Due to their lower energy usage and longer lifespan, LED lights are increasingly taking over the market. However, users have safety worries about LED lights.
One of the biggest concerns is whether this kind of lighting can cause fires.
LED lights do not generate enough heat to start a fire. They are intended to use almost all of their power sources purely for light output.
LED lights are safer than incandescent lights since overheating is one of the major reasons for a bulb catching fire.
Many people also ask if it is safe to leave their LED lights on at all times. There are various elements to consider when deciding how long to leave your LEDs on, and you may take steps to prevent a fire.
Will Leaving The Lights On Cause A Fire?
Leaving LED lights on does not pose a fire risk. However, you should be aware that festive and ornamental lighting is the leading cause of many house fires.
When Christmas trees become fire hazards, it is typically due to the composition of the tree itself, the decorations on the tree, and the highly flammable wrapping material, all posing a risk.
Therefore, it is dangerous to keep your lights on for lengthy periods of time if you are using them as Christmas decorations.
Utilize timers and other similar devices to switch the lights on and off at the proper time. This will also help you save money on utility costs.
You may question if LED lights are safer than other types of light bulbs when left on for extended periods.
Since LED lights are cooler than incandescent lights, the likelihood of contact fires is reduced.
However, it may occur if installation problems were performed. But if everything was installed correctly, you shouldn't worry about the lights starting a fire.
How Long Can I Leave LEDs On For?
As long as your LED bulb is placed properly, has the required wattage, and there are no obstructions hindering its heat dissipation, you may always leave it on if you really want to.
You should be aware that repeatedly turning LED lights on and off causes degradation. LED illumination degrades at high temperatures.
If you take care to adequately control heat, your LED bulb will not constitute a fire hazard.
However, as previously indicated, you should use timers or sensors to control your lighting. It will enable automated light control and prolong the life of your LED lights.
Motion sensors are preferable to leaving the outside lights on. Using sensors also decreases utility expenses.
If you want to save money on your electricity bill, you should not leave the lights on for longer than 12 hours.
What Causes An LED Light Failure?
LED light bulbs should theoretically last up to 100,000 hours (around 11 years).
However, similar to standard light bulbs (such as CFL and incandescent), several conditions can cause premature deterioration.
These issues may include material degradation and packaging damage caused by thermal, electrical, mechanical, or chemical stress.
When an LED dies, the light often dims over time or goes out totally. Your LED lights might potentially fail abruptly due to structural or electrical damage. This typically results in them breaking.
The fundamental component of an LED light bulb is the LED chip, a semiconductor responsible for light production.
This device has two semiconductors, the P-type and the N-type, which are separated by a thin transition layer.
To determine the precise cause of your LED's failure, you can place it under an electron microscope.
Electrical and thermal stress are the two primary reasons for LED failure, according to several research investigations.
When failure happens due to thermal stress, it is typically because of cyclical heat in the LED. The interior temperature rise surpasses the maximum rating.
There are two primary reasons for electrical failure in LEDs. They include:
Electrical Overstress (EOS)
This damage occurs when a current or voltage level exceeds the rating for more than 100 to 1000 nanoseconds when the LED light is on.
Electrical overstress damage can happen from lightning strikes, voltage fluctuations, or power or ground connection failures.
EOS may ruin the wiring in the LED package or the entire LED chip. This can be a really major problem while manufacturing the lights.
Electrostatic Discharge Breakdown (ESD)
Between the P-type and N-type semiconductors of the lights, there’s a transition layer. This transition layer is called the PN junction.
During electrostatic discharge breakdown, the connection may fail when there is an excess flow of current, which raises the local temperature.
The heat created can destroy the connection, resulting in a short circuit or a leak.
LED packaging is utilized as the electrical link between the external circuit and the LED chip. It helps safeguard the LED chip from electrostatic discharge breakdown.
Typically, the lights are packed with additional materials such as a phosphor coating and epoxy lens silicone glue.
These materials degrade slowly and can lead to the breakdown of your LED package. For instance, interface delamination between the LED chip's layers may cause open circuit or heat dispersion concerns.
LED light bulbs may ultimately fail, but they are dependable replacements for incandescent and halogen lights. And their dependability is expected to increase with time.
Summary
LED lights are safer alternatives to conventional lighting equipment such as incandescent bulbs.
However, precautions must be taken during installation, since mistakes may lead to overheating.
Although LEDs may be left on indefinitely, timers and sensors are recommended for safety reasons, and to keep your electricity bills down.
While it is true that LEDs use much less energy than the standard lightbulb would, leaving anything on for too long will cause your bills to rise, so like all lights, they should only be kept on when you need them.
It is also vital to remember that while LEDs themselves do not pose a fire risk when used as Christmas decorations (when wrapped around a tree for example) the risk of a fire grows.
This is because Christmas trees, whether real or fake, are typically made of highly flammable material, and the added decorations on top only increase this risk.
This is another reason why timers should be utilized when using LED lights.
