LED question

[rustythread]

I have in my shop building ten 4-ft LED lights, all on the same circuit. I put them in about 5 years ago, and probably have 1500 -2000 hours on them. For switched last week or so, when I have switched them on there has been a second or so of delay in lighting. Today when I hit the switch there was no light from any of them.

Before I shell out the $ and climb the ladder to replace them all, I'd appreciate any knowledge, suggestions or wild-*** guesses re any diagnosis or cure. Mass suicide of light fixtures is a new one on me. (Yes, the circuit is live.)

 

[S42N8]

Assuming the circuit breaker isn't tripped, Circuit tester at the receptacle.

Oops. If "the circuit is live" means you've already tested at the receptacle, are the lights in series? Doubt that, but the other explanations are really unlikely. Power surge across the circuit? Faulty switch?

 

[Onomea]

Not smart enough to tell you what the problem is but think I know what it is not: The LED lights themselves.

What are the odds that all the lights would would fail at the same time?

 

[Rowlette]

When LED lights are bad they are just like a switch, they work fine and then nothing. If it was just one or two then it was most likely a bad light but all, I would say it was the main wall switch. My experience with LEDs they do not have longevity but the output brightness is hard to compete. I buy in quality, replacement tubes (I am assuming they are like mine with replaceable tubes if not then you have your work cut out for you plus high replacement cost.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Becha you got a loose or corroded ground wire somewhere in the system....OR could be a bad switch. Had that happen on my back porch recently.

 

[ZGrand]

I would also suspect bad grounding -- assuming it isn't the switch and the circuit is energized.

 

[Warren Sear]

Not smart enough to tell you what the problem is but think I know what it is not: The LED lights themselves.

What are the odds that all the lights would would fail at the same time?

Same as winning the lottery: Zero.

The problem is a bad switch, loose connection somewhere, broken wire, etc.

The problem is not a bad ground. The lights will work fine without being grounded.

 

[SMSgt]

1-800-Call-An-Electrician

 

[jeffrefrig]

I would think a broken/loose neutral, not a ground. Start at the switch, get a ladder and some help. (But 1st) If you pull the cover off the breaker panel, that's a good place to check the neutral wire. If the wire coming from the switch goes into a J box then splits to the different rows, that would be a good place to start. Only guessing without being there. Be careful, and don't do it alone. Somebody has to be with you in case of an accident...with a good phone. And, there's a real difference between ground and neutral. I had a similar problem down my cellar but I can reach everything from the floor or step stool. Good luck. Let us know what you find that fixes it.

 

[mtgianni]

Do you have LED light fixtures or LED bulbs? Are the individual fixtures all wired in series? If they are LED bulbs are the ballasts still wired into the system?

 

[oldbrownhat]

Do you have LED light fixtures or LED bulbs? Are the individual fixtures all wired in series? If they are LED bulbs are the ballasts still wired into the system?

I was thinking the same thing. A few years ago they introduced retrofit LED tubes that were a direct swap over for CFLs, which means they still rely on the ballasts, and when/if the ballast dies, it needs to be replaced, and they aren't cheap. It seems unlikely that all the ballasts died at the same time, though.

The longevity of LED bulbs is I think exaggerated. They used to be advertised as 50,000 hours but I see that this has been replaced with a lower figure.

 

[rustythread]

Got it

Loose connection in a wire nut.

 

[Spurdann]

Start at the switch, turn off the breaker, pull the switch out of the wall, tie the two wires on the switch together with a wire nut. Turn the breaker on. If the lights come on replace the switch. If no lights go to the first light fed by the switch and check the connections.

 

[Sarge9]

yes lost connection or bad switch
always start at the panel, then half way through the circuit
install surge unit at that panel, while you have cover off
and tighten all the termination screws, including neutrals, grounds.
correct tools, leather gloves and safety glasses.
good luck !!

 

[Bald1]

Not sure how a connection would suddenly come loose. It's not a moving part. Corrosion? Maybe I guess if it's not climate controlled. I would guess the switch wich is a moving part or perhaps a rodent got to your wire. Seems like that would trip breaker though. Interested in how this plays out.

 

[Tom S.]

Not sure how a connection would suddenly come loose. It's not a moving part. Corrosion? Maybe I guess if it's not climate controlled. I would guess the switch wich is a moving part or perhaps a rodent got to your wire. Seems like that would trip breaker though. Interested in how this plays out.

Depending on where the connection is, there could be a number of factors. Perhaps the wire nut wasn't screwed tight in the first place (my suspicion). Wire connections in a box located on or near a door can and do vibrate when the door is shut, especially if slammed. Dissimilar wires in a wire nut can also work loose, especially when joining copper and aluminum. This has even resulted in house fires when the connections work loose and start to arc. I replaced an aluminum line in my house when I discovered a blackened junction box in my attic and considered myself lucky for finding it before my house caught fire. There is a special paste electricians should apply to aluminum connections but many do not use it as it is messy, costs extra and is an added step.

Also, when putting a wire nut on a combination of stranded wires and solid wires, one should make sure the wires are twisted together. I've seen wire nuts 'push' the stranded wire towards the bottom of the connection leaving them barely connected to the solid wire.

 

[Narragansett]

When you say switch, do you have a switch or are you using the breaker as a switch? If you have a switch, jump it out. Check your neutral connection in the panel. If panel is ok? Go to your first junction box and check connections. This sounds like an open in the circuit somewhere

 

[Bald1]

Never thought about vibrations. Hopefully OP gives us an update.

 

[rustythread]

Junction box attached to a horizontal purlin, on the other side of which is attached the sheet metal exterior wall. Lot of wind lately, makin' the walls vibrate like a two dollar banjo. Probably a wire nut I didn't properly snug down, loosened by the vibration. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Kinman]

I replaced my dual eight foot fluorescent fixtures, eight bulbs in two fixtures with six two light LEDs awhile back, got a $200 special on Amazon. They were all wired together, had enough cord or pigtails sticking out of each unit with a plug in on the other end to wire them in "series?". I'll throw this out there and see if it sticks to the wall. Is it possible that when one of the fixtures burns out the rest follow suit like the old school Christmas lights. I'd check to see if you have power coming out the first unit, if not try changing up and going to the second unit and on down the track. That was part of what I thought was a good replacement system is if one goes out it can be replaced with the spare I kept. There are no replacement bulbs for my $200 special. I will say that I got over twice the lighting affect with a quarter of the power usage, no flickering when cold, immediate light when the switch is thrown and no irritating buzzing.