DIY LED lamp repair

In detail: DIY repair LED lamps from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

A decade ago, such a rapid growth in the popularity of LED lighting for apartments and private houses was not expected. Today you will not meet a person who would not use these economical and bright lamps. The only problem remains in the cost of lighting fixtures - such fixtures cannot be called cheap. What if the lamp is out of order? Buy a new one? Not necessary. You can try to repair the lighting fixture. It is precisely the "device", because it is a complex technical device, in contrast to the "Ilyich's lamp". Today we will figure out how to repair LED lamps with our own hands and how difficult it is.

LEDs are the most economical type of lighting - it's hard to argue with that. Such elements are used both in everyday life and in production. Street lighting is gradually moving towards similar energy savings. Light diodes, in addition to efficiency, have another indisputable advantage over other types of lighting devices - they have no competitors in terms of durability. But they cannot work directly from a network with an alternating current of 220 V. This requires a special device called a driver.

The circuit of a 220 V LED lamp includes a device that is compact enough and fits in the base. There is nothing more complicated in the lighting device, however, the driver, performing work to stabilize the voltage, often fails. Burnt-out LEDs are not difficult to replace, it is enough to own a soldering iron at the "just learned" level. But today we will figure out how to repair drivers.

Video (click to play).

The general principle of operation of LED lamps is as follows. The alternating current of the network enters an electronic device - a driver that stabilizes voltage drops. Direct current is directed to LEDs, which emit the light we see.

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If we simplify such a system, we get a 220 V LED lamp driver circuit, which includes two damping resistors that stabilize the voltage. LEDs are connected in different directions, which protects against reverse voltage. The flicker frequency doubles - from 50 to 100 Hz.

Power in such a circuit is fed through a limiting capacitor to a rectifier (diode bridge), and only then to the elements. We simplify the system. We change one light diode to a rectifier. The lamp works, but the frequency of the current, instead of increasing, decreases by 2 times and becomes equal to 25 Hz, which leads to a sensitive flickering of the lighting fixture. It is harmful to vision, impairs health, increases fatigue and causes headaches.

However, there are LED lamps at a completely different cost. For example, GENILED SDL-KS 80W 07077, power 80 W and color temperature 4700K. Its cost can be surprising. It is equal to 10,200 rubles.

Often the reason for the failure of an LED lamp is improper operation or sudden voltage drops in the network. Let's take a look at the most common ones:

  • A sharp power surge. LEDs in such a situation will remain intact, but the driver may fail;
  • Wrong choice of luminaire. If normal ventilation is not provided, the driver overheats, which negatively affects its operation;
  • Factory defect or falsification of products. If you come across a too cheap lamp of this type on the counter, you should think about how the low price was achieved;
  • Vibration and shock. They are not terrible for LEDs, but for the driver they can be fatal.

Most often, the capacitor fails (the lamp will stop burning), and the current-limiting resistor (sensitive flickering, up to blinking). In order not to buy new equipment, you need to understand how to repair an LED lamp with your own hands.

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Colored LEDs create a unique ambience in the room

The driver, which causes failure in 80% of cases, is not necessarily built into the light bulb. The light source can only consist of LEDs, and the stabilizing device will be built into the lamp or chandelier. However, the remaining 20% ​​should not be discounted. It is necessary to check all the details before proceeding with the repair of the ice lamps.

In the case of a separate driver, everything is simpler. We change the lamp, and if it glows, then the problem is in it, if not, the stabilizer is to blame. The situation with the built-in driver is more complicated.

Now the promised secret. To repair LED lamps with an ordinary soldering iron, you need a piece of copper single-core wire, with a cross section of 4 mm², 10 ÷ 15 cm long. "Scapula". The temperature will also depend on the length. Convenient if the multimeter has a thermometer function. For LED SMD components, which are used in LED lamps, a temperature of 240 ÷ 260 ° C is required.

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You can put a jumper here - quickly, but not for long

Some devices are not easy to disassemble. When you try to rotate the top, nothing comes out? Then a solvent comes in handy. We put it into a syringe and carefully pass through the needle along the seam. We leave for 5 minutes, after which we repeat the operation. Usually 2 ÷ 3 procedures are enough. Gently swing the upper part by turning left and right. After removing the cover, we clean off the old sealant and degrease the surfaces. If you plan to use the lamp in a dry environment, you do not need to apply new sealant.

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It is not difficult to disassemble the LED lamp, the main thing is that the benefits are

Having figured out how to fix a 220V LED lamp, it makes sense to deal with more complex devices, such as spotlights or chandeliers. Although there is not much difference in the work. Experts say that repairing LED floodlights is even easier, because the drivers and their parts are larger. We subscribe to this opinion. It only seems that such devices are more high-tech and more complex. In fact, having diagrams at hand (they are always contained in the technical documentation of a lighting device), for example, repairing an LED chandelier is quite simple. The same continuity of LEDs, driver details. After - the selection of suitable ones to replace the burned ones.

Important information! If the LED burns out and there is no suitable replacement at hand, you can slightly extend the life of the lighting device. The contacts of the burned-out element are bridged among themselves, and the lamp lights up again. But you should be prepared for the fact that after a short time it will go out again. The LED next to the bridged one will light up. If you continue to install the jumpers, the time between repairs will decrease exponentially.

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Several LED lamps will transform the interior beyond recognition, but for the better.

If all the LED lighting in the bathroom goes out at the same time, you should start small. Remove the switch cover and check the voltage supply. If everything is in order, then the problem is in the power supply.

A bathroom is a room with high humidity, in which the use of 220 volt lighting fixtures is unacceptable. For this reason, a 12 volt power supply is installed.The reason that all the lighting stopped burning at once may be the failure of this device or a breakdown of the wiring, which is hardly realistic. You will have to buy such a block. Having dismantled the old block, we look at the technical parameters, purchase a stabilizer with similar characteristics and install it in place.

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When working with electrical wiring, you need to be extremely careful. Defeat is dangerous

Important! All work on dismantling and installation of the stabilizing power supply is carried out only with the voltage removed. It is better to turn off the introductory machine. This is the only way to protect yourself from electric shock.

This is a common problem. It happens that people refuse to replace ordinary lighting in an apartment with LED due to the fact that when the light is off, the LEDs blink, in the manner of a stroboscope. There is only one reason for this - the backlight of the switch.

If the indicator is on, it is passing a certain amount of electricity through it, which does not have any effect on conventional lamps. But in the driver of LED lighting devices there is a capacitor that has the ability to store electricity and then give it out. He then collects this energy "bit by bit", and upon reaching a certain volume gives it in the form of a pulse to the LEDs.

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This indicator causes the LEDs to blink.

The problem can be solved very simply - turn off the backlight on the switch. However, blinking due to the indication on the key is a consequence. And what's the reason? There are also no difficulties here. The reason is the incorrect connection of the chandelier holders. It is known that when incandescent lamps are installed, zero goes to the thread of the base, and the phase goes to the center. The LEDs start blinking if this order is violated and the wiring is done incorrectly.

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Filament lamps are new to the market. They cannot be repaired.

LED lighting continues to grow in popularity. But even with a decrease in prices for lighting devices based on them, they remain expensive. And why overpay if you can repair a light bulb or lamp with your own hands. You don't even need to purchase parts for this. You just don’t need to throw out those that are out of order. Then from two or three it will be possible to collect one worker.

We hope the information presented in our article will help the reader to save money on the purchase of lighting equipment. If you have any questions, you can ask them in the discussion below. And finally, we suggest watching a useful video on the topic:

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Dmitry Melekhin 11.01.2018, 09:28 2.8k Views 0 Opinions

Light sources of this category are in great demand on the modern market. They consume a small amount of energy, are durable and resistant to various external influences. However, any technical device can fail during operation. A factory defect, which may appear after the end of the official warranty period, cannot be ruled out. Do-it-yourself qualified repair of LED lamps will help to fix the problem at no extra cost. This article provides technologies for restoring device operability at home with step-by-step instructions and explanations.

It should be noted right away that lamps with such LEDs (filament) cannot be repaired. In them, the flask is filled with an inert gas, and the manufacturers keep the exact composition secret. High-quality reproduction of industrial technology at home is impossible.

They are all made from standard, inexpensive LEDs that can be purchased easily. Typical tools are suitable for checking and performing work operations. The simplest special devices for dismantling and subsequent assembly can be made by hand.

It makes no sense to study physical processes in detail. Suffice it to say that in this case the light source is a specialized semiconductor device.It emits light when applied to a constant voltage of several volts at a relatively low current strength. This means that rectification and limitation of the corresponding electrical parameters will be required. The presence of a p-n junction indicates the possibility of clarifying the operability using a typical test of a conventional diode.

A driver is an electronic circuit that rectifies the voltage, limits the current to its nominal value. The required number of LEDs is installed on a substrate with a heat sink for heat dissipation. The diffuser eliminates irregularities in the luminous flux and excessive brightness of individual emitting elements.

In this simplest 220V LED lamp driver circuitry, capacitor C1 together with resistor R1 reduce the voltage to the desired value. It is determined by the number of LEDs connected in series. On each of them, the voltage drop is about 3 V (the exact value is indicated in the technical data sheet of the device). After the diode bridge, the remaining ripple is smoothed out by the capacitor C2. Resistors R3, R4 limit the inrush current when connected to the power supply. When the lamp turns off, the parallel capacitor is quickly discharged through R2.

In the circuit under consideration, the simplest electronic components are used that rarely fail. According to statistics, the most often damaged electrolytic smoothing capacitor. Problems arise if parts are used "sparingly" without a voltage margin.

Insufficient quality soldered joints are also encountered. They are destroyed after several on / off cycles as a result of thermal expansion / contraction. Repair of LED lamps may be needed more often if they are installed in a room with high humidity. In lamps of this type, there are no contact groups that are damaged by the formation of a film of oxides. Therefore, here, too, the cause of breakdown will be defective soldering.

Sometimes heat dissipation is poorly organized. Under such conditions, LEDs are unable to perform their functions for a long time. It is unacceptable if a plastic fake is installed instead of a metal radiator. It makes sense to repair such products only with a complete replacement of unusable parts of the structure. In case of incompetent assembly, they "save" thermal paste or do not use it at all. In this case, even a high-quality aluminum radiator will not perform its functions with maximum efficiency.

To eliminate doubts, check 220 V directly in the cartridge. To do this, use a multimeter, a phase probe (a screwdriver with a built-in phase indicator), or screw in another workable lamp.

Before proceeding with the repair of a 220 or 12 volt light bulb, you need to familiarize yourself with its device. As mentioned above, the design is extremely simple. The lamp can be conditionally divided into three parts: a body with a base and a light filter, a power supply board for LEDs, and an LED module.

Having carefully disassembled the case, the insides of the electronic circuit will open in front of you. Most of the Chinese manufacturers of inexpensive devices such as corn and similar LED light emitters install transformerless capacitor current sources. In these circuits, the capacitor acts as a current and voltage limiter.

For the information of the reader, we will say that the operating voltage of one LED is 3.3 Volts, and the current of the semiconductor crystal is about 20-50 μA, depending on the type of diode. If these parameters are overestimated, the diode will overheat and the crystal will break through and fail.

How LED bulbs work. Sequentially in a chain of 50-60 LEDs are soldered together, together forming a light-emitting element for a voltage of 180 volts. A power capacitor with a resistor limits the current and voltage to the required level.

Often, manufacturers of such devices are deliberately deceiving, and this is what: if you increase the current through the crystal above the operating rating, but within reasonable limits, then the radiation from the diode will increase. In this regard, the heat generation will also become higher, with which you can fight for a short time. This trick favorably distinguishes them from competitors, due to the higher brightness with the same declared power. However, it results in a drop in light emission or destruction over time and bitter disappointment for the user.

So, having an idea of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe electronic circuitry of our LED lamp that does not work, we will consider how to repair it at home.

First of all, we make a visual inspection of the microcircuit and the diodes themselves. In 80% of cases, a burned-out LED is a breakdown. To carry out repairs, you first need to find a diode that visually differs from the rest, for example, by the presence of a pronounced black point, as shown in the photo below, and then replace it with a new one.

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Video tutorial on repairing an LED light bulb in which an LED burned out:

The current limiting resistor may also burn out. Working capacitors rarely fail, breaking down the remaining elements of the LED device.

Once you are studying this page, we hope that you have a soldering iron and a basic understanding of electronics. Now about the troubleshooting technique. The diode can be checked both with a multimeter and with a crown with a 1 kOhm limiting resistor. By alternately placing the wiring on the leads of the LED, the serviceable one will shine. A multimeter in the dial position will also make the LED light up, subject to polarity.

If no problem is identified with the light emitter, we check the limiting resistor with a tester, in most circuits its nominal value is about 100-200 ohms. We recommend watching more complex repairs in the video: