LED lights have risen to prominence nowadays. Investing in LED lights not only saves you money but also significantly reduces the inconvenience associated with re-lamping and substituting units. In addition, they offer homeowners a remarkable lighting experience. However, numerous individuals report that their installed lights might still show this problem, including recently installed bulbs.
Sometimes while watching or playing games late at night, you might have experienced an unexpected dimming of the lights. The majority of us have. There are several possible causes for your lights to turn on and off frequently. The majority of them are insignificant.
However, if your LED lights are constantly turning off and on, it’s wise to consult a qualified electrician. Led lights that frequently turn off and on could be a result of a variety of different factors. This article will outline the key reasons your lights may behave this problem and suggestions on restoring them to normal.
Reasons why LED light turns on and off randomly
1. An influx of current from another appliance
Your LED lights might flicker once you turn on appliances that use a lot of power. Such appliances might include electric stoves, air conditioners, heaters, or even washers. In such cases, your LED lights will turn off and on, caused by an excessive amount of inrush current.
This is the amount of energy that appliances consume when they are first turned on. Since they consume a large amount of power, they have the potential to trigger a voltage reduction.
If the LED lights share a common circuit as your appliances, you may notice that they dim or even turn off and on again. It is essential to note that LED lights are more energy-efficient than traditional halogen lights.
Thus, since they consume considerably less power, further limiting the amount of current flowing through them can cause them to turn off and on randomly.
That’s why equipment that consumes a significant amount of energy should be connected to their circuits as they won’t be able to interfere with the electric current to other devices, such as your LED bulbs, in this circumstance.
2. Overloaded circuits
Having a large number of appliances is acceptable as long as the meter box can accommodate them all. After all, it is this component that distributes electricity throughout your house.
The first sign that your current system isn’t up to the task of meeting your increasing energy demands would be LED lights that frequently turn off and on.
Inrush current occurs when an appliance is turned on for the first time. However, as you look to add more appliances to your house, a circuit imbalance may occur. As a result, the amount of current they require from the electricity supply is greater than it can supply.
An electrician can assist you in determining whether or not your meter box is still capable of meeting your requirements, just as they can with faulty wiring.
If this is the case, you’ll most importantly have to upgrade to a higher-rated device. This will not only fix your LED lights but will also protect you from electrical hazards.
3. Stormy weather
Temporary distractions in the power system caused by electrical storms or strong winds are the most likely reasons your light bulbs will turn on and off randomly. Typically, once the storm passes, this problem will resolve itself.
However, during a stormy season, I recommend that you invest in surge protectors or standby generators to ensure that your home is protected from potentially hazardous electrical issues.
4. Dusty sockets
Dust can build up on the surface of the LED bulbs over time, and it can even make its way into the sockets. If your lights keep turning on and off randomly, it may be due to dirtiness in your lighting fixtures when haven’t cleaned them in a long time.
Ensure you clean the sockets and remove any dirt that has accumulated in or outside the sockets. It’s advisable to remove the light bulbs to clean them more thoroughly. Also, remember to turn off the electricity before cleaning the sockets to avoid shocks.
5. Incompatible Dimmers
If you’re looking to purchase light dimmers, make sure they are compatible with your LED bulbs.
When connected to traditional dimmers, a large number of LED globes experience premature failure or fail completely.
Sometimes your bulbs might not light up first, but you will notice them turn on and off again after a short while.
Incandescent bulbs with a higher voltage load are designed primarily for use with dimmers for traditional lighting. These devices function by varying current flow into the light bulbs in an even and predictable manner.
A quick on/off cycle is also performed to minimize the energy introduced into the circuit during use.
The “persistency” of old light bulbs causes the dimming effect to appear. The process of “shutting down” these bulbs begins as soon as the power is turned off.
As a result, the lights never completely go out because the dimmer turns on and off rapidly. Conversely, they hover somewhere within the middle, creating the dimmed effect.
When compared to traditional bulbs, LED bulbs are less long-term. Consequently, dimmers aimed for older bulb types may trigger the lights to turn on and off when used with LED bulbs randomly.
6. Loose connections
The cause of random turning on and off lights is sometimes as simple as a set of bulbs that are not properly connected. The socket is not making sufficient good contact with the light bulb in this instance.
It is important to note that LED downlights (“recessed lights”) can slacken over time, resulting in frequent turning on and off of the light bulb. With that in mind, the first step to take is to tighten their bulbs by screwing them.
Ensure you exercise caution when handling the light bulbs because excessive use of force can crack them. Even though LED bulbs do not emit a significant amount of infrared radiation, it is still advisable to wear gloves to be safe.
7. Compatibility between downlights and dimmers
The most common cause of your lights turning off and on is a lack of dimmer and downlight consistency. The LED dimmer and downlights should communicate in unison.
Using old halogen dimmers with LED downlights will almost certainly result in this problem. However, this isn’t to assume it won’t work; you have to test it first.
Optimally, you should use LED dimmers designed for LED downlights and ensure you use the same brand. This makes it easier in that if there are any issues, one can visit the manufacturer and request that they address the issue.
One of the excellent dimmers on the market today is the MEDM by Diginet. This dimmer is great in that it dims even non-dimmable products. Invest in high-quality dimmers as cheaply purchased dimmers will cost you a lot in the long run.
How to fix LED light turns on and off randomly
LED lights that keep turning on and off can be very unsettling, hence the need to eliminate the problem immediately. Some of the troubleshooting tips include;
a) Identify your current configuration
To determine the source of the problem, first, assess your current setup. Bad connections or dangling wires should be checked on all of your lights and cables. The most common cause of the problem is a loose connection somewhere within the electrical circuit.
Taking care of a problem with the power connection or loose cables in the circuit will often fix the LED lights turning on and off frequently. Check to see that the light bulb is securely screwed and that there are no loose connections throughout the circuit’s life.
In summary;
· Check for any dangling wires.
· Screw the bulb into the correct position by tightening and securing the screws.
· Check to see if there are loose connections and tighten them.
b) Check for other possible causes of the problem and eliminate them
If your circuit’s connection and wiring are in good working order, you may be able to resolve the problem by inspecting for inconsistent switches. Numerous LED lights are not compatible with ancient dimmers and switches.
c) Address the defective component
After testing all of the components and have narrowed the problem down to the malfunctioning factor, contact your supplier and explain the test results. If your light bulb is still covered by warranty, the manufacturer will replace it at no cost. In addition, the manufacturer can assist you in finding a replacement for your lighting.
d) Reset your LED light bulb
The majority of problems you’ll encounter with your LED lights will be resolved by resetting your light bulb to its default configurations. If you want to reset the light bulb, first turn on the power. Then, switch the bulb on and off approximately 5–7 times. By doing this, your problem has likely been resolved.
Conclusion
Led light bulbs have a long life expectancy of around 25,000 hours, which is quite remarkable. This is greater than the life of incandescent and halogen bulbs. However, exposing the LED light bulbs to situations that cause them to turn on and off randomly, on the other hand, can shorten their lives.
If the LED lights in your house are constantly facing this problem, it’s preferable to figure out the root cause and fix it as soon as possible. The sooner you take action, the longer the life of the LED bulbs will be. Ensure you apply the above tips to troubleshoot your LED light bulbs with ease. If you find the process challenging, seek help from a qualified electrician.
