Another LED ceiling light has failed. I'm getting really disillusioned with these things.
This home came with a bunch of weird or generally faulty light fittings, and as they've caused problems I've replaced them with permanent LED fixtures (As in, ones that don't take a replaceable bulb).
And every one has failed after a few years. They all have the same failure mode: they suddenly become extremely dim. There's enough light to indicate that it's turned on, but not enough to see by.
And it seems obvious that this is planned failure, which is as normal as it is annoying. But these aren't replacable light bulbs, they're permanent fixtures that I've had to build into the structure of my home. It's a big annoying messy job to rip them out and replace them, and if I can't find a new fitting in the same size then I've got to learn a new skill like plastering or something just to get it done.
This will never be fixed, unless somebody's got an in with legislators to implement and enforce some sort of regulations.
Can we repair these things? Assuming that the problem is the LED driver circuits, and I think I'm right about that, it should be simple enough to just replace the driver module. But when I've tried to buy them through the usual bulk online retailers (or lighting shops), they tend to be significantly more expensive than an entire new luminaire.
So! Maybe we can just make them? Anybody have some open source circuit diagrams for LED drivers, with different output levels? My kitchen light was a big one, supplying 40W, but most would be a lot less beefy than that.
Bonus points if I can build it on stripboard instead of having to make a PCB - I haven't done that since high school, and I don't want to wait weeks or months to have one manufactured and shipped, and I don't want to drive to another city to ask favours from my nearest makerspace.
#DIY #electronics #RightToRepair
Allen but one of the bad ones, woooo
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2025-01-10 08:46:10 UTC
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2025-01-10 08:46:10 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "Another LED ceiling light has failed. I'm getting really disillusioned with these things.\n\nThis home came with a bunch of weird or generally faulty light fittings, and as they've caused problems I've replaced them with permanent LED fixtures (As in, ones that don't take a replaceable bulb).\n\nAnd every one has failed after a few years. They all have the same failure mode: they suddenly become extremely dim. There's enough light to indicate that it's turned on, but not enough to see by.\n\nAnd it seems obvious that this is planned failure, which is as normal as it is annoying. But these aren't replacable light bulbs, they're permanent fixtures that I've had to build into the structure of my home. It's a big annoying messy job to rip them out and replace them, and if I can't find a new fitting in the same size then I've got to learn a new skill like plastering or something just to get it done.\n\nThis will never be fixed, unless somebody's got an in with legislators to implement and enforce some sort of regulations.\n\nCan we repair these things? Assuming that the problem is the LED driver circuits, and I think I'm right about that, it should be simple enough to just replace the driver module. But when I've tried to buy them through the usual bulk online retailers (or lighting shops), they tend to be significantly more expensive than an entire new luminaire.\n\nSo! Maybe we can just make them? Anybody have some open source circuit diagrams for LED drivers, with different output levels? My kitchen light was a big one, supplying 40W, but most would be a lot less beefy than that.\n\nBonus points if I can build it on stripboard instead of having to make a PCB - I haven't done that since high school, and I don't want to wait weeks or months to have one manufactured and shipped, and I don't want to drive to another city to ask favours from my nearest makerspace. \n\n#DIY #electronics #RightToRepair",
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