I’m stumped, but I know someone knows the answer... (dining room, kitchen)

[gentlearts]

We have two hanging lights in the kitchen. They are dimmable. One bulb burned out so we replaced it with a dimmable bulb. Now, when we flip the light switch, nothing happens. We flip it a second time and it goes on. Weird.

[Quietude]

What type of bulbs are in the fixture, and what type burned out?

[Piney Creek]

I've known a few girls like that. Their dates always had to try a second time before they'd let themselves get turned on.

On a serious note, I'm curious to know what the answer is, OP. My best guess is they're haunted.

[Quietude]

It's either a bizarre technical mismatch between the bulbs - i.e. one blocks current until it is powered a second time - or a bad wall switch. Since you're using a dimmer, the probability of something wrong there is even higher. Is the dimmer rated for the bulb types (that is, are you using an older dimmer with LED bulbs - or, worst, are you using and older dimmer with a mix of LED, CFL and inky bulbs?)

Switch in two known-good bulbs of the same type and play around with the switch/dimmer.

[gentlearts]

I’ll get the particulars and post them. DH isn’t here, so I don’t know if he replaced both bulb, or one.

[M3 Mitch]

Did he put an LED light in one, and there is an incandescent in the other? Is this an old dimmer intended for incandescent bulbs only?



This is a strange one.

[gentlearts]

Both new bulbs are in, no old ones. The bulbs are LED A19, dimmable, 10.5w, GE relax LED.

The former bulbs were similar, but lower wattage.

If it makes a difference, the lights work on either of two switches. One of the switches has the dimmer. We just turned the dimmer all the way up, and it seems to have stopped the problem.

It obviously is the fault of the dimmer, somehow.

[PhureeKeeper]

What a coincidence! I just had the same exact problem yesterday and had an electrician out today. It was my dimmer switch. He put in a new LED dimmer.

He also replaced all of my recessed lights with LED fixtures. OMG - my kitchen is so bright now - and I'm using about 1/10th the electricity.

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

It obviously is the fault of the dimmer, somehow.

You need an LED-compatible dimmer. Older ones will do all kinds of screwy things when only LED bulbs are in the circuit - like leave the bulbs dimly lit even on "off" and dim in an erratic curve.

I had a dining room chandelier I switched to LED bulbs, and the rather expensive Lutron dimming system wouldn't work right with it. I solved the problem by putting one incandescent bulb back in the fixture. Was meant to be a temporary solution, pending a $100+ dimmer replacement, but it worked well for several years.

[Rickcin]

Yes, older dimmers will not always work with LED’s that are listed as being dimmable. LED lamps are much more sensitive to current than incandescent light bulbs.