It’s going to happen at some point.
Even if you buy the best quality LED grow lights available, eventually a component will fail.
One of the most common issues are diodes that no longer light up.
Often this happens across part of the fixture.
Many growers have found themselves in an LED grow light half stopped working situation.
When that happens, you will need to dust off your troubleshooting skills.
This issue ca have several possible causes and you need to figure out what is wrong with your light. That is exactly what we are going to help you with here.
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LED Grow Light Half Stopped Working
There are a number of possible reasons half of the diodes on an LED grow light fixture to stop working. The most common are issues with the the power source, a faulty circuit design, loose connections, or even water damage.
The good news is that in most cases, with a little detective work, you should be able to find a solution to the issue and get your plants bathed in full-power light again in no time.
LED Grow Light Troubleshooting
We are going to go through the possible causes of half an LED grow light fixture not working. This should help you identify what is malfunctioning on your fixture.
If you are experiencing problems with your LED grow lights, it is important to troubleshoot the problem promptly to determine the cause. Once you have identified the cause of the problem, you can take steps to fix it, and get your plants back on track.
If you are not comfortable troubleshooting electrical problems yourself, you may want to contact a qualified electrician for help rather than making the issue worse. In many cases, the store from which you bought the light, or the manufacturer of the light, can also help. Give them a call.
Defective LEDs
The LED diodes in an LED grow light can fail for a number of reasons, including overheating, overcurrent, and manufacturing defects. If only half of the LEDs in a grow light are working, it is likely that the defective LEDs are located on one side of the light. It could be tha an entire panel is defective.
Loose Or Damaged Connections
The electrical connections between the LEDs and the power supply can become loose or damaged over time, which can prevent the LEDs from working properly. If only half of the LEDs in a grow light are working, it is possible that the connections on one side of the light are loose or damaged.
Burned-Out Driver
The driver (or ballast) is a device that provides the electrical current that the LEDs need to operate. If the driver burns out, all of the LEDs in a grow light will stop working.
However, larger fixtures often have several drivers, each responsible for a portion of the diodes. If your fixture has two drivers and one fails, that would cause half of the diodes to stop working.
Power Supply Problem
The power supply is the device that converts the AC power from the wall outlet to the DC power that the LEDs need to operate. If the power supply is faulty, it can prevent all or part of a grow light from working.
Repair LED Grow Light Issues
Now let’s get into the repairs. For each of the possible issues, we will detail how you can fix the problem and get your light working again.
Defective LEDs
If only half of the LEDs in a grow light are working, it is likely that the defective LEDs are located on one side of the light. To fix this, you can try the following:
- If all the affected diodes are connected to the same driver, check the driver to make sure it is providing the correct voltage and current to the LEDs.
- Replace the defective LEDs.
- If the defective LEDs are located on a single LED panel, it is easiest to replace the entire panel.
Loose Or Damaged Connections
If the electrical connections between the LEDs and the power supply are loose or damaged, you can try the following:
- Tighten the connections.
- Replace the connectors.
- If the connections are damaged, you may need to replace the entire grow light.
Burned-Out Driver
If the driver in a grow light burns out, you will need to replace it. To do this, you will need to check the manufacturer’s guidelines and then purchase a new driver that is compatible with your grow light. If your light is under warranty, the warranty issuer will take care of this for you.
Power Supply Problem
If the power supply in a grow light is faulty, you will need to replace it. To do this, you will need to purchase a new power supply that is compatible with your grow light.
Preventing Problems With Your LED Grow Lights
They say that prevention is the best cure, so here are a few quick tips to help you prevent LED grow lights from malfunctioning:
- Buy high-quality LED grow lights. Cheap LED grow lights are often made with low-quality components, which can lead to problems such as premature failure. It is best to avoid the cheapest or most expensive LED grow lights.
- Install LED grow lights properly. LED grow lights should be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Improper installation can increase the risk of problems such as overheating and overcurrent, which can also create a fire hazard.
- Clean LED grow lights regularly. Dust and dirt can build up on the LEDs and reduce their efficiency. Regular cleaning can help to prevent this problem. We have an article on how to clean LED grow lights.
- Replace LED grow lights as needed. LED grow lights have a lifespan of about 50,000-100,000 hours, if you bought good quality ones. Lower quality ones can falter way before this, and once they do, they will start to lose their efficiency. It is important to replace LED grow lights as needed, to ensure that your plants are getting the light they need.
LED Grow Light Not Working: Additional Questions
Why are half of the LED lights dim?
A voltage drop may be the culprit. If your LED grow lights’ wiring is too long or too many are set in series, it may be that they are not getting enough power.
Can LED lights burn out?
LED bulbs don’t burn out in the same way that regular bulbs do. Regular incandescent bulbs simply stop working abruptly when they burn out. LED bulbs, on the other hand, slowly degrade over time. After several years, their brightness will become dimmer, which is known as “luminous decay.”
How long do LED grow lights last?
You can expect your LED grow lights to last for 50,000 hours or so. In comparison, HID bulbs, generally last between 10,000 and 18,000 hours, depending on the specific type of bulb. LED grow lights offer the best longevity. Coupled with their energy efficiency, it is what makes them the preferred choice of most growers.
Half Of LED Grow Light Won’t Turn On: Final Thoughts
An LED grow light where half the diodes have stopped working is a fairly common issue. On all but the smallest fixtures, the light is made up of multiple panels. If something happens t the wiring or power source for one of them, all the diodes on the panel can stop turning on.
The cause is a lack of power to the diodes, but there can be many reasons for this, including a problem with the diodes themselves. Hopefully this brief guide has helped you figure out what is causing the problem and you were able to fix it.
If you are having an issue with an LED grow light flickering, read that article. The causes of that problem are fairly similar to the causes of this one.
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