LED lights can come with problems, especially as time goes by. One of the problems is a dimmer light. This article will answer the question: Why are my LED lights not working?
Hopefully, you can solve the problem with your dim LED lights by the end of the article.
Wear and Tear due to Oldness
Regular wear and tear will show up as your LED lights increase in age. Unfortunately, dimming and reduced brightness can signify that it’s time to buy a new LED light.
LED lights are commonly estimated to have a lifespan of 20000 to 100000 hours. Although it’s a very long time, it can be much shorter depending on what type of LED you bought. Cheaper LED lights can last shorter due to subpar materials.
You should also keep in mind that LED lights are relatively new to the market. The lifespan claimed by manufacturers and sellers is commonly derived from short-cycled estimates. The studies around LED lights are still ongoing and changing every day.
Wear and tear can happen to several components of your LED lights, such as LED chips, power supply unit, and cords. You can troubleshoot those components and see if the dim light can get brighter. If the situation didn’t improve, changing LED lights might be the solution.
Taking better care of your LED lights will also help increase their lifespan and decrease wear and tear over time. You can do it by:
- Having a good ventilation system
- Using the proper power supply
- Checking your LED for maintenance regularly
Damage Through Overheat
Although LED lights have less heat output than other light substitutes, excessive heat can still cause damage in the long run.
Damage through overheating can be a problem when using LED lights without proper ventilation. The LED chip in your lights can be damaged through heat. Although most LED lights have a small cooling or fan system, strips and bulbs commonly don’t have it.
The course of action you can take depends on what type of LED lights you have. You might need to have proper ventilation for your LED lights. If you have large units of LED lamps or LED grow lights, most of them come with a small fan.
If you don’t have enough money for an additional ventilation system, opening windows and letting a good air circulation might be enough.
Inadequate and Unproper Power Supply
When dimming due to power supply, you can have two problems: inadequate and unproper power supply. Mismatching your power supply units can cause reduced brightness.
Low voltage and high voltage that does not match your lights can cause problems and might even ruin your LED lights in the long run.
You can always check the suitable capacity of your LED lights on the products’ labels.
Loose Connectors
Problems with loose connectors can be prevalent if you have LED strip lights. Loose connectors can cause dimness and improper functions with your light system. Some parts of the light strip might be di, flicker, or even not turn on at all.
You can do a few things to fix the problem with your LED connectors, such as reconnecting or checking if the connectors are plugged in and connected correctly.
Uneven Wattage
The wattage can be distributed unevenly when you use other appliances in the house. When your LED lights are dim, a surge wattage might be happening.
Surge wattage is the sudden increase or decrease of electricity distribution. This phenomenon is a result of an overloaded electrical circuit.
When you have your LED light connected to a circuit where other high-load appliances are connected, it can cause a reduced brightness. The electricity does not have enough energy to power your lights fully. You can take a few steps to better the uneven wattage in your circuit.
Lessening the number of high load appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators can increase your LED lights’ brightness. By reducing the amount of electricity you are using, it can get distributed more evenly.
Connecting your LED lights to another circuit will also help. The brightness can improve by putting it in an electric circuit with more power to pass around.
Broken LED Light Dimmer
If your LED lights are connected to a light dimmer, it can be why the brightness is reduced. Broken light dimmers can cause dimming when not fixed. Reduced brightness can come from a broken dimmer switch or an incompatible LED light.
A broken dimmer switch can cause an inaccurate depiction of the brightness level. Since the switch is damaged, it might affect the performance of the LED light even though the light itself is in good condition.
You can ensure that the dimmer is the source of the problem by troubleshooting and seeing if it’s a problem.
If the light dimmer is not the problem, it might be your LED lights. Check if the unit you have is compatible with the dimmer switch. Incompatible LED lights and switches can also cause problems with your lighting system.
The LED light can’t display the proper controls and function if it does not fully connect to the switch.
Bad Wire Connection
Faulty wires are a common problem with modern appliances. The dimness of your LED light can come from the same problem too.
Electric wires are the primary connection that the power source and your LED light have. Any disturbance between the two can result in the power not reaching your lights, or only a low amount of electricity can come through.
There are some common problems you can face with wire connections, such as:
- Faulty Connection: Wire connections that do not fully connect to the power source are one of the major causes of dim LED lights. The electricity can’t travel fully to the LED lights, which can cause less amount of power to light up.
- Old Wires: Old wires can transfer electricity a lot less effective compared to newer wires. Wear and tear can happen to the coating and connectors over time. Changing your wires every few years is recommended.
- Short-Circuit: Wires that have cuts and tears can cause short circuits. It’s best to check your wiring as short-circuits can be dangerous regularly. You can either repair or change the wires if short-circuit is present.
- Incompatible Wire: Incompatible wires can’t transfer the proper amount of electricity. Ensure that you are using the correct type of wires to connect your LED lights.
Unfit Bulb for the Area
Perception of light can vary from person to person. It can depend on the surrounding area or the light source. With that said, an unfit LED light can be why you perceive it as dim.
It can be that there is no damage to the LED light, but if you are using an unfit bulb for the area, it may appear with reduced brightness.
For example, a small LED bulb can be bright if you are lighting up a closet. The same bulb can also be perceived as dim if lighting up a whole room.
Before buying an LED light, make sure that you have a good knowledge and backed up with research to ensure that you can have the best light to fit your area.
Why is my New LED Lights Dim?
Most of the reasons stated above are due to Oldness or external damage to the LED light. If you have a new LED light and it suddenly goes dim, we also have the possible reasons why.
Improper Installation
When installing LED lights, you can come across multiple problems resulting in reduced brightness. You can check the installation of your LED lights to ensure that it’s not the reason why the lights are dim.
As stated above, wire connections and power sources can be the reason why your LED lights are not entirely bright. You can troubleshoot the components and see if it’s the source of the problem.
Defective Product
Your product might be defective when it came out from the factory or damaged during the delivery. New LED lights must be at their total lumens capacity as they haven’t been used.
Damages can happen in all of the steps the product needs to take before reaching you. Cheaper and low-grade LED lights are also prone to breaking due to subpar quality. Improper packaging and transportation can also be why your LED lights are defective.
If you have troubleshot the product and it still lights up with reduced brightness, you might need to contact the store you bought it from. Most stores for appliances have warranties so you can ensure that your LED light can be replaced.
In Conclusion
LED lights are a durable and energy-efficient light source. With that said, just like any other appliance, it can come with damages that we should take care of.
We hope that with the help of this article, you pinpoint the reason why your LED lights are not bright and find a way to fix it.