Why Does Led Bulbs Flicker?

[renegadefm]

Bit of a weird one this. I bought LED bulbs as they are more efficient, yet there is one particular light in our dining room, that since replacing the old style bulb with an LED bulb it flickers which suggests a lose fitting somewhere. 

Yet when I put back the old style 100 watt bulb its not flickering at all?

Could this be the older style bulbs are more tolerant to a lose connection, and show zero flicker? 

[Atheist]

I've never had a flickering LED bulb. I can't give you more technical advice.Maybe someone else can advise you. Good luck.

[davebro3]

it's just progress - bit like dab radio🙄

[Atheist]

dab radio is great.

[-SharonA-]

Some of mine flicker.

[renegadefm]

Atheist, 

Its something to do with the fixing the bulb is in because I put another new LED bulb in that particular fixing and it still flickers, so I ruled out a faulty bulb. 

Yet the old style bulb in the same fixing doesn't flicker whatsoever. 

[Atheist]

Maybe depends on your location?

[davebro3]

https://www.instyleled.co.uk/blog/why-do-leds-flicker-and-how-to-stop-it-happening/

[renegadefm]

davebro3, 

It seems progress is sometimes a backward step. 

Seems a shame I got to go back to an old style 100watt bulb just to stop the flickering 🤔

[bhg481]

LED bulbs use direct current ie, the AC mains is rectified and sent to the bulb. Also LED bulbs are fully ON or fully OFF. The old bulbs are AC current, as supplied directly by the mains, and heat up and stay warm enough to remain visible through the cycle once they have heated up. Some LED bulbs appear to flicker more than others and the flicker can be more noticable if the bulb is in the corner of your eye. We used to go through a particular set of traffic lights in France where, if stopped and you were staring straight ahead you could see the red light flickering in the corner of your eye; if you looked at the light it didn't flicker.

[kwillmott]

Have you tried 1 of the non flickering bulbs in the socket? Do a swap and see if the flickering bulb does it in Any socket. If it is new bulb I would take it back.

[renegadefm]

davebro3, 

Thanks for the link, its an interesting read. 

My problem is its only one light in the whole house that flickers once an led bulb is installed. 

At first I thought lose wire or dodgy bulb holder. But then surely that would affect the old style bulbs. 

[renegadefm]

kwillmott, 

I tried the flickering led bulb in another socket and its fine. 

[The Builder]

Davebro's link is very good, but it's about LEDs with transformers (12v).

This is a mains LED.  First thing I would do is replace it with another LED. It may be faulty. I had this recently in my own house. A replacement fixed it.

[The Builder]

Sorry ... cross-posted.   So it's not faulty then.

[Old_Geezer]

Try another brand ?

Maybe the ones you have want mains at 5,000 Hz 😉

[The Builder]

Are they on a dimmer?

[Old_Geezer]

Good thought !

[renegadefm]

Just to clarify, no dimmer switches, and all bulbs from the same box. 

And the flickering bulb does flicker in any other socket. 

When I say socket I am refering to ceiling bulb holder. 

I even replaced the switch on the wall thinking it might be faulty. 

Next step can only replace the whole ceiling rose. Next step must be new wiring, but bit extreme I thought when it doesn't flicker with old style bayonet 100watt bulb. 

Just to add when I mean flicker, its not a gentle flicker, its proper on and off flicker. 

[renegadefm]

Sorry typo, I meant same bulb does not flicker in any other socket