Whilst LED lights provide an energy-efficient and effective source of illumination, as with any product, you may have some difficulty when it comes to getting your LED bulbs to work. Whatever the reason is for your LED lights not working and whatever the tell-tale signs are, there's usually a solution to the issue.
In this blog, we'll help you troubleshoot some of the reasons your LED lights aren't working properly, especially if your LED light is not working but has power. Of course, investing in reliable solutions and having them fitted by a professional is always the best preventative measure to avoid faulty LED lights. However, if you do need some advice then check out our tips below!
Common Reasons Your LED Lights Won't Turn On
The most common reason LED lights stop working is a faulty power source. You should check to make sure your lights are plugged in and the power source is working normally (you can check this by plugging something else into the outlet and seeing if it switches on), or purchase a new LED power supply.
Reasons for a faulty power supply can include: * Loose connections in the power cord * Damage to your power cord such as water damage or frayed wires * A faulty circuit
However, if your LED light is not working but has power, this may be caused by a faulty bulb.
What is Wrong With Your LED Lights?
They Don't Work At All
If your LED lights won't turn on at all and have suffered a loss of power, then it's likely that there is a fault with the power supply itself.
To avoid this issue, make sure to follow the manufacturer's advice regarding the correct power supply for your LED lights.
LED bulbs run on low voltage DC and therefore require a power supply that converts 120V/240 AC into the voltage signal that LED lights use, although this is location dependent.
They Flicker Or Flash
You may notice that your LED strip is flashing in a consistent sequence. For example, it might be flashing regularly at one-second intervals. If your LED light is not working but has power, there may still be an issue with your power supply.
If this is the case, it's likely that your power supply is overloaded. If the power supply realises it's been overloaded, it will still turn on but then it'll turn back off again immediately. This cycle repeats itself, which is what causes the flashing or flickering appearance.
To solve this issue, there are a few things that you can do. Firstly, you could invest in a larger power supply that can handle the wattage that's required. Alternatively, you might want to get another power supply that's the same as your existing one. That way, you can split the LED strip across the two.
If the flickering is accompanied by a buzzing noise, as is quite common, then check out the section below.
There's A Buzzing Noise Coming From Them
LED bulbs may flicker or buzz if the current isn't constant. The reasons as to why the current isn't consistent can vary. For instance:
You may have a high-powered appliance, such as an electric fan, within the same circuit as your LED bulbs, which require a lot less power. LED bulbs have internal drivers so that they can reduce the input voltage that comes through to them. However, turning on a high-powered appliance can cause a surge in the circuit. To solve this issue, it's best to get an electrician to examine the circuit.
If you've got a dimmer switch for your LEDs, any flickering and/or buzzing may be a result of having the wrong dimmer switch. You may have had a dimmer switch installed previously for old-style light bulbs, meaning that it's not suitable for newer alternatives such as LEDs.
If you've eliminated other causes, you may have a loose wire connection. If that's the case, it's best to have an electrician inspect it.
They Aren't As Bright As They Should Be
If you've installed your LED light bulbs and discovered that they aren't as bright as they should be, then there are a few common reasons.
Firstly, the issue may be caused by an improper power supply, which will cause your LED lights to not work at their optimum level. If the rated voltage and current is not compatible, the LEDs are unable to achieve maximum brightness. Our experts can help you to select the right LED power supply, but if you'd like to use your own, then you need to know the power, voltage, and current input of the LED bulbs so that you can select a compatible driver.
As well as this, loose wires can also reduce the light input - most of the time, an electrician can carry out any necessary maintenance on this.
If you've had your LED lights for some time and notice that the brightness has started to decrease, this is not a 'problem' per se. This dimming is a natural part of the ageing and deterioration process as the light bulb gets older - as it ages, the lumen output will decrease.
However, it's important to stress that given how long LED bulbs last, it's rare that this is the issue causing the lack of brightness, though you should make sure to buy high-quality LED bulbs to prevent them burning out ahead of their expected lifespan.
They Seem To Burn Out Easily
You may notice that your LED lights stop working too quickly or seem to burn out easily.
This is usually because the LED bulbs have been put into fittings that have traditional, older bulbs in there. LEDs do not generate as much heat as old-style bulbs and they struggle with high temperatures. If they're close to, or in, an enclosed fitting with bulbs that have a high wattage and therefore emit a lot of heat, this may be the cause of your bulbs failing earlier than expected.
To avoid this issue, you should replace all of the bulbs in a fitting at once, rather than waiting for them to blow. By doing so, you can reduce the chance of overheating and you'll have a more consistent light output too.
