Why Some Brand New LED Lighting Systems Are Often Dead On Arrival

The widespread failure of massive LED lighting systems is becoming increasingly costly and worrisome. I responded to a group post last week about the crippling effect poor power quality is having on very expensive LED installs. It’s not only killing the lights themselves, it’s zapping the warranty and costing multiple thousands or hundreds of thousands to replace and reinstall.

Here’s the problem: LEDs require a constant, stable voltage to function correctly, however, the ‘modernizing’ electricity grid falls short of delivering this reliably. Variations in voltage levels, frequent surges, and harmonic distortions are common in many industrial areas, particularly where grid infrastructure may be older or under significant load. Making matters worse is the unrelenting push to add more and more solar and wind to the grid, causing millions of micro-blips that sour the electrical supply, fouling up very expensive, modern and ironically, efficient LED installations. It may be environmentally friendly, but it’s not helpful for some large manufacturers and high-tech LED installs.

The sensitivity of LED lighting is compounded in massive industrial settings, where the scale of operations can amplify the impact of such disturbances as harmonic distortions, and electrical pollution caused by non-linear loads.  Not only can the lights flicker, they can see dramatically reduced lifespans.

There is a simple solution for LED providers and installers to pre-empt theses recurring failures; conduct a Power Quality Audit before the project begins. If done properly, a PQA will identify issues that can impact the lights themselves…and the warranty.

Other advanced power management solutions can help as well:

* installing power conditioners to stabilize voltage levels
* using surge protection devices to guard against voltage spikes
* implementing active harmonic filters to reduce distortion
* designing LED lighting systems that are more resilient against power quality issues

The most obvious solution is for our leaders to improve the quality of the power in the grid, but unfortunately, we are heading in the opposite direction.

Seeking experienced and professional power quality advisors will not only provide you with a tangible ROI, but also reliability in the face of degrading power quality, especially with LED lighting.

Ready to illuminate your LED installations with reliability and efficiency? Contact Encompass Power Solutions today for expert power quality solutions that safeguard your lighting investments.