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LEDs are powering the modern world and for good reason: they are efficient, cheaper and provide higher lumen levels to illuminate surroundings than typical lighting options.
In contrast to traditional halogen or filament bulbs, LEDs use individual Light Emitting Diodes, which are separately powered by a PCB inside the bulb. When lit, the diodes emit photons which we perceive as light.
By alternating the current and using different semiconductor materials inside the diode, manufacturers can change the colour of the light. LEDs are truly a feat of science and engineering, but even though they are highly efficient and can convert 95% of energy into light (the rest being heat), they can still fail due to mechanical or technical issues.
Inside the LED bulb, you will find a series of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which are connected on top of a PCB that contains capacitors and a driver. In some cases, the design might also feature a heat sink.
The driver is responsible for converting the incoming current to the appropriate voltage to power the LED. If the voltage is too low or too high, it can cause problems. In addition to the drivers, the capacitors also work to smooth the conversion and help reduce flickering.
Read on to find out the reasons for LED driver failure, how to increase driver lifespan, and how to protect against surges:
The diode is a semiconducting material that emits photons (light) through the principle of electroluminescence when an electric current passes through it.
A diode is made up of a positively and negatively charged component, where the positive component has openings for electrons, and the negative component has free electrons floating around in it.
When power is applied, it activates the flow of electrons from the negative to the positive layer. This jump of electrons releases energy in the form of photons that we perceive as light.
The colour of the light can be adjusted through how far or how little the electrons jump, the material of the semiconductor, the current and more.
Why is this important to explain?
The diodes in the LED themselves are designed to last a very long time. They are essentially a solid-state device with no moving parts and are therefore durable and reliable.
When these lights stop working, it isn’t the LEDs but the PCB or, more specifically, the driver that goes bust.
As explained above, drivers inside the LED are little power transformers that take the incoming current from a socket and step it down to match the required energy to power the LED.
LED driver failure is very common and occurs due to a weakness in the driver electronics, which in turn decreases the driver’s lifespan.
There are three main reasons why drivers fail:
In other words, heat stress that occurs in switching components on and off, and poor heat dissipation, are all reasons why drivers may fail. We mentioned above that the PCB contains capacitors that are designed to store and release significant current all at once. When weak or inferior capacitors are used with poor insulation, heat stress can cause the PCB to be damaged over time.
It is estimated that with every 10 degrees Celsius increase in temperature, the component or driver lifespan can halve due to degradation!
In addition to this, enclosing the drivers in a bulb without a heat sink or installing the bulb in an area that is hot, humid, and enclosed can also result in busted lights.
Just as the name suggests, ripple current is the periodic fluctuation of the current waveform that occurs after AC to DC conversion. Remember, the driver’s job is to take incoming AC and convert it into DC to power the LED.
This conversion causes a ripple of current that can stress the electronics on the PCB. Too high a ripple can stress the output filter component, especially the capacitors, and make them physically bulge, which causes them to lose their efficiency over time.
Ripple current also makes matters worse because it generates additional heat, and as we explained above, more heat = more damage or faster ageing.
The problem occurs due to the usage of cheaper drivers that don’t use filtering. This enables large ripple currents to accelerate the ageing of the circuitry and cause LED driver failure.
As you can imagine, power surges or transients on the mains can cause voltage spikes. These surges can happen due to a problem in the mains of your property or from external sources such as lightning strikes.
In most cases, utility switching or the use of heavy machinery on the same breaker as the LEDs can cause surges and exceed the driver’s tolerance, which results in damage or faults.
To protect against this, many manufacturers use surge protection components. However, the problem is that in cheaper bulb varieties, these components themselves are inferior and degrade over time due to repeated surges.
There is little that you can do in the context of the components to extend the overall life of cheaper bulbs. However, some best practices can help you increase driver lifespan in general, even if you use cheaper varieties.
Let’s explore a few ways to minimise LED driver failure:
One of the biggest ways that you can increase driver lifespan is to install the bulbs in a way that they do not get overheated. Keep in mind that the bulbs themselves do not generate that much heat, but if they are enclosed and the ambient temperature is warm, then heat can get trapped. This can even worsen where there is a problem in the wiring as well.
Ideally, you should not install these lights in enclosed fixtures and instead opt for fixture designs that have the top, side, or bottom open. This can allow air to pass through and the heat to dissipate properly.
There is no secret to more expensive bulbs. They work in the same way as the cheaper varieties, but where they do get their edge (and higher price tag) is with their use of high-quality materials and redundant protective components.
As we explained above, the LEDs themselves never develop faults; it is the PCB board that contains all the components that does. In theory, you can simply change out the board, and the bulb will function normally.
Relatively expensive bulbs use protective casings and special components that can protect against voltage and heat issues, thereby increasing the lifespan of the bulbs. The driver itself is built using high-quality materials and may even have internal protective mechanisms that make it even more reliable.
While these bulbs aren’t vulnerable to damage, they will certainly last a significantly longer time than the cheaper varieties.
If you do the math, then investing in high-quality bulbs will actually help you get your investment back consistently since the bulbs will provide continued savings over a long time.
While good LED bulbs do have internal surge protection mechanisms, there is also a lot that you can do externally to help increase the driver’s lifespan.
For example, by not installing the bulbs on a breaker that already hosts high-powered machines, you can avoid surges and LED driver failure.
LED lights are durable, but they require a consistent flow of energy to work properly. Surges and ripples can also occur when switching backup power sources. This can be fixed by investing in a good converter or inverter if you are using a solar panel system. The switch from one source to the other must be seamless, which can significantly help in increasing the driver’s lifespan.
Apart from the technical aspects of LED bulbs, there is also a lot that you can do in your day-to-day life to help decrease the chances of LED driver failure.
Best practices, such as keeping unwanted lights turned off during the day or when not needed, are simple but highly effective in increasing the lifespan of the bulbs. Keep in mind that the more the bulbs run, the more energy they pass through, which increases heat and degrades materials over time.
Even with high-quality bulbs, the act of simply using the bulbs can slowly but surely degrade them until the PCB wears out. By simply limiting the time of usage and turning off lights when not needed, you can increase the overall lifespan of the bulbs in your property.
You can also employ the use of Wi-Fi or automated switches that run on schedules or sensors that can turn off the lights according to your pre-defined schedule, and when they are not needed.
These switches also have protective components of their own, and if you connect them before the bulbs in a circuit, then the lights in your property will also have additional protection.
You should make sure that you fix any broken switches in your property. Many times, surges or fluctuations can happen due to the use of damaged or old switchboards, sockets, and even dimmers.
This is where professional maintenance services come in. Professional electrical companies like Calder Electrical offer maintenance contracts for residential and commercial properties. Using this service, you can have technicians visit your property at least biannually or every 6 months to check the electrical systems around your premises.
Maintenance activities can help reveal problems in the electrical system, and in many cases, these problems can be quickly addressed before they cause problems or strain the appliances (especially lights) in your property.
By combining the above tips along with practising good energy usage habits and relying on regular maintenance, you can easily extend the lifespan of LEDs and even get away with using cheaper ones as well.
When choosing LED bulbs, you should look for a few specifications that ensure reliable drivers.
The best way to do this is to look at the thermal performance and rating of the bulb. High-efficiency drivers generate less waste heat than low-efficiency drivers. This will be stated on the back of the LED package.
Look for efficiency and performance numbers that are typically listed in percentages. You should generally look for brands that offer more than 90% efficiency over a long time.
With higher efficiency, these bulbs will generate low heat inside the bulb housing, which will, in turn, increase the driver’s lifespan.
You should also look for TC/TA curves, which highlight how driver temperature rises with ambient. This information may not be listed on the back of the packaging, but you can find it on the brand’s website.
If it is listed, it will be shown as a graph where a smooth curve would mean that the driver will remain stable and not rise in temperature a lot with increasing ambient temperatures, like during the summer season.
Finally, you should also aim to install the LED bulbs in suitable fixtures that support proper ventilation. As mentioned above, try to go for fixtures that have an opening to promote heat exchange. Nowadays, you can find aesthetically pleasing fixtures that are specifically designed to increase the lifespan of bulbs by reducing heat build-up.
LED lights come in various forms and outputs, and you can choose them according to the needs around your premises. However, keep in mind that larger output bulbs may generate more heat and since these bulbs are already expensive, it would be wise to go for the ones that are made with high-quality materials and offer the most internal protection.
There are three types of LED lights for properties:
We have been providing electrical services to residential, commercial, and industrial properties for over 40 years and are specialists in all aspects of electrical installations, maintenance, and testing.
If you wish to learn more about LED lights and the best lighting solutions for your property, Calder Electrical Services is here to help! From LED installation to upgrades, repairs, and troubleshooting, we offer a complete package for your homes and businesses, ensuring that everything complies with the latest electrical safety standards and regulations.
We are NICEIC registered, follow the current wiring regulations, and have experienced and fully qualified electrical engineers on hand to deliver a professional and high-quality service that includes emergency lighting installation and servicing.
We can offer fittings with 3 to 5+ year warranties that will not only reduce energy costs but also make your homes brighter. We can also provide a forecasted energy calculation so you can see what your energy bills and savings will look like.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 3001 to talk to our experts about more information on LED lights, why LED drivers fail early, and ways you can extend their life.
Photo by Cole Ankney on Unsplash
