Seeking advice on faulty LED downlights.

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eracode

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#319260 7-Apr-2025 09:14

We have numerous 100mm LED downlights in our 10yo house. A few of them flash off for a split second every now and then, totally at random but at an average of about one off-flash every few minutes..

Some of them are on a multi-light circuit and only one flashes - so the cause can't be the switch. I thought maybe there's a loose connection in the wiring around the driver or the light. Have checked and that's not the cause. Now I think the fault probably lies with the driver - or less likely the light fitting itself.

I’m thinking of simply replacing the affected units with these Arlec all-in-one units from Bunnings - they will just slot right in.

Before I do that I would be grateful for comments and advice on this. FWIW I think the driver/light sets were fairly cheap units when installed.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

wellygary

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#3361522 7-Apr-2025 09:32

FWIW I think the driver/light sets were fairly cheap units when installed.

I Think you have just answered your own question....

possibly they are overheating and slowing cooking themselves to death... when you do replace them, check if they are covered in insulation, or if you need to look at getting some covers for the top of the LED under the insulation

mentalinc

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#3361546 7-Apr-2025 10:06

I had same issue with similar add.

Replaced the transformers with these: Transformer 12V AC/DC 105W – Halcyon

And issue went away (not after throwing away a few LEDs with were probably perfectly fine).

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eracode

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#3361820 8-Apr-2025 06:22

mentalinc:

I had same issue with similar add.

Replaced the transformers with these: Transformer 12V AC/DC 105W – Halcyon

And issue went away (not after throwing away a few LEDs with were probably perfectly fine).

Thanks to all for the answers. Bought and installed one of the $16 Arlec 'all-in-one' units as a test - perfect solution - matches the other existing, old LED in that circuit for size, appearance and colour temp. Fortunately the 92mm cut-out diameter was the same for both.

Now I have the same issue about what to do with the old LED given that it's probably perfectly fine - assuming it was the driver at fault. I'm going to end up with at least four of these when I replace the rest of the faulty ones.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

timmmay

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#3361823 8-Apr-2025 07:04

You could try replacing one driver first. I had downlights that started flashing that a power supply change fixed. I also had a couple that the whole unit had to be swapped out. If the $16 ones are fine that's probably cheaper than a new driver, so just do that.

eracode

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#3361824 8-Apr-2025 07:07

timmmay:

You could try replacing one driver first. I had downlights that started flashing that a power supply change fixed. I also had a couple that the whole unit had to be swapped out. If the $16 ones are fine that's probably cheaper than a new driver, so just do that.

At $16 it's a no-brainer - and not just on cost alone. It's a simpler and more 'elegant' solution.

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timmmay

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#3361825 8-Apr-2025 07:31

True. The driver or other parts of the LED do fail, so if you can replace the whole lot that is better than just replacing the power supply.

In my case it is difficult to source the size of LED I needed so it was worth replacing drivers.