Replacing halogen bulbs with LED SMD bulb problem

star_ka

Im sorry if I have posted this in the wrong place or havent seen the answer to my problem...

I have a circuit of 8 ceiling lights and decided to change the bulbs to the SMD LED type bulbs to save some money...

The issue I have is that one of the bulbs keeps flashing. I have checked the bulb and replaced it with another and it still flashes. From my research on the internet, the minimum wattage load may not be enough with these bulbs.

Apart from placing a halogen bulb in the mix can anyone suggest a solution.

Many thanks

markdavey

Are the bulbs low voltage and run off a transformer or are they mains voltage?

If they are low voltage, you should replace the transformers with LED Drivers. Running LEDs from a standard transformer has a number of negative effects:

1) The life of the LED bulb is greatly reduced
2) The minimum current draw for the transformer is higher than an LED can draw which is why you are seeing the flashing.

Unfortunately 12v MR16 LEDs, contrary to what people believe, are not simple drop in replacements.

I would guess that the others are borderline ok perhaps because the others share a transformer. The single one may be on its own transformer or on a transformer that has less lamps connected to it.

kwatt

I've replaced and played about with loads of LED lights as I was looking at using them in cooker hoods and fridges and I will agree completely with Mark's comments above.

You can also find the same issues when you try to run them off dimmers or control modules (X10, z Wave etc) as well and get the symptoms that you mention.

And, if they're the cheap no-name Chinese LEDs they can introduce a lot of noise into the mains as well. A case of buyer beware, know what you're looking at and/or stay well away from Ebay.

I also had the same issue and changing onto proper LED drivers solved that issue and they're not that expensive for driving a few lamps IIRC.

HTH

K.

fluffymuffy

We went with the easy option of leaving one halogen in.

fluffpot

Are they on a dimmer switch? If so then you may be under loading the dimmer. You can get replacement modules which will operate under low loads