Imagine the satisfaction of checking and repairing your LED bulb without the need for expensive professional assistance. Not only will you save some big bucks, but you’ll also gain a deeper understanding of how these remarkable lighting devices work.
To check and repair an LED bulb, open the bulb’s outer cover and visually inspect the circuitry for any damage, such as burns or loose connections. Once the problem is identified, replace the faulty diode and test the bulb using a multimeter to measure its electrical continuity.
However, repairing LED bulbs entails a lot more.
In this guide, we’ll share a comprehensive step-by-step approach to how to check and repair LED bulbs in the comfort of your own home. Let’s roll up your sleeves, grab the tools and start tinkering!
Can a LED Bulb Be Repaired?
When an incandescent or fluorescent light bulb starts to malfunction, you throw it away. It seems easier than indulging in these bulbs’ complex mechanisms as an attempt to fix the issue. However, the case is not similar to LEDs.
An LED bulb can be repaired quickly and easily if you’re equipped with the right tools and technical knowledge. LED light bulbs are designed to offer longevity and energy efficiency like no other lighting solution. Their ease of use and repair is another cool – but less highlighted – benefit that you can leverage for your own good.
This easy-to-repair benefit particularly comes in handy when dealing with large LED light fixtures — such as in industrial sectors. You wouldn’t want to throw your eleven-year worth of investment in the trash. Fortunately, you can easily check and repair LED bulbs and bring your light bulbs back to life.
Why Do LED Light Bulbs Stop Working?
On average, the lifespan of a LED light bulb ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 hours. However, your LED bulb may fail to function before this predicted lifetime.
Here are the major defects that can cause your LED light bulbs to stop working, prompting an immediate repair or replacement:
- Lumen Degradation or end of lifespan
- Power surge or voltage spike
- Overheating
- Electrical compatibility issues
- Internal capacitor failure
- Environmental factors
- Incompatible dimmers and switches
- LED driver breakdown
- Adapter problems
All of these problems can cause the lights to stop working.
How Do You Check LED is Working or Not?
Mostly, when one or more diodes in an LED bulb go bad, the whole bulb refuses to work because of limitations in circuitry. You can rule out the possibility of faulty LEDs in the LED array of your light bulb with visual inspection or by using a multimeter.
To check whether your LED is working or not, you need to visually inspect the bulb and check the LED bulb with a multimeter. Open the bulb, remove its dissipator, and analyze its array for signs of burns. If you don’t find any blackening or burn marks, proceed to the next method of LED bulb checkup — using a multimeter.
Get yourself a multimeter. Touch the anode with the red probe of the multimeter and the cathode with the black one. The array will light up, allowing you to pinpoint the diode that doesn’t light up.
How To Repair an LED Bulb at Home?
LED bulb repairing isn’t as complex and tedious as it seems. All you need is some technical know-how, an LED bulb repair kit, and a comprehensive guide.
Lucky for you, we’ve listed all the tools needed and step-by-step instructions to check and repair LED bulbs at home. Let the LED bulb repair mission begin!
Tools and Supplies You Need
- Replacement Diode
- Electrical wire
- Hot Tweezers
- Soldering iron
- Multimeter
Method 1: Fix The Faulty Diode
Step 1: Open The Bulb
To expose the circuit, we have to open the outer cover (diffuser) that spreads the light equally in all regions of the room. We can remove this cover by hitting it a little bit with your hand or a small hammer. Don’t hit too much or hard because this may damage the circuitry.
Step 2: Identify The Faulty Diode
You will see several diodes arranged on the dissipater. Check for black, burning signs to indicate which light is faulty. If there is no sign of burning, check each diode separately to repair the LED bulb.
Step 3: Procure The Electrical Wire
If you don’t want to source a new LED diode, get a small wire to bypass the faulty diode.
Step 4: Connect The Electrical Wire
Now it’s time to complete the circuit by leaving the faulty LED out of it. Connect the two adjacent diodes to complete the circuit using a small wire.
Step 5: Secure The Electrical Wire
You have to twist the wire around each LED to secure it there. Adding this wire will cover the gap created by the faulty LED refusing to pass the current. Ultimately helping all remaining LEDs to light up brightly.
Step 6: Test The Repaired LED Bulb
Lastly, you need to test the bulb to check if it works properly. Test the LED bulb with a battery or multimeter. If all the diodes light up, secure the LED diffuser and pack the bulb to fit into the bulb holder.
Method 2: Replace The Faulty Diode
Step 1: Open The Bulb
When you have prepared your LED bulb repair kit with the right diodes or wire, remove the LED diffuser with a knife. Separate the diffuser from the dissipater or gently hit it with your hand or a hammer.
Step 2: Identify The Faulty Diode
There are several diodes arranged on the LED bulb dissipater. Look for black, burning signs to identify the faulty light. If the LED bulb doesn’t show any sign of burning, check each diode separately to repair the LED bulb.
Step 3: Procure The Replacement LED
Before you check and repair LED lights, Check your bulb’s PCB to determine the size of the tiny LED bulbs used in the array and procure the right diode for replacement. Get more than one if you suspect more diodes are burnt out in your bulb.
Step 4: Replace The Faulty LED Diode
Change the defective LED diode with a new one. Simply use hot tweezers to remove the faulty diode. Replace it with a new diode of the same size. You need a soldering iron to insert the second diode. Solder it for only two seconds at 260°C.
Step 5: Test The Repaired LED Bulb
Finally, it’s time to test the LED bulb to check if it’s working properly and celebrate the success of our DIY. To do so, you need to test an LED bulb with a battery or multimeter. If the bulb lights up completely, secure the LED diffuser in place and carefully fix the LED bulb into the bulb holder.
How To Test LED Lights After Repair?
Although we’ve briefly mentioned how you can test LED lights after repair, it’s a matter that requires some detailed discussion.
You can use one of the three methods to test if your bulb will work after replacing the faulty LED or completing the circuit with a wire.
Method 1: Test LED Bulb With a Multimeter
The first method requires you to check the LED bulb with a multimeter. Start by setting your digital multimeter on a diode testing mode. Then, connect the red probe of your tester with the anode terminal and the black with the cathode terminal.
After completing the circuit by connecting probes to the right terminals, the diode should emit light. If it does so, it indicates that you have successfully repaired your LED light.
Method 2: Test LED Bulb With a Coin Cell Battery
A coin battery is perfect for testing small, individual LED lights. However, they will be almost useless for testing LEDs on an array in an LED bulb.
Still, if you don’t have a multimeter, use a coin cell battery with two wires. You will have to connect one wire to the cathode terminal of the LED on one side and the negative side of the battery on the other.
The other side of the battery will be connected to the anode terminal using the other wire. Instead of wires, you can use a coin battery holder with attached wires to make the task easier. If the LED bulb lits up, it’s working fine.
Method 3: Test LED Bulb With a 9V Battery
We can test an LED with a 9V battery using the same method discussed above.
To complete the circuit, we will need two wires to bridge the gap and connect the negative terminal of the battery to the cathode. Similarly, connect the positive terminal to the anode to check if the diode lights up.
FAQ: How to Check and Repair LED Bulb
How do you know when an LED bulb is going bad?
There are a few signs that indicate an LED bulb may be going bad:
- Dimming: If an LED bulb becomes noticeably dimmer than when it was first installed, it may be reaching the end of its lifespan.
- Flickering: LED bulbs do not flicker when functioning properly. If you notice that LED lights are turning off and on by themselves, it could be a sign of a failing LED bulb.
- Color Shift: A color shift in the light emitted by the LED bulb, such as a change in hue or intensity, and LED lights showing the wrong colors could indicate a problem.
- Complete Failure: If the LED bulb does not respond to any command, such as turning it on and off or changing the LED colors, it is time to repair or replace it with a new one.
Do LED lights have replaceable bulbs?
In most cases, LED lights have non-replaceable bulbs, as LED bulbs are often integrated into the lighting fixture or housing. This integrated design makes it difficult or impossible to replace individually. Instead, the entire fixture or module may need to be replaced if the LED bulb fails.
How do you test if an LED bulb is working?
To test if an LED bulb is working, install the bulb properly socket or fixture and turn on the power to the bulb. Now observe the bulb to see if it lights up. If the LED bulb emits a steady, consistent light, it is likely working correctly.
If the LED bulb does not light up, check the connections, socket, or power source to ensure there are no issues. However, if everything fails, try replacing it with a known working bulb to rule out any problems with the fixture or power supply.
How do you open and repair LED bulbs?
To open and repair LED bulbs, carefully remove any screws or clips holding the bulb’s housing together. Once the housing is opened, inspect the circuitry and connections for any visible damage or loose components. In the case of damaged or burnt-out LEDs or LED components, replace the faulty LED by soldering a new one in its place.
How do you fix a dead LED light?
To fix a dead LED light, you need to make sure that the light is receiving a power supply by checking the circuit breaker or fuse associated with it. If the power supply is intact, examine the LED bulb for faults and replace it with a new one if it is visibly damaged or burnt out.
Additionally, check the wiring connections to ensure they are secure and not loose. If the issue persists, it might be a problem with the LED driver or control circuitry, requiring professional assistance or replacing the entire fixture.
How to repair a LED bulb with a multimeter?
To repair an LED bulb with a multimeter, set the multimeter to the diode mode or continuity test mode. Now connect the multimeter probes to the bulb’s positive and negative terminals. If the multimeter reads a low voltage or continuity, the LED is likely functioning correctly. If there is no voltage or continuity, the LED may be faulty, and you should replace it.
How to repair a LED bulb without a multimeter?
To repair an LED bulb without a multimeter, inspect the bulb visually for any visible damage like a broken wire or loose connection. If you find any damage, repair or reattach the affected parts using appropriate tools and techniques. If there are no visible issues, consider replacing the LED bulb, as it may be internally damaged.
How to repair the LED light strip?
To repair an LED light strip, inspect the light strip for any visible damage, such as broken or disconnected wires or damaged connectors. If you find any damage, repair or reattach the affected parts using appropriate tools and techniques. In case of no visible issues, check the power supply and connections to ensure they are functioning correctly. If the light strip still doesn’t work, consider replacing it with a new one, as it may have internal damage.
Conclusion: Easily and Quickly Fix LED Lights and Bulbs By Yourself!
Unlike incandescent bulbs that should be thrown out as soon as they stop working, you can increase the life of LED lights when they burn out prematurely. Luckily, you don’t need lots of tools and technical knowledge to check and repair LED bulbs at home.
All you need to repair your LED light bulb is to use this post to understand the process of procuring the right diodes and repairing your LED bulb. Follow this guide step-by-step, and you’re good to go!
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