LED strips are a popular fixture in the lighting industry. With their low power consumption and small size, they have become a staple for many businesses. However, as with any electrical device, there is always some risk of failure or damage to the product. In this article, I will answer the question can led light strips break?
So can led light strips break? The answer is yes, they can break or fail due to improper installation, overheating of components, and more. For this reason, you should always take care when handling them so that your home isn’t left in the dark.
How Do Led Strip Lights Break?
Led strip lights can break in a number of different ways. Below are a few of the most common ways they’ll break or fail;
1. Improper Installation
Led strip lights can break when they are not installed properly. This can cause them to stop working or not work as they should.
For example, if the strip light is attached directly to a surface without the insulation it can cause the strip to overheat and break.
For this reason, it is important to use the proper tools and make sure that you are installing them in an area that is not exposed to too much heat, moisture, or humidity.
2. Cutting Them Wrongly
Chances are you will have to cut your led strip light in order to fit it into the area you are trying to light. However, if it is cut incorrectly, there can be a number of problems such as the light not working or it breaking.
This is probably one of the biggest installing mishaps that cause led strip lights to break or fail.
This is why you should always cut at the designated points on the led strip lights while using a high-quality cutter to make your cuts.
This is because low-quality cutters will not give you the precise cuts you may require and cut into circuits can cause the entire strip light to fail.
3. Overheating of Components
As mentioned before, led strip lights can fail due to overheating.
This is because when there isn’t enough airflow around the RGB Strips, they heat up and burn out (especially if their current ratings are exceeded).
For this reason, it’s best to make sure that your installation area has proper ventilation in order for these strips not to overheat and break.
Another thing you can do to make sure that your led strip lights don’t overheat is to insulate them against the surface they are attached to.
This will allow more airflow around the strips and keep them cool during use, which in turn increases their lifespan (and reduces the risk of overheating).
4. External Damage from Weather or Accidents
Led strip lights are made to withstand a certain amount of wear and tear. However, if they are exposed to water or external damage from accidents, it can cause them to not work as well or break completely.
For example, even though led light strips have waterproof covers, you should take care when installing these strips in areas that may be exposed to water.
For instance, if you place the strips in a bathroom and then install it overtop of your bathtub without sealing or protecting them, there is a high chance that they will get wet and break (especially after taking showers).
Mishandling the led strip light such as twisting them, leaving them mangled together, or having a pet or child play with them before installing them can cause the led strip light to break.
For this reason, it’s best if you install these strips in a location where children and pets cannot easily access them.
5. Power Surges and Outages Can Ruin Them
Power surges and outages can cause led strip lights to break because they make the components in them overheat or short circuit.
For this reason, it’s best to install them in areas that are not exposed to power surges or outages (such as near your fuse box).
However, you can also protect them yourself by investing in a power surge protector that fits over the strip.
For instance, if you install your led strip lights or under-cabinet lights in an area that is exposed to power surges, you can install a surge protector on top of them.
This will ensure that the components of your strip light are protected from power surges that may occur.
6. Incorrect Power Supply for Your Strip Light
While you can use a number of different power supplies for led strip lights, not all of them will work with your system.
For instance, if you are using an AC adapter for your strip light system, make sure that it is rated to supply the wattage of both the led strip lights and the power supply.
This is because if you use an AC adapter that’s too low (or doesn’t match your led strip lights), it can cause your strip lights to burn out or fail.
For this reason, you should always make sure that the AC adapter is able to power the strip lights and does not exceed or fall below your led strip light’s wattage rating.
7. Not Using a Resistor or Driver When Needed
While it is possible to use led strip lights without a resistor or driver, you will reduce the lifespan of your strips if you don’t.
For instance, if you use a resistor or driver with your strip lights to control their brightness and speed, it will keep the components of these lights at their optimum temperature.
If you don’t use a resistor or driver, the components of your strip lights will be overloaded and break more easily.
For this reason, it’s best to use a resistor or driver with your strip lights if you are using them in areas where they will be exposed to a lot of heat, such as under-cabinet lighting.
8. Using the Wrong Adhesive
If you want your led strip lights to last as long as possible, it’s best if you use the right adhesive.
For instance, if you use the wrong adhesive with your strip lights (such as silicone-based glue), it can cause them to overheat and break.
For this reason, it’s best to use an adhesive that is heatproof and waterproof, such as a hot glue gun or industrial-standard adhesive.
If you are installing led strip lights in areas that may get wet (such as a bathroom), it’s best to use an adhesive that can stand up to moisture, such as a silicone-based glue.
9. Corrosion on the Contact Points
Over time, the contact points on your led strip light may corrode or rust. This can cause them to stop working properly.
For this reason, it’s best to check them regularly and clean them with a soft cloth if they get dirty or wet.
If the corrosion is severe, you may need to replace the strip lights with the new one from Amazon. For instance, if your led strip lights are exposed to moisture (such as in a bathroom), they may become corroded.
In this case, you can use an abrasive cleaner to remove the corrosion from the contact points. For best results, you should clean them with the abrasive cleaner before using the strip lights again.
Tips On How To Prevent Led Strip Light From Breaking
- Avoid installing led strip lights in areas that may get wet especially if they are not rated waterproof.
- Use a power surge protector to protect your strip light system and other electric appliances from power surges.
- Make sure that your strip light’s AC adapter matches the wattage of both your led strip lights and power supply to prevent overheating.
- Use a resistor or driver with your strip lights to keep components at their optimum temperature.
- Use the right adhesive for led strip light installations and repairs to prevent overheating and corrosion.
- Avoid applying too much pressure when installing led strip lights in tight corners or curves, which can cause them to break.
- Check the contact points of your led strip lights regularly for signs of corrosion to avoid them breaking.
- Clean off any corrosion from your led strip lights with an abrasive cleaner before using them again to avoid breakage.
- Do not bend or cut off the end of your led strip lights or you will damage the copper wire inside.
- Do not let adhesive set for too long before using your led strip lights to avoid them breaking.
- Do not use led strip lights that have been dropped or cracked to avoid them breaking.
Tips On How To Repair Broken Led Strip Lights
While it is best to always replace your led strip lights if they seem not to work like before, it is important to check them first to see if they can be repaired.
How To Check Your Led Strip Lights Before Repairs
Below are some of the things to check before you decide to repair or replace your broken led strip lights.
- Check the power supply of your led strip lights and make sure that it is working.
- Check if the power supply of your broken led strip lights has a blown fuse or if it is tripped.
- Check for corrosion on the contact points of your led strip lights and remove them with an abrasive cleaner to avoid them breaking.
- Check if your led strip lights are not installed properly and make sure all wires are securely connected.
- Check your broken led strip lights for signs of damage caused by external factors or accidents like cuts or cracks.
- Check if your strip light is installed in an area where it will be subject to moisture like near a bathroom or kitchen before deciding.
How To Repair Led Strip Lights
There are two main ways of repairing led strip lights: by replacing the broken contact points or by replacing the whole strip light.
How To Replace Broken Contact Points Of Your Led Strip Lights
To replace broken contact points, you will need to follow these steps:
- Remove the adhesive backing on your led strip light to expose its contact points.
- Unscrew or unclamp the broken contact points.
- Take off the old led strip light and replace it with a new one by pressing its adhesive backing to secure it.
- Screw or clamp the new contact points and reapply adhesive if needed.
How To Replace Your Led Strip Lights When The Whole Unit Is Broken
To replace your led strip lights when the whole unit is broken, you will need to follow these steps:
- Remove the adhesive backing on your led strip light to expose its contact points.
- Unscrew or unclamp the broken contact points and discard them.
- Take off the old led strip light and replace it with a new one by pressing its adhesive backing to secure it.
- Screw or clamp the new contact points and reapply adhesive if needed.
- Follow the same installation steps you used when installing your led strip lights for the first time.
- Make sure that all contact points are connected and secured before using them to avoid breaking again.
FAQ’s
Q: Can I use my broken led strip light again?
A: No, you should never use a broken led strip light as it is dangerous and can cause overheating. This is because the copper wire and other components may have been broken and you will be putting pressure on it whenever you use the light strip.
Q: Can I cut led strip lights to make them shorter?
A: Yes, you can cut led strip lights to make them shorter. But, before cutting make sure you are cutting them at the right cutting points around the led strip lights. The led strip light will usually have three small dots at the cutting point for you to cut it on both ends of the copper line.
