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Why My LED Light is Flickering and How to Solve it?


Most people have experienced flickering light bulbs at home or at work. Whether it's a ballast problem with an old fluorescent lamp or an incandescent filament that's about to burn out, the solution is to replace the faulty bulb or component.​

 

With LED lighting, the problem is slightly more complicated. Flicker issues may require consideration of several issues, starting with the cause of the flicker:

 

Why Do LED Lights Flicker?

The most common cause is that low frequency below 50 Hz makes LED bulbs flicker. Loose or incorrect wiring, incompatible dimmer switches, or faulty bulb assemblies (such as defective LED drivers) can also cause LED bulbs to flicker. More reasons can be seen below:​​


led lights flicker


    ●  Poor​ Drivers​​

LED drivers not only operate as a system that manages current but also as a protection pad. Defective drives can cause LED flickering because they will be more susceptible to heat over time.


    ●  Loose connections and circuits​

Loose wiring or loose bulbs can cause the blinking LED lights. This would be the result of poor manual handling during the placement of the fixture to the attachment point. If multiple lights are blinking at the same time, there may be a problem with the panel or connection points that may be loose and need to be re-tightened.


    ●  Incompatible dimmers​

Another major cause of LED flickering is placing the lamp in a circuit with an incompatible dimmer switch. A dimmer switch works by turning the light bulb's power on and off several times per second. This mechanism won't work on LED lights, otherwise, the lights will end up flickering.


    ●  Inferior fixtures or light bulbs

Low-quality LED bulbs are more susceptible to flicker problems. High-quality bulbs are more expensive, but they can save you the cost of frequent repairs and replacements in the long run.​​​


    ● Wattage surge

Power wattage can affect the functionality of your LED lights, especially when you're using cheap drivers. If there are devices in the same circuit that use high power loads connected to your LED lights, the better drivers normalize the output of the LEDs, the others are not so good. Repeated surges can wear out the drive and cause delayed failures.


Deal with LED Light Bulb Flickering Issues

Check for Proper Installation of LED ​Lights​​​​​​

The first thing you need to do is identify the current setup with your LED lighting. The most common reason for a flickering T8, for example, is a loose connection somewhere in the circuit. Finding the wire or power issue that causes the unwanted flickers will help resolve the problem. See how to do below:


  • Check the entire fixture to see if loose wires are present and tighten as needed.

  • Secure or tighten the screw lamp in place.

  • Review the connection point to ensure it hasn't become loose for some reason.

  • Disconnect power to the circuit and secure any additional wiring as needed based on your investigation.


Dimming switches cause the most problems with modern LED technology because they work by phase cutting. That means the voltage is reduced to the fixture. Although that's useful for older bulbs, LED circuits have problems processing that change.

Avoid voltage changes

You should check if the current in your home or office is sufficient to power all your appliances, as using many appliances at the same time can cause voltage changes, in which case the LED lights will also flicker.


Locate the Defective Component of Your Flickering LED Lights

Components in your lights could be defective.  Your manufacturer is supposed to replace the light for you if the warranty is still valid or they can find you a substitute to replace the defective one. In addition, having a certified electrician check out the switches would be advised.​


Replace the Light Bulb with Better Prod​uct

After you've carried out all the tests and you still have a flickering problem, it might be worthwhile to​ replace the bulb. Older LEDs don't have the same lifespan ratings as today's products. For example, newer LED T8​ bulbs can last more than 50,000 hours while being more energy-efficient than the T8 fluorescent bulbs.​​​​​​​​


replace the light bulb

The updated LED lamps are ideal products for anything that requires detail-oriented work. You'll find them in retail locations, mechanic's shops, studios, and even as task lighting.

If you want something with an exceptional lifespan, consider upgrading to a flicker-free EPTA fixture. The L70 option has a rating that exceeds 200,000 hours, which can last for more than four decades with average use.


Use Better Drivers

It's a fact that budget-friendly products aren't always cheaper than investing in something better. When you purchase low-quality LEDs, you'll be more likely to encounter problems with the driver. Other than that, the other issue that impacts cheap drivers involves wattage surges. For example, if you have an appliance, space heater, or a microwave that uses a significant power load on the same circuit as an LED you can cause it to flicker.


Constant drivers can help to eliminate power current peaks to fix LED light flickering problems. As a result, select a LED bulb that has the proper driver components such as full sized drivers that can help to isolate the noise and steady the power.


Contact with the Flickering LED Bulb Manufacturer

It might be necessary to speak with the product's manufacturer after you've tested all the possible methods to fix the LED bulb flickering issue but nothing works. Should your LED lamp be under warranty, it should be repaired or replaced.


If your flickering LED is out of warranty, the manufacturer can help you find an appropriate replacement.​


Choose a Professional Lighting Company

It's practical to choose a company that provides high-quality lighting, they will help you choose the right lighting for your business needs. 


Here, we recommended LEDV​ANCE. It combines traditional general lighting with modern forward-looking lighting technology and is a global leader in innovative lighting products as well as smart connected lighting solutions (smart homes). Purchasing products from LEDVANCE, which provides high-quality lighting, can greatly reduce flicker's problems. Contact us for the best lighting solution for you.​


Bonus Tips: How to Upgrade the Older Bulbs to LED Lights?


When you're ready to upgrade to LED lighting, you can often swap an older bulb for the newer energy-efficient one. Most designs are meant to be compatible with today's fixtures. You'll just need to ensure the circuit and switch are consistent with this technology if you're living in an older home.


Some LED lights get installed as the entire fixture. When you need to take the old one off to put the new one on, it helps to take a picture of the wires after you disconnect the item. Don't forget to turn the power off in the area to ensure it's safe to work and check the wires with a voltage tester before touching them.


Older homes might not have a grounding wire to use. In that situation, the LED fixture manufacturer will likely have you wrap a green wire around one of the screws or something else during the installation process. Please follow the instructions provided by the product to ensure you're complying with local code.


After you have the LED light fixture installed, you'll want to restore power to check for functionality and flickers. If you see any, refer to this guide to ensure you can complete the troubleshooting process quickly and effectively​​​​.

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