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Message
Flickering LED bulbs
Posted on 3/2/25 at 1:27 pm
Posted on 3/2/25 at 1:27 pm
Question for any electricians. I have one two bulb ceiling fixture in the house that new LED bulbs (regular screw in type) will work fine for 2-3 months then will start a flickering action before going out.
I don't have the problem with the same bulbs in any other fixture in the house so don't think I have a system voltage problem. Lower cost LED's but they work fine in other fixtures. This has been going on for 2-3 years and drives the wife nuts and I am tired of replacing them every 2-3 months.
Should I check for loose wires or bad sockets or just replace fixture - they aren't that expensive, but I don't want to replace fixture and still have the same problem.
Edit to add, they don't flicker constantly but will do it for 5-15 seconds then go back to burn steadily. TIA
I don't have the problem with the same bulbs in any other fixture in the house so don't think I have a system voltage problem. Lower cost LED's but they work fine in other fixtures. This has been going on for 2-3 years and drives the wife nuts and I am tired of replacing them every 2-3 months.
Should I check for loose wires or bad sockets or just replace fixture - they aren't that expensive, but I don't want to replace fixture and still have the same problem.
Edit to add, they don't flicker constantly but will do it for 5-15 seconds then go back to burn steadily. TIA
This post was edited on 3/2/25 at 2:28 pm
11
Posted on 3/2/25 at 2:29 pm to ArkBengal
I hate my LED bulbs. Most of them do this. It's infuriating.
Posted on 3/2/25 at 2:54 pm to ArkBengal
I’ve only seen LED bulbs fail in closed fixtures due to heat. Even great value or ecosmart should last many many years with proper ventilation.
Posted on 3/2/25 at 3:45 pm to Dallaswho
Thought about that so I removed the cover/globe so bulbs are exposed but did not fix problem
Posted on 3/2/25 at 7:37 pm to ArkBengal
Probably something on the circuit, they don't tolerate power that isn't clean. Laptops, printers, certain appliances...all introduce harmonics that LED lights don't like (especially cheap ones). You can try seeing what else is on the circuit and unplugging them until you find the culprit. Not really an easy or cheap way to test the power at that fixture unless you have a DVOM with a clean power indicator.
Posted on 3/2/25 at 8:20 pm to ArkBengal
I agree with Clames on the possibility of harmonics/interference from other devices on the circuit. I would add that you absolutely should check the wiring connections- at the fixture, the switch, and the panel at least. It could be a failing switch or circuit breaker as well.
I hate troubleshooting LEDs. Dirty power/harmonics, high/ low voltage, high/low temperature, neutral current, and improper grounding are really the only things that I can think of that cause them to fail prematurely. The real problem is that each of those things can be like a needle in a haystack. If it was my house, I would verify there are no loose connections, everything was grounded- and put some higher quality bulbs in; just to see if that fixes it. If it doesn’t, then start eliminating the other options- one by one.
I hate troubleshooting LEDs. Dirty power/harmonics, high/ low voltage, high/low temperature, neutral current, and improper grounding are really the only things that I can think of that cause them to fail prematurely. The real problem is that each of those things can be like a needle in a haystack. If it was my house, I would verify there are no loose connections, everything was grounded- and put some higher quality bulbs in; just to see if that fixes it. If it doesn’t, then start eliminating the other options- one by one.
Posted on 3/2/25 at 9:29 pm to ArkBengal
Try a higher quality bulb. Had same issue in certain spots at my house and changed to sylvania bulb versus the great value bulbs and no trouble since.
Posted on 3/2/25 at 10:11 pm to Clames
quote:
Probably something on the circuit
This. I have an LED floor lamp in the living room...never a problem. Plugged a heater into it to chase the chill out when it was really cold and the light started to flicker...but only on medium heat. Figure that one out.
Posted on 3/2/25 at 10:39 pm to Tschool
quote:
higher quality bulb
Tried this and bought GE something or other. It did the same thing after some time.
Posted on 3/3/25 at 6:06 am to ArkBengal
Measure the voltage. Sounds like your voltage maybe really high and that’s why it’s wearing them out faster? Or could be a loose ground or something causing low voltage, I’m not sure why that would wear a bulb out.
Posted on 3/3/25 at 7:07 am to ArkBengal
Only solution I've found for this crap is to buy a fixture with the LEDs already built in. We had one in our laundry room that would flicker in sync to the washing machine and we swapped 3 or 4 bulbs and finally just replaced the fixture altogether with an led built in and that solved it .
I guess we kinda won because the new light is much brighter too.
I guess we kinda won because the new light is much brighter too.
Posted on 3/3/25 at 9:54 am to ArkBengal
Buy CREE or Philips bulbs
everything else is trash
everything else is trash
Posted on 3/3/25 at 2:50 pm to ArkBengal
I assume this is on a switch, it may be the switch as well as the fixture.
Posted on 3/4/25 at 10:26 am to CAD703X
quote:
Only solution I've found for this crap is to buy a fixture with the LEDs already built in. We had one in our laundry room that would flicker in sync to the washing machine and we swapped 3 or 4 bulbs and finally just replaced the fixture altogether with an led built in and that solved it .
I guess we kinda won because the new light is much brighter too.
This could have also been the wiring internally with the old fixture. Which could be OP's issue also. Maybe a loose wire between the switch and the bulb.
Posted on 3/5/25 at 6:00 pm to ArkBengal
Are these lights on a dimmer switch or dimmer remote?
Posted on 3/6/25 at 2:49 am to ArkBengal
Check your connections at the light switch. If it is wired with the wires being pushed through the little holes in the back of the switch, that is your problem. Remove the wires and reattach at the screw terminals. Outlets have the same "plug in" wiring system, and that can cause different issues with lamps, vacumm, TV's, Entertainment systems, etc. What happen is the actual connection point between the wire and the internal part of the switch/socket, is so small corrosion can set in rather rapidly. Once the connection becomes marginal (high resistance) it starts over working the processor in the device. This issue is compounded in high humidity areas.
This post was edited on 3/6/25 at 2:52 am
Posted on 3/6/25 at 8:59 pm to Barracuda
No, but on three way switches
Posted on 3/7/25 at 8:38 am to Tschool
My experience has been the cheaper the bulb the cheaper of driver they put in them and they go out anywhere between 2 months to 12 months.
Posted on 3/7/25 at 9:17 am to DVinBR
I’m not sure Cree is held in as high regard as they used to be. They had some first mover advantage then kind of fizzled.
Satco is a great brand, and I’d buy those over Cree
Satco is a great brand, and I’d buy those over Cree
Posted on 3/7/25 at 3:49 pm to bee Rye
I did put some new Philips bulbs in - we’ll see how they do
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