LED strip fading & flickering in kitchen

[FactionRaptor]

Has anybody had this issue whereby the LED strips in the kitchen area seem to flicker or single LEDs simply not illuminating. This entire LED strip worked perfectly when installed a few weeks ago and now I’d guess that 50% of them are now intermittent/flickering or not working.

What’s the solution? New strip? Power issue? Need a driver or booster?

 

[Deaky]

5v strip on a 12v supply? Have a look on the tape the voltage will be printed on it

 

[FactionRaptor]

Thanks @Deaky I’ll have a look. If it were to be a 5v strip, presumably l’d need a 12v to 5v regulator as below?

12V To 5V 3A 15W DC/DC Converter Regulator Waterproof CPT Buck Converter Module | eBay

12V To 5V 3A 15W DC/DC Converter Regulator Waterproof CPT Car Power Converter Output Power Adapter Wire Interface. Compatible with over 95% of mainstream electronic products. Output power: 15W. Output current: 3A.

www.ebay.co.uk

Would this solve the flickering and the non-illuminating LEDs or would these be permanently damaged?

 

[Deaky]

They’ll be knackered. You’ll need a new strip

 

[Pauly]

Id agree
Its either 5v tape with 12v being shoved into it thats killed it
or
its cheap nasty tape thats just failing prematurely

Depending on your electrical setup its possible you are pushing a slight overvoltage (14v ish) from your leisure battery into 12v tape and its outside the tolerances of the tape ?

 

[FactionRaptor]

Ok thanks @Pauly

What should be the perfect setup? Use a 12v to 5v regulator or something else?

 

[Pauly]

In my opinion a decent quality 12v tape is all that’s required

 

[FactionRaptor]

Hi @Pauly I replaced the faulty led strips with new ones from Amazon, but they’re doing the same thing, fading out gradually from minimal usage. Can you recommend some decent 12v LED strip, these are the ones I put in

https://amzn.eu/d/gIGW1fE

 

[yoshimi]

Unfortuately I can't help but have the same problem.

I was just wondering how you managed to get the old strip out?

Mine looks very similar and seems to be rebated into the furniture itself - tried prising it out but no luck - I'm wondering if the plastic should needs sliding out in which case it looks a right pain involving talking the units apart (the ends of mine sit flush between 2 end furniture panels)

 

[FactionRaptor]

Ok mine is accessible on one side, so I took the old strip out by firstly disconnecting the wires running under the worktop, prising out the metal c channel that it sits in, it pops out of the underside of the worktop and then sliding out the clear plastic cover to one side. If this isn’t an option, the plastic cover will pull out if you twist and manipulate it as it’s just a c profile.

After a lot of research I determined that the voltage fluctuation from 12-14v when plugged in to 240v burnt out the LEDs so I added a voltage regulator for into the LED circuit & not had any issues since

12V LED Strip Voltage Regulator - Aten Lighting

Our 12V LED Flexible Strip Voltage Regulator unit, allowing any of our 12V LED Flexible strip to be operated from a 12-30V input voltage (up to a maximum of 4A output which is equivalent to 10m of our 4.8W/m LED strip or 6.5m of our 7.2W/m LED strip or 5m of our 9.6W/m LED strip) . Many leisure...

www.atenlighting.co.uk

I also replaced the LED with COB lighting and it looks much better

 

[Mick]

Hi @Pauly I replaced the faulty led strips with new ones from Amazon, but they’re doing the same thing, fading out gradually from minimal usage. Can you recommend some decent 12v LED strip, these are the ones I put in

https://amzn.eu/d/gIGW1fE

Fading out gradually? How many watts or amps is it pulling. Try an experiment. Light it up. If it works and starts to fade gradually disconnect and try and feel for any heat where it is connected. If you reconnect after say 15 minutes, it comes on fine and then fades I'd say you have a dodgy connection somewhere maybe heating up the connector.

Had very similar last year and it was a dry joint in the connection plug off the lights but you've tried 2 so it may be in your connection wiring somewhere.

 

[yoshimi]

Ok mine is accessible on one side, so I took the old strip out by firstly disconnecting the wires running under the worktop, prising out the metal c channel that it sits in, it pops out of the underside of the worktop and then sliding out the clear plastic cover to one side. If this isn’t an option, the plastic cover will pull out if you twist and manipulate it as it’s just a c profile.

After a lot of research I determined that the voltage fluctuation from 12-14v when plugged in to 240v burnt out the LEDs so I added a voltage regulator for into the LED circuit & not had any issues since

12V LED Strip Voltage Regulator - Aten Lighting

Our 12V LED Flexible Strip Voltage Regulator unit, allowing any of our 12V LED Flexible strip to be operated from a 12-30V input voltage (up to a maximum of 4A output which is equivalent to 10m of our 4.8W/m LED strip or 6.5m of our 7.2W/m LED strip or 5m of our 9.6W/m LED strip) . Many leisure...

www.atenlighting.co.uk

I also replaced the LED with COB lighting and it looks much better

View attachment 264176

Very helpfull thankyou! Did the metal channel prise out easy enough from the rebated channel then?

 

[FactionRaptor]

Fairly easy but yes it did require some persuasion with a flat head

 

[yoshimi]

Fairly easy but yes it did require some persuasion with a flat head

Hi FactionRaptor - me again

I managed to prise the diffuser fro the channel and now have access to replace the LED strip - its actually a 12v so assuming I'm having that issue of fluctuating voltage thats blowing the individual LEDs.

I'm planning on replacing the strips with COB ones as you suggest and also fitting a voltage regulator as you've linked - I do have a couple more questions for you though

1. I have 2 seperate LED strips and a bank of 6nr LED downlighters all connected (crudely) to 2 wires (green and black) that come from the CBE fuse box. Would I need 2nr of those regulators i.e. one for each LED strip - or would both strips be fine connected to 1nr regulator?
2. If I wanted the strips to be dimmable via a switch, would the switch go between the regulator and strip or between the CBE fuse box and regulator?
3. Did you just go for a single colour strip or a multi one (warm & cool) - if so how do you switch between?
4. Did you buy your COB strips from the same place as the regulator?

I know I can ring that company and ask but as you also have 2nr strips and no doubt been through these questions yourself I thought Id ask.

Many thanks

 

[FactionRaptor]

Hi FactionRaptor - me again

I managed to prise the diffuser fro the channel and now have access to replace the LED strip - its actually a 12v so assuming I'm having that issue of fluctuating voltage thats blowing the individual LEDs.

I'm planning on replacing the strips with COB ones as you suggest and also fitting a voltage regulator as you've linked - I do have a couple more questions for you though

1. I have 2 seperate LED strips and a bank of 6nr LED downlighters all connected (crudely) to 2 wires (green and black) that come from the CBE fuse box. Would I need 2nr of those regulators i.e. one for each LED strip - or would both strips be fine connected to 1nr regulator?
2. If I wanted the strips to be dimmable via a switch, would the switch go between the regulator and strip or between the CBE fuse box and regulator?
3. Did you just go for a single colour strip or a multi one (warm & cool) - if so how do you switch between?
4. Did you buy your COB strips from the same place as the regulator?

I know I can ring that company and ask but as you also have 2nr strips and no doubt been through these questions yourself I thought Id ask.

Many thanks

Yes I think the fluctuation is the issue with LEDs blowing, I've not had any problems since fitting the regulator. I'll try my best to help re:your questions.

1.So for my setup I only used x1 regulator specifically on the kitchen strip circuit, not to any other lighting circuits as these were unaffected.
2.The dimmer switch- i wouldnt be able to comment really on this as I dont know your wiring setup - sorry
3.Yes my COB strip is just single colour
4. I bought my COB from ebay - link here Pardon our interruption...

I hope that helps