Lifetime of LED replacement light bulbs.

[studiot]

Does anyone have any experience in the failure modes and comparisons with the offered lifetime and real world time to failure of the replacement bulbs ?

Since the introduction of LED replacement bayonet and screw fitting bulbs I have seen several fail prematurely.

I have also noticed they run hotter than I expected, though not as hot as incandescent.

I think I might start to dissamble any more that fail to find out what why they failed.

Coupled with the hotter running I have noticed three that have started to flicker before failing, suggesting that it is not the LED that fials, but the driving electronics.

 

Comments and experiences of others are welcome.

[Sensei]

"Running hot since ever" or "running hot at the end of their life just before failure".. ? Design issue?

In either case: check their voltage and amperage..

If electronics is failing, it can give too much voltage and/or amperage which will damage LED too..

(If you don't have) buy microscope and IR camera for these ultra small boards.. compare still working LED v/a with already broken to find differences. Broken part is often overheating with even low voltage (plug to labs power supply (with controllable parameters)) thus it will be visible on IR camera..

Edited August 20, 2021 by Sensei

[studiot]

3 minutes ago, Sensei said:

"Running hot since ever" or "running hot at the end of their life just before failure".. ? Design issue?

In either case: check their voltage and amperage..

If electronics is failing, it can give too much voltage and/or amperage which will damage LED too..

Good question at this time I don't know as previously I simply swopped them into place as old tungsten or CF bulbs failed.

So I really only checked at the end of their life.

[swansont]

I have just one which has been in use for at least 5 years - I don't recall how long. A light that's on pretty much all the time I'm home and awake. Whenever it goes I will not consider it to be a premature death.

(I think I've replaced one CFL bulb in the last 3-4 years. That's it for the modern ones.)

 

[zapatos]

I think every LED I've had that has failed, has flickered or gone off for short durations for weeks or months before failure. Given the rate of failure I suspect that while they are long lasting, I'll never have one that meets its offered lifetime.

[studiot]

40 minutes ago, swansont said:

I have just one which has been in use for at least 5 years - I don't recall how long. A light that's on pretty much all the time I'm home and awake. Whenever it goes I will not consider it to be a premature death.

(I think I've replaced one CFL bulb in the last 3-4 years. That's it for the modern ones.)

 

 

20 minutes ago, zapatos said:

I think every LED I've had that has failed, has flickered or gone off for short durations for weeks or months before failure. Given the rate of failure I suspect that while they are long lasting, I'll never have one that meets its offered lifetime.

Thank you both for these answers.

 

My original LED lights were fitted before almost 10 years ago and are still going strong.

 

These were complete light fittings, not just plug in replacement bulbs, which are much more recent.

My experience with the replacement type is that they do not live up to their promise and Zap's description is all too familiar.

A further thought occure to me.

Light bulbs of any description are not particularly high current devices.
However LED types really need a much lower voltage than UK mains so perhaps the lower American mains voltage lead to a longer lifer in the voltage reduction circuitry ?

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by studiot

[Phi for All]

1 hour ago, studiot said:

These were complete light fittings, not just plug in replacement bulbs, which are much more recent.

The replacements can't be as efficient as your complete, integrated LED fixtures. They waste resources on emulating older configurations. An LED bulb isn't enjoying the spirit of solid-state electronics, imo. 

[studiot]

37 minutes ago, Phi for All said:

The replacements can't be as efficient as your complete, integrated LED fixtures. They waste resources on emulating older configurations. An LED bulb isn't enjoying the spirit of solid-state electronics, imo. 

I'm not sure I follow.

I've barely had these bulbs a couple of years, yet they are starting to fail.

 

Here is the package from one.

 

 

 

[StringJunky]

Some food for thought, maybe:

https://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/resources/5-reasons-why-my-led-light-bulbs-arent-lasting/

[Phi for All]

1 hour ago, studiot said:

I'm not sure I follow.

I've barely had these bulbs a couple of years, yet they are starting to fail.

 

Here is the package from one.

My mistake then, I quoted you saying you had complete light fittings, not replacement bulbs. My comment was on fixtures where the LED lights are integrated into the fixture, rather than being an LED designed to replace an old filament or CFL bulb or tube. 

[studiot]

47 minutes ago, Phi for All said:

My mistake then, I quoted you saying you had complete light fittings, not replacement bulbs. My comment was on fixtures where the LED lights are integrated into the fixture, rather than being an LED designed to replace an old filament or CFL bulb or tube. 

Sorry If I gave the wrong impression.

I did indeed refer to the first LED lights I had.

This was some 10 years ago and they were complete celing fittings with the LEDs integrated within.
These have been performing well for 10 years.
These were installed on the new ceiling as part of an extension project to the house.
They were however expensive, at £120 each.
The project was discussed extensively, with photographs, in the old thread I referred to.

The replacement bulbs were 'ony' £8 each (tungsten is aout £0.25) a couple of years ago.
They have only been available fior 3 to 4 years.