9 Reasons Your Led Strip Lights Are Not Bright Plus Easy Hacks


why Led Strip Lights Are Not Bright

It’s a common problem, and one that has puzzled many people: you turn on your led strip lights and they don’t seem very bright. Your mind may wander to the most common explanation: maybe the batteries are dying or something is wrong with them.

But it turns out there could be multiple reasons why your led strip lights aren’t as bright as you expected them to be. We’ll go over some of these potential causes below so that you can diagnose the issue and fix it once and for all!

So why are my led strip lights not bright? Led strip lights may not be bright due to;

  • Drop In Voltage
  • Premature Aging
  • Power Quality Issues
  • Loose Connection
  • Power Cable is Too Long or too Thin
  • Most Of The Led Strip Lights Are Dead or Defective
  • Bad Internal Components 
  • Heavy Load Appliance On The Circuit
  • No More Dimmable Lights 

Keep reading to learn more about the details on why led strips lights become dim or not bright and simple solutions to help you fix them.

1. Drop-In Voltage

Let’s start with the most common reason why your led strip lights are not bright: voltage drop.  

The difference between what you plug your led strip lights into and what you get out of them is called voltage drop.

If your voltages are already low, or if the wire you’re using has a high resistance, the voltage drop is going to be significant.

The point of led strip lights is to give off as much light as possible, so voltage drop is a problem if you don’t want to use your lights at full brightness. To fix this issue, be sure to use high-quality wire.

2. Premature Aging

Led strip lights are extremely long-lasting, but they can still prematurely age. One of the most common causes is heat: if your led strip lights are too hot, they will start to fade.

You can avoid this by using led strip lights that have a built-in heat sink. These strip lights will be able to dissipate heat more effectively, preventing the premature aging of your led strip lights.

If you already have a strip light that is prematurely aging, you can try to fix the problem by using a fan.

However, this will only work if your strip light has a heat sink and it is already very hot.

If your led strip lights are not bright because they’re aging prematurely, you can replace them with new strip lights.

3. Power Quality Issues

Do you have a lot of other electronic devices plugged into the same circuit that your led strip lights are on?

If so, it could be causing power quality issues. These issues prevent your led strip lights from working as well as they should, causing them to be dimmer than you’d like.

If this is the case for your led strip lights, try either unplugging some of your other devices or using a different circuit for them.

If you’re already doing that, though, it might be time to invest in a high-quality power conditioner. This device improves the quality of your electricity and can increase the brightness of your led strip lights significantly.

4. Loose Connection

It’s also possible that your strip light is dim because of a loose connection. If the wire at either end of the strip has come loose, it won’t be able to transfer the electricity properly.

This issue is easy enough for you to fix if you’re handy with a soldering iron. If you aren’t, though, it might be time to hire a professional electrician for help. All that needs to be done is to reattach the wire to your led strip light, but it’s a job that requires expertise.

This is why hiring an electrician can be worth it, even if you only need to fix one strip light. After that is done, you should notice an immediate improvement in brightness.

5. Power Cable is Too Long or too Thin

Sometimes, the power cable for your led strip lights is too long or too thin. This can prevent it from delivering enough electricity to your strip lights, causing them not to be as bright.

If the cable is too long, it might be time for you to install a power outlet that is closer to where you are using the strip lights.

If the cable is too thin, it might be time for you to install a power outlet that is closer to where you are using the strip lights.

This will ensure that your power cable can deliver enough electricity to your led strip lights, allowing them to be brighter than they were before.

6. Most Of The Led Strip Lights Are Dead or Defective

If you try or check out all of the above possibilities and your led strip lights still aren’t bright, you might have a more serious problem.

Specifically, it’s possible that most of your led strip lights are dead or defective. In this case, you’ll need to replace the entire set of strip lights.

This can be a major inconvenience, but not replacing the strip lights could cause your entire set of led strip lights to stop working within a few days.

It’s definitely not the best option, but it is an option you have to consider if most of your strip lights are dead or defective and you’re not ready to replace the entire set.

7. Bad Internal Components 

It’s also possible that your led strip lights are not bright because of bad internal components. This is often the case with high-quality led strip lights.

If this is the case, you’ll need to replace that component yourself or hire a professional electrician for help. It’s definitely not the easiest job, but it’s something that needs to be done if you want your strip light system to work properly.

This is why hiring an electrician to help with your strip light system is a good idea, even if you have to pay them for just one job. After that’s done, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in brightness.

8. Heavy Load Appliance On The Circuit

It’s possible that heavy load appliances on the same circuit as your led strip lights are causing power quality issues. These types of devices draw so much electricity from the circuit that it causes fluctuations in power throughout your home.

This can cause even more problems for led strip lights, leading to them being not as bright.

If this is the case, you’ll need to ensure that all of your heavy load appliances are on a separate circuit from led strip lights.

This will ensure that your led strip lights are brighter than they were before, but it is something you’ll need to think about before you buy your next set of led strip lights.

9. No More Dimmable Lights 

Finally, it’s possible that most dimmable lighting in your home is no longer dimmable.

If this is the case, you’ll need to ensure that all of your lightings can be dimmed.

This will ensure that your led strip lights are brighter than they were before, but it is something you should consider when buying a new set of led strip lights.

If this is the case, you’ll need to ensure that all of your lightings can be dimmed.

This will ensure that your led strip lights are brighter than they were before, but it is something you should consider when buying a new set of led strip lights.

FAQs

Q: Why do led strip lights become dim all of a sudden?

A: The most common reason led strip lights become dim all of a sudden is because the power cord or strip light itself has been damaged. If this is the case, you’ll need to ensure that all of your strip lights are in good condition.

This will ensure that your led strip lights are brighter than they were before, but it is something you should consider when buying a new set of led strip lights.

Q: Why do new led strip lights become dim?

A: There are two possibilities for why new led strip lights become dim. First, the fuse might have blown inside of your lighting system, causing a major power outage, or secondly, the led strip lights might be defective.

This is why you’ll need to check your entire system for a blown fuse or other power problems before you replace the led strip lights.

This will ensure that your new set of led strip lights are brighter than they were before, but it is something you should consider when buying a new set of led strip lights.

I will also suggest that you check the following if your new led strip light becomes dim:

(a) If power is supplied, make sure it’s plugged into a receptacle.

(b) The power supply is within the maximum wattage specified on the product.

(c) The power supply meets or exceeds the AC voltage required by the led strip light.

(d) The length of the strip light is within the maximum specified on the product, and,

(e) If it’s a waterproof strip light, make sure the strips are completely dry before turning them on.

Q: Why do led strip lights become dim in the winter?

A: One reason why your led strip lights might be becoming dim in the winter is that they are not receiving the same amount of voltage as they do in warm weather.

If this is the case, you’ll need to make sure that your led strip lights are receiving the same amount of voltage as they do in warm weather.

This will ensure that your led strip lights are brighter than they were before, but it is something you should consider when buying a new set of led strip lights.

Another possibility for why your led strip lights might be becoming dim in the winter is because they are being used more than they were in the summer.

If this is the case, you’ll need to ensure that your led strip lights are receiving enough voltage for the amount of use they are getting.

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