Common Problems with Industrial LED Lights

Today there are more industrial facilities than ever before running energy efficient LED lighting systems. But many operators have been hesitant to jump on board the bandwagon, citing a number of different commonly-identified problems with LEDs.

“Why do LEDs flicker?” Is one of the more common questions. “Why is my LED making a buzzing sound?” might be another.

Flickering, buzzing, and a loss of brightness are all signs that there is something wrong with your industrial lighting. But these problems arise not from LED technology itself, but rather, from improper installation or poor-quality products.

Here are some of the most commonly reported problems in Scottsdale for commercial LED lighting, as well as some pointers on how to get them resolved.

1.) Loose Wire Connections

When there is a loose wire between the bulb and the circuit, the LED luminaires are not receiving a steady stream of power. With incandescent lighting, an uneven power input isn’t as big of a deal because of the lingering ambient light from the filament.

But LED bulbs turn on and off immediately, so any loss of power is going to result in a momentary flicker. Inspect all of the connection points in the circuit; Some connections might need to be reconnected.

2.) Loose Fitting Bulbs

Just like the uneven power issue that we discussed above, a loose-fitting bulb can result in temporary break in the current. Make sure that the bulb fits firmly in the fixture and that there is no dirt or debris blocking the connection points.

3.) Low-Quality LED Bulbs or Fixtures

If you find some industrial LED lights for a suspiciously low price, it’s a good indicator that they’re not going to offer the true benefits of quality LED. “Cheap” LED lights use the same type of technology, but things like poor soldering, weak components, and bad design can seriously affect overall quality.

The really cheap LED bulbs are not only prone to flickering, but they provide inconsistent brightness and tend to break a lot easier.

4.) Incorrect LED Dimmer Setup

There are two different kinds of dimmer switches, and if your lights are flickering, there’s a good chance you have the wrong kind.

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Dimmers work by sending shorter and shorter bursts of electricity into the lighting component, thus lowering the overall brightness in the room. But with LED lights, this pulsing action leads to a rapid ON / OFF cycle that leads to flickering. With PWM dimmers, the lower you go, the worse the flickering gets.

Constant Current Reduction (CCR) dimmers are preferable for most industrial and commercial LED applications. As the name suggests, CCR dimmers are able to provide a steady and unbroken stream of electricity into the bulb. They simply change the amount of current, leading to a reduction in brightness.

5.) Bad Driver (Power Supply)

High power industrial lights (anything 100W or above) are particularly prone to power supply failure, especially with the more affordable models. High power lighting in parking lots and sports fields can start to flicker if their driver unit is starting to fail.

Before purchasing an industrial system, check the manufacturer’s specs for power unit failure rate. Generally speaking, you want a power driver with a failure rate of < .05% over 2 years.

Whether you’re dealing with flickering, buzzing, or a loss of brightness, the most reliable way to fix the problem is to talk to an Scottsdale LED installation professional.