A variable load circuit (2) is provided for use with a dimmer (1). A low wattage load such as a LED (3) is provided in series with the dimmer and the variable load circuit is provided in parallel with the LED. The variable load circuit has two different load characteristics: when the applied voltage from the dimmer is below a threshold, the variable load circuit presents a fixed load (24), and when the applied voltage is above a threshold the variable load circuit presents a variable load so as to act as a constant current sink. The variable load is provided by a secondary load portion (25) which may or may not act in combination with the fixed load (24), and the secondary load portion (25) is switched in or out of the variable load circuit by a trigger circuit portion (26).