I was really excited when I installed my new LED strip lights. They looked so sleek and modern, and they were a huge improvement over the old fluorescent light fixtures that were in my kitchen.
But about six months after installing them, I noticed that half of the lights had stopped working. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I did some research online. After reading a few articles and forums, I think I have a pretty good idea of what might have gone wrong.
In this article, we will explore some of the possible reasons why your LED strip lights might have stopped working.
Here are some of the major reasons why half of your led strip lights might have stopped working;
- Insufficient Heat Sinking
- Voltage
- Improper Connection After Cutting The Led Strip Light
- Water Damage
- Manufacturing Defect
- Dust And Debris accumulation
- Electrical Overloading
- Bad Driver Chip
- Ageing Of The Strip Lights
- Circuit Track Failure
Let’s take a closer look at each of these reasons.
1. Insufficient Heat Sinking
One possible reason why your LED strip lights might have stopped working is insufficient heat sinking.
This means that the heat from the LEDs is not being dissipated efficiently, and as a result, the lights are burning out causing parts or half of the led strip light to stop working.
There are several things you can do to improve heat sinking on your LED strip lights. One is to use a better thermal adhesive or paste between the LED Strip and Heatsink.
Another is to make sure that there is good contact between the LED Strip and Heatsink. You can do this by using a clamp or compression screw.
Finally, you can also try increasing the airflow around the LED strip lights. This will help to dissipate the heat more efficiently.
If your LED strip lights are not getting enough heat sinking, then this is likely to be the cause of why half of it have stopped working.
2. Voltage
Another possible reason why half of your LED strip lights might have stopped working is voltage.
This means that the voltage being supplied to the LED Strip Lights is too high or too low, and as a result, the LEDs are burning out.
You can check the voltage rating of your LED Strip Lights by looking on the product packaging or on the manufacturer’s website.
If you are not sure what voltage your LED Strip Lights need, then it is best to consult with the manufacturer or an electrician.
It is important to note that if you are using a transformer, then you must use one that is specifically designed for LED strip lights. Using the wrong transformer can cause parts of the LED Strip Lights to overheat or fail.
If the voltage is not the problem, then it is likely that this is the reason why half of your LED strip lights have stopped working.
3. Improper Connection After Cutting The LED Strip Light
Another possible reason why your LED strip lights might have stopped working is an improper connection after cutting and joining the led strip light.
This means that when you cut the LED strip light, you did not properly connect the two ends together. As a result, some of the LEDs are no longer receiving power and they have stopped working.
To avoid this, it is important to make sure that the two ends are properly connected together. You can do this by using a solder iron and solder, or you can use special connector pins.
If the connection is not the problem, then it is likely that this is why half of your LED strip lights have stopped working.
4. Water Damage
Another possible reason why half of your LED strip lights might have stopped working is water damage.
This means that either the LEDs or the circuitry has been damaged by water. While some led strip lights are waterproof and water-resistant, not all of them are.
If you have noticed that your LED strip lights have stopped working after being in contact with water, then it is likely that they have been damaged by water.
You can try drying the LED strip lights out by using a hairdryer on low heat. However, if the LEDs or circuitry has been damaged by water, then they will likely need to be replaced.
So check if your led strip lights are waterproof or water-resistant. If they are not, then this is likely to be the reason why half of them have stopped working.
5. Manufacturing Defect
Another reason I found to cause half of the LED strip lights to stopped working is a manufacturing defect.
This means that there was a problem with the way the LED Strip Lights were manufactured, and as a result, some of the LEDs have stopped working.
If you think that this might be the case, then you can try contacting the manufacturer and requesting a replacement.
You would want to prove that the defect was not caused by your own mishandling of the product.
If the manufacturer is unable to help, then you can try getting in touch with a LED Strip Light reseller or an electrician.
6. Dust And Debris Accumulation
In some cases, the reason why half of your LED strip lights have stopped working might be due to dust and debris accumulation.
This means that over time, dust and debris have built up on the LEDs or the circuitry, which is causing them to not work properly.
This is usually worse if the led strip light has no led strip light channel for the air to flow through.
You can try cleaning the LED Strip Lights by using a small vacuum cleaner with the hose attachment. However, if the dust and debris are too thick or if it has built up on the circuitry, then you might need to take them apart in order to clean them properly.
The best way to prevent this is by regularly cleaning your LED strip lights. You can do this by using a vacuum cleaner or a brush.
7. Electrical Overloading
Another possible reason why half of your LED strip lights might have stopped working is electrical overloading.
This means that the LEDs or the circuitry has been overloaded with electricity, which has caused them to stop working.
One way to prevent this from happening is by using a transformer that is designed for LED Strip Lights. This will help to distribute the electricity evenly among the LEDs, and as a result, will help to prevent them from being overloaded.
If you are already using a transformer that is designed for LED Strip Lights, then it is likely that this is the reason why half of your LED strip lights have stopped working.
8. Bad Driver Chip
Another possible reason why half of your LED strip lights have stopped working is a bad driver chip.
This is usually an indication that one or more of the chips that control the LEDs has gone bad, and as a result, the LEDs are no longer being controlled properly.
When this happens, you will usually see that some of the LEDs are lit up while others are not.
If you think that this might be the case, then you can try contacting the manufacturer and requesting a replacement.
However, it is important to note that bad driver chips are usually not covered under a warranty.
9. Ageing Of The Strip Lights
Another thing that tends to also cause half or parts of LED strip lights to stop working is the aging of the strip lights.
If you have an led strip light that has been used for a while, then it is likely that the LEDs or circuitry might start to fail.
This can be caused by a number of factors, such as the amount of use, the environment that they are being used in, and even how often they have been turned on and off.
This can also be a problem if you have LED strip lights that are not used on a regular basis.
10. Circuit Track Failure
The final reason why half of your LED strip lights might have stopped working is a circuit track failure.
This means that one or more of the tracks on which the LEDs are mounted has failed, and as a result, the LEDs are no longer being powered.
If you think that this might be the case, then you can try contacting the manufacturer and requesting a replacement.
These will typically happen when the LED strip light has been in use for a while and the solder joints have started to fail.
And usually, you will need an electrician to detect where exactly the problem is and to fix it.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a number of reasons why half of your LED strip lights might have stopped working.
However, by understanding what these reasons might be, you will be able to troubleshoot them and hopefully get your LED strip lights up and running again. Thanks for sticking around and glad I was able to help you out.
If you are still having trouble figuring out why half of your LED strip lights have stopped working, then please feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to help.
