering. This situation is particularly common when using old power supplies or during peak power consumption periods or in areas with unstable voltage.
（2）Poor quality of driving power
LED lighting products are driven by constant voltage or constant current power supply from AC to DC. The light source itself does not produce flicker. Whether there is flicker depends on the LED driving power supply. Some power drivers on the market vary greatly. Even led supply produced by bad merchants lack constant current/constant voltage design, or the components are unqualified and cannot provide stable current, resulting in flicker, jumping flash and other phenomena.
（3） Incompatible with dimming system
For smart lighting products, dimming is a necessary function, and dimming is another cause of flicker. When the product is loaded with dimming function, flicker is often further aggravated. Especially when the dimmer used is incompatible with the led supply, the LED lamp may produce obvious flicker or noise when dimming. Not all dimmers are compatible with the lighting system, so when choosing a dimmer, be sure to ensure that it is compatible with the LED lamp used. Below is a visual representation of the sinusoidal curve for a fully lit LED (left) and a 50% dimmed LED (right).
（4）The starting voltage is too high or too low
The improper setting of the starting voltage of some LED power supplies will cause stroboscopic phenomena. When the voltage is too high, the LED lamp may not emit light normally, resulting in flickering; when the voltage is too low, the voltage of the LED lamp is unstable or too low, which will also cause flickering. It will cause stroboscopic phenomena. Therefore, it is necessary to use a stable and matching power supply driver.
（5）Aging or damaged power supply
In daily life, objects have reduced physical properties or usability due to external environmental factors or the characteristics of the material itself, which is what we call "loss", and the power supply is no exception. After long-term use of the power supply, the internal components of the LED power supply will be worn out and aged, making the current output unstable, often causing the LED lamps to flicker intermittently or suddenly go out.
Ⅲ. How to determine whether it is a power supply problem?
In daily life, we may not be professional electricians and have insufficient knowledge of electrical appliances, so how can we determine whether the flickering of LED lights is a problem with the power adaptor? You can try the following methods:
（1） Please try to replace a new LED light of the same model: If the flickering still occurs after the light is replaced, it is likely a problem with the power supply or circuit.
（2）Use a dimmer to observe whether it flickers with dimming changes: If the LED lamp flickers more frequently when dimming, it means that the dimming compatibility is not good.
（3）Replace the stable power supply test: Use a voltage stabilizer or a high-quality LED driver power supply to detect whether the LED lamp still flickers.
* Of course, we recommend that you seek help from a supplier or professional electrician to ensure your own safety and find a better solution.
IV. How to avoid LED flickering?
（1） Choose a high-quality constant led driver with high stability: Use an LED power driver with constant voltage output, overload protection, and low-frequency flicker design, or consider using a led power supply transformer to stabilize the power supply voltage.
（2）The dimmer is compatible with the system: When using a dimmer, be sure to confirm that the led strip light , power driver, and dimmer switch are compatible.
（3）Use qualified lighting products: High-quality lighting suppliers usually make better matching and testing between the whole lamp and the driver, and will also develop the best customized solution for you.
（4）Regular inspection and maintenance: Timely replacement of aging circuits, lights, drivers or other components to keep the circuit system safe and stable.
V. Summary
LED light flickering is a common problem. It seems to be a problem with the lighting, but the power supply is the real key role behind the scenes. If you encounter the problem of LED light flickering, you might as well start with the power supply. If you need a professional LED power supply solution, please consult Weihui Technology. We focus on LED furniture cabinet lighting and provide one-stop led lighting solutions to bring stable, intelligent and comfortable light to every space, making your lighting experience more comfortable and pleasant.
Post time: Jul-26-2025
