Whether you’re making preparations for a party or setting up your Christmas decorations, string LED lights are a must-have.
Besides looking great, they are easy to put up and can be used on almost any surface. Unfortunately, they also tend to get damaged quite easily, and in such cases, it is important to know “what does a burned out LED string light look like?”
And that’s where I will help you out today.
How To Identify A Burned Out LED String Light?
Burned out bulbs on an LED string light will simply not light up, even if there is no visible damage. This is because LED lights are opaque and do not turn black on burning out like conventional bulbs. But there may be other reasons apart from burning out that can cause the lights to stop working.
And because of that, it can be quite hard to determine whether the lights have burnt out or if there is some other issue.
The problem is further complicated since LED lights lack a filament, unlike conventional incandescent bulbs, which makes it challenging to determine whether the LED string lights have burned out by looking at them from outside.
Additionally, they contain more electrical components than conventional bulbs and cannot be checked without the proper tools. Finally, LED lights are not designed to be taken apart and repaired at home.
Well, I may have discouraged you already, and you may be thinking about spending on professional service to get them checked. However, my husband has helped me learn a few ways by which anyone can understand if the LED string light has burnt out.
1. The Shake And Rattle Test
Generally, LED string lights such as Christmas lights are made without removable bulbs, which prevent the circuit from failing if a single bulb is damaged. However, if the bulbs are removable, you can try this method.
Remove the string lights from the power source and shake the bulbs that are not working gently. If the internal components of the lights are burned out or otherwise damaged, the shaking will produce a rattling noise.
2. Checking String Lights With Removable LED Bulbs
This is another method you can use with removable bulbs. Use a light tester to know which bulb is damaged by placing it near the non-working bulbs. The tester will only light up when brought close to a working bulb.
Alternatively, you can use a non-contact voltage detector near the wire between each bulb. Again, it will not light up when it comes close to the wire next to the burned out bulb.
Causes of LED Lights Burning Out
Your LED string lights are designed to be energy efficient while providing brighter light and lasting longer. However, there can be several reasons they may burn out, and I’ve listed some of them in the following sections:
1. Inferior Quality Components
Some LED string lights are dimmable like regular LED bulbs, and their dimming capacity depends upon the quality of the components used. For instance, using old and outdated dimmer switches with the latest lights can cause them to burn out prematurely.
2. High Voltage
Another possible cause that can cause your LED string lights to burn out quickly can be high voltage from the mains. Overpowered voltage can cause any light to burn out faster than it ideally should.
3. Faulty Connections
Improper connections affect the amount of voltage your string lights receive and can cause problems like loose connections, worn-out or corroded contact points, or a loose wire. All of these can ultimately damage the light before time.
4. Overheating
Since LED lights do not produce heat, their components are highly sensitive to overheating and can burn out quickly if they receive undue heat due to faulty connections or environmental conditions.
Final Thoughts
LED string lights offer several advantages compared to regular ones, and one of them is that they tend to last longer. However, in certain conditions, they can burn out, especially if you are using older lights lying in storage.
And if you’re checking them at home, make sure to take the necessary safety precautions when checking the lights to prevent accidents. Always wear rubber gloves and switch off the power supply to which they are connected before proceeding.
On that note, I’ll be wrapping things up. Until next time!