Using LED light bulbs in a dimmer

Key difference:

• Halogen lights generally run from AC so this is what your transformer outputs.

• LED's require DC so generally yes, you will need a rectified output from your transformer.

I am guessing the transformer is providing enough forward voltage on initial switch-on, but not thereafter.

You may be able to add a rectifier circuit at each bulb location to cope with this.

What is happening is that the folks who designed your fan receiver did a terrible job of it, and you simply didn't notice it before. Incandescent/halogen bulbs are relatively insensitive to leakage currents because they are so darn inefficient -- you can put several mA through them and nobody will notice. However, putting that same 5-10mA through a LED light bulb will cause it to turn on dimly or flicker, depending on the bulb's internal circuits. Whoops!

The answer is to replace the fan receiver with a model that doesn't leak current down the light wire when the light's supposed to be off. (You'll probably have to replace the transmitter remote along with it.)