Solving 6 common problems of led lights | A Comprehensive Guide

While LED lights offer many benefits for people’s lives and working these years, they also have some cons that should be addressed. The negative impact of led lights includes issues with color accuracy, flicker, dimming performance, and potential environmental concerns with the disposal of certain types of LED bulbs. Here we list some common problems of led lights we may meet during using them.

1. Disturbingly bright problem of led lights

Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable when you stand under a led light? Do you feel like the light source is too bright, focusing on you all the time? This is the brightness problem of led lights. We need to solve this issue from the following points

Adjust the brightness: Now the led light lumen efficiency is very high when it works under rated power and current. Try to reduce the power and working current then adjust the brightness level, until the brightness level is more comfortable for you.

Adopt a diffuser: Led lighting is a directional lighting way and the half-intensity beam angle is narrow. Normally, designers adopt a commercial lens or a frosted diffuser cover to make a second-time light distribution. This can solve the problem well.

Change the color temperature: People feel more comfortable under a warm color temperature(2700-3000k), and feel more intense under a cooler color temperature(5000-6500k). So change the CCT of the led lamp to a suitable one.

Position the light differently: If the led lamp is installed in a track or has a gooseneck body, try to reposition the lamp to make sure it is not shining your eyes directly. Right position also can reduce the glare and make the light less disturbing.

Take breaks: If you are using LED lights for extended periods of time, take breaks to give your eyes a rest and prevent eye strain.

2. Overheating problems of led lights

Overheating problem is a common one on led lights. It can be tested and solved by equipment

Check the ventilation: You know good airflow can help to get off the heat on the surface. In some enclosed led light fixtures, designers always reserve adequate ventilation holes around the heat sink and other components.

Reduce the wattage: If the heat sink surface area is not big enough, try to reduce the high-wattage led light to a lower and safe level. This can help to reduce the heat output and prevent overheating issues too.

Adopt quality heat sink: Normally good quality aluminum heat sink is designed to absorb and dissipate heat in high-power led lamps. In some big power led lamps like led high bay, designers will put a separate heat sink connecting to the aluminum substrate to help the lamp dissipate the heat better.

Monitor the temperature: Now intelligent controller is widely used in led lamps. It can monitor the turn-on and turn-off time, monitor the working temperature and adjust the data accordingly. If the inner temperature is too high and triggers the preset warning parameter, the controller will automatically adjust the working current to a safe one.

Use a fan: In some large outdoor led lamps, a fan is usually adopted to help cool the temperature. As we mentioned just now, good airflow is important for heat dissipation. A specially designed fan can fasten the airflow in the led lamp body.

Overheating issues can cause the function defective and even be a safety hazard. You should realize it and solve it very carefully.

3. Using the wrong current or voltage of led light

The most serious consequence of using the wrong current or voltage can make the led lamp defective immediately or cause a fire. Additionally, it will reduce lifetime, and decrease light performance. Follow the steps and you will solve the issue.

Check the specifications: Check the specifications of your purchased led light, and make sure the rated working voltage and current are correct. Usually, there are three voltage ranges for option, 100-130v, 220-240v, and wide voltage 100-240v. Confirm the rated voltage range in your market and let your suppliers know about it. All these key data should be listed on the package and in the product manual. Make sure the specifications are correct, or the wrong driver will damage the LED and may even create a safety hazard.

Use a current-limiting resistor: If you can’t find the correct voltage or current parameters on the driver label, you can use a current-limiting resistor to protect the led. The resistor specification should match the specifications of the LED and the power source.

Use a voltage regulator: If the driver input voltage range does not match the city power, you can use a voltage regulator to bring the voltage down or up to the correct level. Again, the output voltage range should match the specification of the led.

Replace the LED: If you neglect the driver voltage range and make the led damaged, you should replace the new led. Please read the product manual carefully before you replace the LEDs.

4. Using cheap led lights

There are some risks to use low-quality or cheap led lights. Here we list some of the dangers for reference.

Electrical hazards: Cheap led lights usually adopt low-quality power supply. It does not match local safety standards and has the proper electrical insulation or grounding. It may cause electrical shocks, short circuits and even fires.

Overheating: Cheap led lights usually use less weight and area of the heat sink. To save the product cost, they also use low-quality materials. All of these may cause bad heat dissipation and damage the led lamp.

Poor performance: Cheap LED lights may have a similar initial lumen output but quickly attenuate to a low brightness level. After a period, cheap led lights may not be as bright as higher-quality LED lights, leading to poor performance and a shorter lifetime.

Harmful chemicals: Some low-price LED lights might contain dangerous chemical materials such as lead or mercury. These chemicals can be dangerous to handle and also can be unsafe to the environment when dealt with improperly.

Inaccurate labeling: Some cheap led lights may not have the accurate label on the lamp and out carton. It is difficult to check the true technical parameters, especially those safety data.

In one word, it is important to purchase from reliable led lighting manufacturers like Prime Industry Developing Ltd. Look for lights that are certified by UL or CE. Do not modify the LED light’s structure and function in any way. Finally, it is important to dispose of LED lights properly to minimize environmental harm.

So how to quickly identify cheap led lights or not?

It is difficult to identify the quality of a led light by eyes directly. But there are a few points you can evaluate that may indicate whether the LED is cheap or of higher quality:

Price: The material cost of higher-quality led lights usually is more than lower-quality or cheap ones. At the same time, the factory adopts a complete quality inspection system to manage quality control and needs to pay more time and labor costs. If the price is too good, it may use low-quality material or without any quality control rules.

Certification: Choose the led lamps that have got certificates such as UL PSE GS or CE from authorized labs. These certifications indicate that the LED lamps meet the safety standards of aimed markets.

Materials: As we mentioned in the price point, higher-quality led lights adopt higher-quality materials, such as driver components or heat sink weight. Cheap LED lights use lower-quality metal materials or plastic housing that can be easily damaged.

Performance: You will always get more than you paid by using higher-quality led lights. They have fully better performance, such as higher brightness, better heat dissipation, better color rendering, no glare or flick, etc.

Warranty: Reliable manufacturers are confident in the quality and performance of their led lamps. They usually give a two or three years warranty for indoor led lights and a three or five years warranty for outdoor led lights.

Brand reputation: If this factory has its own brand in the local market, check the feedback from the sellers and consumers. You also can search the import records about this brand from the local customs database. If this brand has a shop on Amazon, eBay, or other e-commerce stores, check the customer reviews carefully.

All the above factors affect the quality of a led light together. Engineers can use them together to identify whether a led light is cheap or of higher quality.

5. Using incompatible fixtures or dimmers for led lights

Using incompatible fixtures or dimmers for LED lights can cause a series of problems.

Flickering: LED lights may flick if work with incompatible fixtures or dimmers. Flicker makes people feel uncomfortable, and can even damage the eyes.

Reduced lifespan: Using incompatible fixtures or dimmers can cause LED lights to overheat or operate outside of their intended specifications. This can reduce their lifespan and lead to premature failure.

Reduced performance: LED lights can’t work under the rated current and voltage when using incompatible fixtures or dimmers. This can reduce the lighting performance and can’t reach the effect when the lighting solution is made.

Safety hazards: Using incompatible fixtures or dimmers can create safety hazards, such as the risk of electrical shock or fire. Incompatible fixtures or dimmers will make the led lamp work at the wrong voltage or current for a long time. This will cause the internal temperature of the lamp to overheat and cause a fire or explosion. Usually, the reliable led lighting manufacturer will list all the compatible dimmers in the specifications for consumers. Check the datasheet and find this list before you install them.

6. Low Color Rendering Index (CRI) in LED lights

Led lights with low CRI can have several negative impacts:

Poor color rendering: A low CRI LED light may make colors appear washed out or inaccurate, which can be especially problematic in settings where color accuracy is important, such as in art galleries, clothing stores, or makeup studios.

Eye strain and discomfort: Low CRI lights may produce harsh and artificial light that can cause eye strain, headaches, and other forms of discomfort.

Reduced visibility and safety: In outdoor or industrial settings, low CRI lights may make it harder to see objects or hazards, which can reduce safety and increase the risk of accidents.

Negative impact on mood and health: Studies have shown that exposure to poor-quality lighting can lead to negative mood and affect body health. We recommend choosing high CRI led to ensure better color accuracy, comfort, and safety. Ra80 for general lighting is good, and Ra90 or Ra95 is necessary for fresh food lighting, antique lighting, and jewelry lighting.

Summary

Prime Industry Developing Ltd is a professional and reliable led lighting manufacturer in China. We use famous brand led and driver, good quality aluminum housing frames to make outdoor led lighting products.

With complete quality management system, we always produce reliable lamps for domestic and overseas customers. If you have the above problems when you purchase outdoor led lights, please feel free to contact us to find solutions.