Ever Had A LED Burn Out On You?

space cowboy · **on:** May 22, 2010, 05:09:58 PM

I know it can happen sooner or later, preferably later. I think most are rated from 50,000 to 100,000 hours runtime. So, this ever happen to you?

ryan1835 · **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2010, 07:40:59 PM

5,000 hours is almost 6 years. i haven't had it happen to me

parnass · **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2010, 07:57:24 PM

I returned 3 or 4 fourth generation (the newest version) Inova X5 flashlights because an LED in each one started to blink within a few weeks after purchase. All were bought from the same Target store and I suspect they were built with a defective batch of LEDs. My other 2 fourth generation X5s have been working well so far.

A Peak Matterhorn 3-LED light failed by going super dim, but I think the driver failed rather than the individual LED emitters. Peak replaced the light.

A new Arc AAA-P was delivered from the manufacturer completely dead, but I wasn't able to determine whether the failure was due to the driver or LED emitter. Arc replaced the light.

I buy fauxton coin cell lights in quantity to give away and there's at least one or two lights dead on arrival in each batch.

space cowboy · **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2010, 08:31:15 PM

Glad to hear you got them replaced. Its never happened to me yet but, things happen. I am just trying to figure out if its commen or a once in a Blue Moon type of thing.

ryan1835 · **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2010, 08:35:25 PM

once in a 5.71 years thing

Essexman · **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2010, 10:23:33 PM

Yes. I had a maglite custom built with a SSC P7 LED (a big expensive one). I turned it on, wow it was bright, then everything went kinda blue and it went out.

It turned out it had far too much voltage driving it. I would have taken it back, but I built it myself. Live and learn. I got it right with the secomd LED

ryan1835 · **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2010, 01:34:20 PM

Quote from: Essexman on May 22, 2010, 10:23:33 PM

Yes. I had a maglite custom built with a SSC P7 LED (a big expensive one). I turned it on, wow it was bright, then everything went kinda blue and it went out.

It turned out it had far too much voltage driving it. I would have taken it back, but I built it myself. Live and learn. I got it right with the secomd LED

you got any pics of it ?

Swiss Man · **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2010, 03:29:54 PM

I once knew that guy that starting giving all his stuff away because when he bought this flashlight the
salesman said "The bulb should last you a lifetime." Within a few weeks it started dimming and he started worrying.

Essexman · **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2010, 06:30:20 PM

Quote from: ryan1835 on May 23, 2010, 01:34:20 PM

you got any pics of it ?

there you go, powered up afterwards at work, half dead LED.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2010, 08:30:25 PM

Nope I've not, and neither am I in any rush too

NutSAK · **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2010, 04:36:06 PM

Nope. If they're not overdriven, it's pretty hard to burn one out. Keep in mind that even at the 50,000 hour rating, the LED has only lost a percentage of original output--not completely quit working.