Are LED Light Bulbs a Fire Risk

[sailorman]

I have an interesting thing going on.

Google " led light glow when switched off " and you will find many articles dealing with the dull glow .

 

[k0ua]

I have an interesting thing going on. I replaced 4 small 45w flood lights -- 2 over fireplace and 2 over kitchen sink -- with LE brand BR20 8w recessed flood LED's 45w equivalent. When I get up in the morning and it's still dark those 4 lights have what appears a dull glow. None of the 65wLED's that Ive changed out do this. Odd phenomenon, almost like they are retaining some power. One of these days I'll have to get the ladder and unscrew one to see if that makes a difference. I really don't know what to make of it. Anyone else have this happen to them??

Item specifics

Type: LED Bulb
Certification: ISO90012008, ROHS Brand:
Lighting Ever
Color Temperature: 2700K Base Type: E26 (U.S. Standard)
Input Voltage (v): 120 AC Wattage: 8W
Bulb Shape: BR20 MPN:
Incandescent Equivalent(W): 45 LED Quantity: 20
Brightness: 450LM Material: Plastic

My first thought is that you have a wiring issue in the house.. Maybe something like the Nuetral line is being switched by the switch not the Hot.

 

[Texas Dawg]

The packaging on the LEDs says not to use in a closed application. Is this due to a risk or early failure of the bulb?

 

[jk96]

The packaging on the LEDs says not to use in a closed application. Is this due to a risk or early failure of the bulb?

I believe you are correct. Heat is not friendly to the led's. Eclosed applications increase the heat of the bulb leading to early failure.

 

[newbury]

I have an interesting thing going on. I replaced 4 small 45w flood lights -- 2 over fireplace and 2 over kitchen sink -- with LE brand BR20 8w recessed flood LED's 45w equivalent. When I get up in the morning and it's still dark those 4 lights have what appears a dull glow. None of the 65wLED's that Ive changed out do this. Odd phenomenon, almost like they are retaining some power. One of these days I'll have to get the ladder and unscrew one to see if that makes a difference. I really don't know what to make of it. Anyone else have this happen to them??
<snip>

Most likely a "leaky" switch.
LED's glow when off

 

[JRobyn]

If there is a fire hazard, it would be most likely to be NOT from heat from the LED itself, but from a short occurring in the power supply. I have heard of this happening with near catastrophic results in CFLs, but not (so far) with any LEDs.

- Jay

 

[k0ua]

My first thought is that you have a wiring issue in the house.. Maybe something like the Nuetral line is being switched by the switch not the Hot.

Most likely a "leaky" switch.
LED's glow when off

One way to find out. Measure what the switch is switching with your AC voltmeter to ground. If it is switching a hot, then you will measure line voltage to ground. If it is switching a neutral than you will not measure much if any voltage to ground. So start there, if the switch has a leakage path thru it, then replace the switch. But I would still bet that the LED has a constant hot lead on one side and a switched neutral at the switch and the small current flow is cause by capacitive coupling in the house wiring. That is what I would bet if I was a betting man.

 

[Retiredguy2]

A very informative thread and my appreciation to the OP for starting it and those who have contributed. We have no LED bulbs here and only one CFL bulb but I want to learn more about LED's...thanks to all.

 

[k0ua]

A very informative thread and my appreciation to the OP for starting it and those who have contributed. We have no LED bulbs here and only one CFL bulb but I want to learn more about LED's...thanks to all.

The good news is you skipped the CFL era. You didn't miss a thing. LED is far superior in my opinion.

 

[Toyboy]

Google " led light glow when switched off " and you will find many articles dealing with the dull glow .

Well I read quite a bit on that and found it very interesting. The one thing that jumps out at me is, if you have several lines running together even though they power lights in another room, you can get (lets call it bleed over) from those lines into the line that controls the LED's. causing the dim glow. Not the on/off switch. The odds of both of them being bad in different rooms with those lights has to be zero to none. That is all they control.

Now seeing that the contractors SIL is a electrician, and wired this house, we have lights & switches all over the frikin place. Some I still don't know what the he-- they control!. It's also double set up for cable (2 cable co.'s) and satellite dish. Speaker wire for 2 zone surround sound AND for speakers in every room & outside.
The electrician is well regarded, but this place must look like a spider web if you take down to it's bones. Our home is 13yr old.