It’s a common problem that LED lights to turn off suddenly. In this article, we will explore over 13 possible reasons why this might happen, as well as easy fixes.
We’ll also provide some tips on how to prevent your LED lights from turning off unexpectedly in the future. Here’s a list of the possible reasons why your LED lights might turn off suddenly:
- Power/wattage Surge
- Overheating
- Capacitors In The Power Supply Are Failing
- Electrical Arcing
- Thermal Runaway
- Water Damage/Humidity/Moisture Damage
- Relaxation Oscillator
- Switches Incompatibility
- Faulty Driver Component
- Controller Failing
- Old Power Supply/Transformer
- Smart Led Lights
- Poor Quality LED Lights
Let’s take a closer look at each of these possible reasons why your LED lights might turn off suddenly.
1. Power/Wattage Surge:
A power surge is a sudden increase in voltage that can damage electronic equipment. If you have an LED light that is connected to a power source that experiences a power surge, the LED light may turn off suddenly.
This is usually the cause of LED lights turning off suddenly in homes that experience power surges from lightning strikes or power outages.
To prevent your LED lights from being damaged by a power surge, you can install a surge protector.
Surge protectors will limit the amount of voltage that reaches your electronic equipment and help to prevent damage.
If you live in an area that is prone to power surges, it is a good idea to invest in a surge protector for your home.
You can also buy LED lights that are specifically designed to withstand power surges. These types of LED lights are more expensive, but they will last longer and be less likely to be damaged by a power surge.
2. Overheating
To break this down, most power supplies have some sort of thermal protection.
This can be in the form of a thermal fuse, thermal cut-off, or even just a temperature sensor that will shut the power supply down when it gets too hot.
The problem is that if something is causing your power supply to overheat frequently, then eventually, that thermal protection will fail.
It is possible that the power supply is getting too hot because it is not getting enough airflow. Make sure that the power supply has plenty of space around it and is not blocked by anything.
You can also try using a lower-wattage power supply. If you are using a 12-volt power supply, try using a 24-volt power supply.
The higher voltage will cause the power supply to run cooler because it will be converting less power.
3. Capacitors In The Power Supply Are Failing
Another possibility is that the capacitors in the power supply are failing. Capacitors store energy and can fail if they get too hot.
If the capacitors in your power supply are failing, it will cause the power supply to shut down suddenly.
To test if this is the problem, you can open up the power supply and look at the capacitors. If they are swollen or leaking, then they need to be replaced.
You can buy replacement capacitors at most electronics stores. If you are not comfortable replacing the capacitors yourself, you can take the power supply to a local electronics repair shop.
They should be able to replace the capacitors for you and get your power supply working again.
Keep in mind that if the capacitors are failing, it is likely that other components in the power supply are also failing and will need to be replaced soon.
4. Thermal Runaway
When LED lights developed a slow failure of their components, causing them to pull more energy than intended, this is what we call a “thermal runaway.”
The added heat creates even more problems for the light, leading to an ever-increasing cycle of damage and failure. This will cause your LED light to turn off suddenly.
One way to prevent this from happening is to use a heat sink. A heat sink is a device that helps to dissipate the heat away from the LED light.
You can also try using a lower-wattage LED bulb to help reduce the amount of heat that is being generated. Thermal runaway is more likely to occur with higher wattage bulbs.
5. Electrical Arcing
Another cause of sudden LED light failure is what is known as “electrical arcing.” This is when there is an electrical current that jumps between two conductors, causing a spark.
This can happen when the connections to your LED lights are not tight enough or if there is any dirt or debris present. This can cause a short circuit, which will cause your LED light to turn off suddenly.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that the connections to your LED lights are clean and tight. You can also try using a higher-quality LED bulb to help reduce the risk of electrical arcing.
While LED lights are generally very reliable, there are a few things that can cause them to fail suddenly.
6. Water /Humidity/Moisture Damage
One of the most common causes of sudden LED light failure is water damage. This can happen if your LED lights are exposed to moisture or if they are not properly protected from the elements.
Also, humidity and moisture can cause the internals of your LED light to corrode, which will eventually lead to failure.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that your LED lights are properly sealed and protected from the elements.
Water can cause a short circuit, which will cause your LED light to turn off suddenly. To prevent this from happening, make sure that your LED lights are properly sealed and protected from the elements. You can also try using a waterproof LED light to help reduce the risk of water damage.
LED lights are becoming more and more popular each year. They are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and relatively inexpensive. However, like any other type of light bulb, they can fail suddenly.
7. Relaxation Oscillator
An LED light may also fail suddenly due to a problem with the relaxation oscillator. The relaxation oscillator is responsible for turning the LED light on and off.
If there is a problem with the relaxation oscillator, it can cause your LED light to turn off suddenly.
To fix this problem, you will need to replace the relaxation oscillator. If you are not familiar with how to do this, you can find a tutorial online or ask a professional for help.
8. Switches Incompatibility
Another common cause of sudden LED light failure is switch incompatibility. Switches are used to turn the LED light on and off.
If the switch is not compatible with the LED light, it can cause your LED light to turn off suddenly.
Generally, I must say this is a major cause of sudden LED light failure. This is most common with older switches that are not designed to work with LED lights.
To fix this problem, you will need to find a compatible switch for your LED light. There are many different types of switches that are available, so it is important to find one that is compatible with your LED light.
9. Faulty Driver Component
The driver is the component of the LED light that provides power to the light. If this component is faulty, it can cause your LED light to turn off suddenly.
The most common way a driver component becomes faulty is due to a manufacturing defect. If you bought your LED light from a reputable company, this shouldn’t be an issue.
However, if you bought your LED light from a cheap knock-off company, the driver component might be faulty. If the driver component is faulty, there’s not much you can do about it except replace the light.
Most LED lights come with a warranty, so if your light is still under warranty, you should be able to get a replacement for free. If your light is no longer under warranty, you’ll have to buy a new one.
10. Controller Failing
Another common problem is that sometimes the controller board might malfunction. This is especially common in cheaper lights where the quality isn’t as good.
In this case, you’ll likely need to replace the controller board entirely, which can be a bit of a pain.
While this might seem like a lot of possible causes for your LED light to fail suddenly, don’t worry! In most cases, it is easy to fix the problem and get your LED light working again.
11. Old Power Supply/Transformer
Another possibility is that your power supply or transformer is old and needs to be replaced.
If you have an older home, it’s possible that the current electrical system can’t handle the new LED lights.
In this case, you may need to upgrade your electrical system or add a new circuit for the LED lights.
Also, if your power supply has become old to the point that it can no longer keep up with the demands of your LED lights, then this can also cause your LED lights to turn off suddenly.
12. Smart LED Lights
It’s possible that a smart LED strip and a default timing setting cause your LED light to turn off suddenly.
To fix this, you’ll need to access the settings on your smart LED strip and change the timing setting from “default” to “custom.”
Once you’ve done that, you can set the timer for how long you want your LED lights to stay on. This will solve the problem and prevent your LED lights from turning off suddenly.
13. Poor Quality LED Lights
Lastly, it’s possible that you just bought a poor-quality LED light. There are a lot of cheap knock-offs out there, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.
These cheap knockoffs can fail suddenly, and there’s not much you can do about it except buy a new one.
When buying LED lights, make sure to buy from a reputable company. This will help ensure that you get a quality product that will last for years to come.