Common Problems with LED Panels and How to Fix Them

An LED Driver regulates the amount of power that flows through a lighting system. Drivers convert the AC power from the mains supply to the DC power required to run LED Panels and therefore prevent power surges. LED drivers are small units that are wired to the LED panel. They play a similar role to ballasts in fluorescent lights.

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Drivers are vulnerable to overheating. Even drivers that work correctly will be affected by heat over time. However using cheap, low quality drivers or the wrong driver will mean it is at greater risk of overheating sooner.

This is because the current flowing through the system isn’t kept at a constant level, so the excess heat generated impacts the driver’s performance.

Problems

LED panels are more expensive than traditional fluorescent tubes and for this reason consumers may choose cheap, low quality LEDs and expect the same performance from them as the leading brands. Low quality LED panels often feature inferior components that aren’t tested properly.

LED panels feature a number of components; if any of these components are low quality or faulty it can affect the overall performance of the LED panels.

LED Panels must be properly insulated to ensure the heat they produce is dissipated correcting so they don’t overheat.

Quality LED panels are fitted with a heat sink made from a conductive metal (usually aluminium) which transfers excess heat away from the panel. If this heat sink is low quality, poorly fitted or not fitted at all then the excess heat can cause the LED chips in the panel to burn out.

Not all LEDs are suitable to be fitted into enclosed fixtures. Fitting an unsuitable LED into an enclosed fitting can cause it to overheat as the bulb won’t have the appropriate heat sink. This isn’t as much of an issue with LED panels as they are usually designed to fit in enclosed fixtures, however, it’s always worth checking the panels are suitable to be installed into recessed fittings.

There are a couple of minor indications of quality such as a panel that is finished with powder coating rather than paint and a well-constructed frame however, the real marker of quality comes down to the material used to make the light guide plate.

There are three materials commonly used to make an LGP:

• PMMA
• Polystyrene (PS)
• MS

PMMA has the best light transmission and durability but is also the most expensive – it is a high-quality product, but not the most affordable.

PS offers good transmission, but it tends to turn yellow over time due to wear and tear and the effects of heat. It is a well-known issue in the industry and is often why these panels have a warranty of only 2 years. Over time they can also ripple of become warped because they aren’t robust enough to handle normal heat exposure. It is the cheapest option of the three, but we would consider it a low-quality choice.

MS is a combination of PMMA and PS. It provides very good light transmission and is also durable, but at a lower price, is the most cost-effective solution.

Environment

Are LED Lights Considered Good for the Environment?

Yes, LED lights are better for the environment than traditional light sources as with proper heat management they can last much longer. LEDs deliver the same amount of lumens as traditional luminaires, but with less energy consumption. For example, a 400W HID luminaire can typically be replaced by a 150W LED luminaire and still deliver the same lumens.

Efficiency

Do LED Lights Burn Out?

Yes, all light sources will eventually burn out. However, LED sources typically last much longer than traditional light sources. They usually have a longer L70 rating. For example, a quality LED luminaire will have at least an L70 rating of 50,000 hours, while an HID luminaire may only have a rating between 6,000 to 15,000 hours.

Do LED Light Bulbs Save Money?

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Yes, LED lights save money on energy consumption. They produce a higher rate of lumens per watt, meaning they are much more efficient and use less energy to produce the same amount of light.

What Does L70 Rating Mean?

L70 is a means of measuring lumen maintenance.  The L70 refers to the point when an LED lamp source is producing 70% of its initial lumen output.  For example, the RDA NTH-LED20 initial lumen output is , its L70 rating is 100,000 hours.  So at 100,000 hours the luminaire will be producing roughly lumens.

Why is this rating important when considering a luminaire?

This rating allows you to know how long you can depend on a luminaire to produce an acceptable amount of light.

Concerns

Do LED Lights Produce Heat?

The short answer is yes, LED luminaires produce heat. The long answer is that while LED diodes produce heat, it isn’t where you might think. The heat is generated at the back of the LED chip.  So, the back of the diode gets really hot, but the front/exterior of the luminaire remains cool to the touch.

In order to obtain long life, it is crucial to manage the internal temperature (junction temperature) of LED diodes.  This can be accomplished in a variety of methods, one of the most common being the implementation of heatsinks to pull the heat away from the LED diode and disperse it.

What Color Temperature (CCT) is Best for Your Eyes?

Ideally, the best light for your eyes is that of natural light, which would be around K and higher. Natural light boosts your vitamin D and has a tremendous effect on your circadian rhythm. In the absence of natural light, it is best to design the light to the needs of the space. For example, in an environment such as a doctor’s office or surgical room you would install a luminaire with K or higher CCT for bright blue-white light – something crisp and clean. On the other hand, In a recovery room, you may want to step down to something K to K, that is more calming and cozy.

What luminaire is the right luminaire for my application?

This is all relative.  In order to figure out the right luminaire for the application you have to consider the following:

• Budget – What is the budget for this application?
• Rebates – Are there rebates available to offset the cost of the initial purchase of materials and labor?
• Time – How soon is the project going to start?  When does it need to be completed?
• Usage – What is the usage of the given space?  Is it a manufacturing plant, a supermarket, an office space?  If work is being conducted, what type of work, is it a machinist shop where detailed work is being done or is it a warehouse?
• Demographic – What is the average age of the people occupying the space?  Is an older demographic that will need more light, brighter light?  Is it a young demographic that will not need as much light and would benefit from a warmer color temperature?
• In some applications, more than one luminaire might be needed to properly illuminate space.

Key Benefits

Are LED Lights Dimmable?

Yes, LED luminaires can be dimmed provided that:

1. The driver controlling the LED is a dimmable driver.
2. You use the right dimmer.

For example, some LED luminaires have a 0-10V dimming driver which would require a 0-10V dimmer.  Others work off of ELV (Electronic Low Voltage), in this application you would use an ELV dimmer.

1. You size the dimmer to the application. LED luminaires have a much larger inrush current (amount of power it takes to turn something on) than traditional light sources. In order to compensate for that initial inrush current, you have to upsize your dimmer.  

Can I use LED lights outdoors?

Yes, LED luminaires can be used in outdoor application ratings provided they have the appropriate IP or UL rating.  For outdoor applications, the appropriate IP rating could be anything from IP44 to IP68.  IP65 rating should cover most outdoor applications.  When using UL as a guideline for outdoor use, look for a damp (think lighting under canopies, soffits, etc.) or wet location rating.  When in doubt, contact a professional for help selecting the right luminaire for the job.

Should I change my light bulbs to LED?

Yes, the benefits to switching to LED from traditional light sources have been addressed ad nauseam over the past 15 years. LEDs are more environmentally friendly, and typically have a longer lifespan than traditional light sources. They also save on energy and labor costs, and are easier to control than some traditional light sources, like HIDs.

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