To date, LED lamps have become the most popular light sources and there are many explanations for this: they are economical, fireproof, have the longest service life and also create the most comfortable lighting for the eyes. However, as with other alternative light sources, LEDs have their own problems. The most common is when the LED lamp glows after being turned off. The reasons for this phenomenon and ways to eliminate the glow, we examined in this article.
An overview of the causes of the glow
What should I do if the LED lamp is on? There are several reasons why, after turning off the lighting device, the LED lamp continues to burn, even if it is dim or weak:
Is this glow dangerous? For wiring, this problem does not pose any danger, however, the life of the LED bulbs will be noticeably reduced if they constantly flash or glow dimly.
If the switching device is in the off position, and the emitter still glows and burns, then it is best to check the last three factors first. This is due to the fact that it is very difficult to find a section that is weak in insulation in electrical wiring.
In order to do this, it is necessary to create special conditions, as a result of which a high voltage is applied to the circuit for one minute to cause a breakdown. The section of the circuit, due to which the lighting element glows after the switch is turned off, will need to be opened. At the same time, if the electrical wiring was laid in a hidden way, then the opening will damage the integrity of the wall.
It is important to know! There are a lot of situations where when you connect LED light sources to a backlit switch, they function differently. This is due to the fact that the lighting element, which is installed in the switching device, closes the circuit, respectively, passes a small current. That's just what it charges and allows the light bulb to glow when the switch is off.
Another problem why the LED lamp glows in the dark is the cheapness of the product. If a poor quality LED bulb was purchased, this can also lead to a similar phenomenon. This is due to the fact that there is some kind of error in the board. But it also happens that the emitter burns dimly due to the fact that it has its own peculiarity in the functioning of the structure.
We are talking about the processes that take place in capacitors at the moment the load is applied to the lighting element. When an electric current passes through the circuit, the capacitor accumulates energy, and then, after the load is stopped, continues to maintain the glow in the elements.
Another fairly common reason for LED lamps to glow when the switch is off is improper connection. You can learn more about this from the video:
How to fix the problem?
If the LED lamp is on when the light is off, how to fix it? Solutions are different. It all depends on the nature of the problem itself. For example:
- A cheap low-quality LED lamp always glows in the dark after it is turned off. To fix this problem, you need to replace it with quality products from a trusted manufacturer.
- If the lighting element is lit due to the fact that a backlit switch is used, then this problem can be solved in different ways. For example, the easiest way out is to change the switch in the house to a regular one, without lighting. You can simply cut off a certain wire that powers the backlight. This can be done after the switching device has been opened. But there is another way out - to maintain such a function, it is enough to put a resistor in parallel on a certain section of the electrical circuit.
- If the LED light is on and the reason is in the wiring, then it will be extremely difficult to solve such a problem. To eliminate it, you need to find a place. But this can lead to certain difficulties. But when the light is turned off, the bulbs will not burn. We talked about that in a separate article. There is another way, more simple. When the lighting element is lit, it is necessary to connect a load (relay, incandescent lamp or resistor) in parallel with it. It is only necessary to take into account the fact that the resistance in the connected load must be lower than in the light emitter. And as a result, the leakage current will go to this load, but due to the fact that the resistance is insignificant, it will not glow.
LED lamps are well-deservedly popular for many reasons. LED light sources are characterized by long service life, economical power consumption and reliability. However, in addition to the advantages, LED-light bulbs also have disadvantages. The most common problem consumers face is when the LED light stays on when the switch is off.
Features of LED lamps
LED bulbs have a slightly more complex internal structure compared to conventional incandescent bulbs.
The main elements of the LED lamp:
- Brass nickel-plated plinth. These materials avoid corrosive processes, and also provide good contact with the cartridge.
- The base of the plinth is made of polymer (polyethylene terephthalate). The material protects the body of the device from electricity.
- The driver is based on a galvanically isolated current regulator modulator circuit. The task of the driver is to create conditions for stable operation of the light source even in the event of power surges.
- The radiator is made of anodized aluminum alloy. The coating allows heat to be removed from those lamp surfaces that are contraindicated in overheating.
- Aluminum PCB. The component is a guarantee of the desired temperature regime for the chips due to heat removal to the heatsink.
- Chips. They are the key element of the system. They are also called diodes.
- Diffuser. It is a glass hemisphere with the highest possible level of light scattering within the technology.
The principle of operation of LED lamps is based on the release of photons. This occurs as a result of permanent change and the appearance of multiple combinations of electrons. The continuity of changes is ensured by the presence of conductors. Resistors or current-limiting devices are used to optimize the process.
Recently, more advanced systems have appeared that provide high consumer characteristics. Diode bridges are used in such light bulbs. However, the prices for such lamps are much higher than for old-style products.
Why does the LED lamp glow when the switch is off
There are several common causes for LED lights to glow when the switch is off:
- Poor quality of insulating materials.
- Using a backlit switch.
- Poor quality light bulb.
- Electrical wiring problems.
- Features of the power supply circuit.
Poor quality insulation
Insufficient insulation in any part of the electrical circuit often causes problems with light. This failure has the most serious consequences, because in order to fix it, it will be necessary to break the finishing layer on the walls in order to replace the insulation.
To test the insulation for leakage current, a high voltage is applied to the network for 1 minute. This is necessary to simulate the conditions under which breakdowns occur in the electrical circuit.
Using illuminated switches
The answer to the question of why the LED lamp glows when the switch is turned off lies in the use of a backlit switch. In the interior of such a device there is a light diode with a current limiting resistor. The reason for the glow of the lamp is that even when the contact is disconnected, voltage is still passing through them. However, the light bulb does not glow at full power, since the circuit has a current-limiting resistor.
The lamp shines either constantly (if the current is sufficient) or intermittently (blinks because the current is too low). However, even in the latter case, the current is sufficient to recharge the capacitor. As soon as sufficient voltage accumulates in the capacitor, the stabilizer microcircuit turns on, and the light immediately lights up. The operation of the lamp in this mode leads to its rapid wear, since the number of operation cycles for microcircuits is finite.
In this case, there are several methods to fix the problem of a luminous light bulb. The easiest way is to remove the backlight from the switch. To do this, dismantle the case and remove the wire directed to the resistor or light diode. It is also possible to replace the switch with another one that does not have a backlight function.
Another way to solve the issue involves soldering a shunt resistor in parallel with the light bulb. You will need a 2 watt resistor with a resistance of up to 50 kOhm. If you do this, the current will go through this resistor, and not through the light bulb power supply driver. Installing a resistor is not difficult. It is only necessary to remove the cover and fix the resistance legs in the terminal block for connecting network conductors.
It is enough to connect one resistor to the switch, you do not need to hang them on each lamp.
In the absence of sufficient knowledge in electrical engineering, you can do it easier. To do this, put an ordinary incandescent lamp in the lighting device. The spiral of the light bulb, when turned off, will thus serve as a shunt resistor. However, this option is only suitable if there are several cartridges in the lighting device.
Low quality bulb
Often the cause of the malfunction is an insufficiently high-quality lamp. In this case, there is only one way to solve the problem - replacing the product with a better one.
Wiring problems
If errors are made during the installation of electrical wiring, one of the consequences of this may be the glow of the lamp when the switch is already off. This situation happens when zero is confused with the phase, and even after disconnection, the wires remain under phase.
The situation should be corrected not only to get rid of a luminous light bulb without the need. This is also to avoid electric shock when replacing the lamp.
Features of the power supply scheme
In order to provide a brighter glow and reduce the pulsation of light, a capacitor with a high capacitance is sometimes added to the power supply circuit. This results in the fact that even when the switch is turned off, there is still sufficient charge in it to allow the LEDs to light up.
- Carefully read the instructions that come with the LED lamps. It contains the rules for using the product.
- Some convenient features of lighting fixtures are not easily compatible with LED bulbs. Timers, light intensity controllers, photovoltaic cells, backlights often cause malfunctions in the normal operation of LEDs.
- Pay attention to the dimensions of the radiator. This element is responsible for the removal of a sufficient amount of thermal energy, which is released when the light is on. The dimensions of the radiator and the power of the lamp must be in accordance with each other.
- Radiator material. The best choice is an aluminum radiator. Ceramic and graphite products have proven themselves perfectly.
- The quality of the joint between the light bulb body and the base. If there are obvious mechanical defects at the junction, the likelihood of problems with the glow of the lamp when the switch is off increases. The base must be securely and without play fixed to the body.
- Ripple level. The correct glow is uniform, without any flicker. However, it is quite difficult to notice the unevenness of the light. This is where a mobile phone video camera comes in handy - with its help it is much easier to see the flicker.
You are far from the first to wonder why LED lamps glow after being turned off. In fact, such a phenomenon can be called normal and does not cause danger. However, this is not enough. Therefore, in this article we will analyze all the existing causes of such a consequence.
Such behavior on the part of LED emitters often causes not only bewilderment, but also acts irritably. In addition, regular flickering will quickly disable the device. Therefore, before finding out the reasons, we will understand how the lamp works.
LEDs are powered by direct current, which passes through the capacitor and acquires the optimal value for the light bulb. In some cases, even when the switch is off, you can notice the glow of the lamp. The voltage on the capacitor can appear for any reason.
The device of the LED lamp is never the same, since each individual manufacturer provides a different layout and scheme for creating a device. However, the overall effect of the device remains the same. The mandatory components of LED lamps are: a base, a driver, a radiator, a board with sources that emit light and a bulb.
When a voltage is connected to a light bulb, a chaotic movement of electrons occurs, which, colliding with each other, form holes, as a result of which a bright glow occurs. Thus, even if the minimum amount of current penetrates to the semiconductor, it will glow or blink in the off state, so it is advisable to figure out the reasons for what is happening.
What causes LED lights to flicker?
Consider a number of factors that cause the LED device to glow in the off state:
Attention! If the LED lamp is connected to a backlit switch, the backlight must be turned off. In this case, the network will open and the current will stop flowing to the capacitor.
The device of energy-saving lamps and the causes of their flicker
Why an energy-saving lamp flickers after turning off is a banal, but rather painful question. This frightens someone, others simply try not to pay attention to the device so as not to worry.
A fluorescent lamp, like an LED source, operates from a small amount of direct current. The rectifier, which reduces the voltage for the lamp, is located right inside the structure. There is also a capacitor, which is the reason for the regular glow of the light bulb even when the switch is off.
Pay attention to the backlit dimmer. If you install energy-saving appliances, there should not be such a switch. Otherwise, you can get into the mechanism of the light source and turn off the backlight. Then the current pulses will stop penetrating into the capacitor.
Advice! Be sure to eliminate all causes that cause pulsing LED lamps and energy-saving ones, as after two to three months such lighting will need to be replaced due to the exhausted number of starts.
Solving a problem or how to get rid of the annoying glow of energy-saving and LED lamps
To solve the problem with arbitrary flickering or glowing of LEDs and mercury bulbs, you need to:
Also, the most effective way to eliminate the sparkling of mercury and LED lamps in the off state is to connect a special resistor in parallel with the lamp, which will resist current up to 50 kOhm. The power of such a device should not exceed 2 W, otherwise the problem will not disappear. You can buy it at any radio store.
Do you know why the LED lamps are on when the switch is off? Agree: problems in the functioning of the lighting system will please few people. Do you prefer to find the cause of the glow of the LEDs yourself, without involving an electrician? However, do not know where the weak point is?
We will show you how to deal with a difficult problem. The article shows the most common situations that cause the lamps to glow after they are turned off. The ways of solving the problem are considered, recommendations are given for choosing a reliable light source from a trusted manufacturer.
The measures recommended by us will allow us to avoid a number of difficult situations during the further operation of such devices. The special design of LED luminaires guarantees economical consumption of electricity and a long service life.
In order to find out the reason for the glow of the device after turning it off, you need to carefully consider the device of the LED device, as well as find out the principle of its operation.
The design of such a lamp is quite complicated; it consists of the following elements:
- Chips (diodes). The main element of the lamp, providing the emission of a stream of light.
- printed aluminum board on the thermal mass. This component is designed to remove excess heat to the radiator, so that the temperature in the device is maintained, which is necessary for the correct operation of the chips.
- Radiator. A device that is supplied with heat energy diverted from other nodes of the LED lamp. Usually this part is made of anodized aluminum alloy.
- Plinth. Lamp base designed to be connected to the lamp socket. As a rule, this element is made of brass, covered with a nickel layer on top. The deposited metal counteracts corrosion while facilitating tool-to-cartridge contact.
- Base. The lower part adjacent to the plinth is made of polymer. Thanks to this, the housing is protected from electric shock.
- Driver. A node that ensures stable uninterrupted operation of the device even in the event of a sharp change in the indicators of voltage drops in the electrical system. The functioning of this node is similar to a galvanically isolated modulator of the electric current stabilizer.
- Diffuser. Glass hemisphere covering the device from above. As the name implies, the part is designed to maximize the dispersion of the light flux emitted by the diodes.
All components of the device are connected to each other, which ensures its reliable operation.
The principle of operation of the equipment
Specific schemes of LED-devices manufactured by different manufacturers can differ significantly from each other. However, they are all based on a general principle of operation, which can be schematically displayed as follows.
The scheme of the LED lamp. To create a greater p-n-junction effect, semiconductors are used in designs, the surface of which is doped with various materials
The light switch with backlight function does not allow you to completely break the circuit, so the lamps will glow dimly for a long time. If this option is disabled, the system will warm up and the LED device will turn off.
In this case, the devices come into conflict: even the switched off switch cannot completely open the electrical circuit due to the backlight, which is powered through the resistance. Since the system remains open, a small voltage reaches the lamp, which causes a dim glow.
Similar problems can be caused when using other electrical devices: photocells, timers connected to lamps and lights.
The way to solve this problem. Since such a defect with LED lamps that are lit even when the switch is turned off is quite common, electrical specialists have accumulated a lot of experience in correcting the situation.
These may be the following options:
- switch replacement;
- turn off the backlight;
- installation of an additional resistor;
- replacing one of the lamps in the chandelier with a weaker counterpart;
- use of resistance with a large power rating.
The simplest way is to replace the existing illuminated switch with one without additional function. However, such a decision is associated with additional monetary costs, as well as with the reinstallation of the device.
The persistence of the lamp burning after the switch is turned off can also be associated with the use of a high-capacity capacitor in the device, where the charge remains sufficient for a weak glow
If the presence of a backlight on the switch is not important, you can simply bite with wire cutters on the resistance that sets the power supply for it. To achieve turning off the LED while maintaining the backlight, adding a shunt resistor will help. A device with a resistance greater than 50 kΩ and a power of 2-4 W can be purchased from a specialized store.
To connect it, you need to remove the cover from the lamp, and then attach the wires leaving the device to the terminal block with network cores, which will allow you to connect in parallel with the lamp.
In this case, the current passing through the LED will not flow through the driver capacitor, but through the newly connected node. This will stop charging the reactance and turn off the LEDs when the switch is turned off.
To correct the operation of a multi-track chandelier, it is enough to install one additional resistor. There is no need to connect such a part to each of the lamps
If a problem is identified in a multi-track chandelier, you can install an incandescent lamp with a minimum power in one of the departments, which will collect all the current coming from the capacitor.
A similar solution can be applied to a single-arm chandelier by installing an adapter from one to two cartridges. At the same time, when using this method, a faint glow of one bulb will still be maintained.
The desired result will also be obtained by replacing the usual resistance in the switch with its analogue with a large number of ohms. However, to perform such a manipulation, you will need to consult an electrician.
Reason #2 - Electrical Wiring Faults
Quite often, the source of non-switching lamps is a failed wiring. If an insulation fault is suspected, high voltage should be applied to the instrument for several minutes to simulate conditions that cause breakdowns in the mains.
You can also use home-made or professional products designed for this purpose to search for a hidden cable fault.
If the problem is really worn-out insulation, the apartment must be partially or completely replaced with electrical wiring. With open cable laying, the process will take a minimum of time and effort. More difficult work lies ahead if hidden wiring was installed in the housing, immured in the walls.
Poor insulation can cause malfunctions in the operation of LED lighting fixtures. A similar factor is often found with a long service life of electrical wiring.
In this case, decorative finishes, such as wallpaper, as well as plaster, will have to be removed from vertical surfaces. After opening the strobe where the wires are placed, the entire cable or the damaged section is replaced. In conclusion, it is necessary to seal the channels with plaster, and then plaster and refinish the walls.
An alternative temporary solution may be to connect a device to the network, for example, a resistor or relay, which gives an additional load. Similar devices, the resistance of which is weaker than that of LEDs, are connected in parallel to luminous lamps.
In this case, the current is redirected, which regulates the operation of LED devices: the light goes out immediately after the switch is turned off. The newly connected element will also not function due to the low resistance value.
Reason # 3 - incorrect connection of the lamp
The reason for the incessant burning of the lamp may be hidden in connection errors. If a zero was connected instead of a phase during the installation of the switch, it will turn off when the circuit is opened.
At the same time, due to the preserved phase, the wiring will still be energized, due to which the device will glow when the switch is turned off.
Russian products of the brand and Era have proven themselves well. LED lamps are produced in a large assortment. When choosing them, you should pay attention to both the appearance and the technical characteristics and operating conditions.
So, when an electric current is supplied, thermal energy can accumulate in the device, due to which the LED will burn even after turning it off, however, for a short time. Companies are struggling with this phenomenon by using in the manufacture of equipment resistors made of materials that prevent the accumulation of excess heat.
One of the important factors for the smooth operation of LED lamps is the choice of products of proper quality. In this case, one should take into account the features under which they will have to operate devices, as well as their compatibility with other equipment connected to the mains.
Before buying, it is recommended to carefully read the instructions attached to the LED devices, which indicate the operating rules. It should be noted that a number of popular devices, such as timers, photovoltaic modules, can cause LEDs to malfunction.
It is also important to carefully examine the appearance of the light bulb, paying attention to the joint between the body and the base, which must adjoin the main part reliably and without any defects. In the presence of scratches, dents or a sloppy seam, the likelihood of problems with the glow increases significantly.
There are also advanced LED lamp technologies, such as using LED filaments. Although their cost is slightly higher, it is offset by a long service life and excellent quality.
An element such as a radiator is important. It is best to choose an LED in which it is made of aluminum, but ceramic and graphite counterparts also have high performance. Also important is the size of this part, which is responsible for the removal of thermal energy, the release of which can occur even when the light is off.
For the correct operation of a high power LED, it is necessary to use a large radiator, while for a weak device, a compact one will be enough.
As a rule, in specialized stores, sellers test turn on the lamp. In this case, you should try to check the level of flicker: the lighting fixture should emit an even light flux without any pulsation.
Since it is rather difficult to assess this factor with the naked eye, it is better to film the switched on device on a mobile phone video camera. Recording will allow you to better evaluate his work.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The video reveals the two most common causes of LED lamps burning even after turning off the power. Detailed instructions for their elimination are also offered:
The glow of the lamps when the switch is turned off is not only unpleasant for the eyes, but also drastically reduces the life of the LEDs. To fix the problem, you need to establish the cause that causes a malfunction in the functioning of the devices, and then eliminate it.
In most cases, it will take a minimum of time and effort to correct the situation. The necessary work can be done independently, using elementary tools.
Please leave comments in the block below. Share useful information that may be useful to site visitors. Ask questions, tell us about your personal experience in eliminating the convergence of LEDs after turning off, publish photos on the topic of the article.
Wiring fault. This is not enough quality insulation;
Illuminated switch;
Poor quality emitters.
To consider this drawback in detail, you need to look at the design of LED lamps. Structurally, they consist of: case, driver, base, radiator and diffuser. This list also includes a printed circuit board, the main task of which is to guarantee the established temperature regime.
As a rule, many people are afraid that the light in the off state can cause harm. In fact, there is nothing terrible in this, since it does not harm the wiring. The only problem is the lamp life, which will definitely be reduced.
There is also a problem with incorrect connection of light sources. There is a lot of information here, but this problem is extremely rare. To understand its causes and solutions, we recommend watching the following video.
Despite the remarkable consumer properties and reliability, sometimes consumers complain about certain problems. So, very often there is a dim glow, even if the light in the room is completely turned off. Naturally, this phenomenon has a negative impact on efficiency, because the energy for the glow is still consumed.
Very often there is a dim glow, even if the light in the room is completely turned off.
There are several main reasons why LED lamps are lit when the switch is off:
- Problems related to electrical wiring in the apartment. For example, in one of the sections of the electrical circuit there is poor-quality insulation.
- The lighting device is connected to a switch equipped with a backlight.
- The light bulb uses low quality emitters as the light source.
- Functional features of the LED device.
The biggest problems arise when the cause is poor-quality insulation. Therefore, to begin with, it is required to work out and discard all other possible causes of this phenomenon. If it is necessary to check the insulation, then this is done as follows. Within a minute, a large voltage is applied, that is, conditions are simulated that contribute to the occurrence of breakdowns in the electrical circuit.
If the problem is really isolation, correcting the situation will be problematic. This is very laborious, because you have to destroy the wall, peel off the wallpaper, since the wiring is usually installed by chasing the wall. After replacing the insulation, you will need to ditch it, close up the wall and return the wallpaper to its original place.
Fortunately for homeowners, poor insulation problems are relatively rare. A much more common reason why an LED lamp glows after being turned off is the connection of light sources to a switch equipped with a backlight. In this case, the lighting mechanism located directly in the switch closes the electrical circuit.
When purchasing cheap lighting fixtures, be prepared for the fact that there can be much more problems with them than when buying high-quality LED lamps. The low quality of the finished product very often affects the presence of errors in chips and boards. Therefore, you should not save much, because by paying a little more money, you will get a high-quality device that will work reliably and without interruption for a very long time, saving electricity.
In some cases, the reason why LED lamps glow when the lights are off is the functional features of the device itself. Even the most expensive and high-quality lamps can sometimes behave this way. A variety of processes take place in resistors, for example, when an electric current is applied, there is a slight accumulation of thermal energy by the resistor itself.
And even when the light in the room is turned off, due to the accumulated energy, the glow is maintained in the light bulb. As a rule, such a phenomenon is observed for a very short period of time. In addition, manufacturers are trying to make resistors from special materials that prevent the accumulation of excess thermal energy.
Having decided on why the LED light is on when the light is off, you can proceed to solving the problem. The following is a list of the main recommendations, depending on the causes of this phenomenon. If the dim light is associated with the purchase of a product at an affordable price, but of low quality, then the advice here is very simple - you need to go to the nearest store and buy a high quality light bulb from a reliable manufacturer.
If the problem is the backlight in the switch, there may be several solutions. You can act logically and, following the example of the first paragraph, go to the store for a switching device in which the backlight is not provided. Another option is to cut off the power wire that is responsible for the backlight.
To do this, you need to open the switch, which is done quite simply and quickly, even beginners in this business will be able to disassemble and assemble the device on their own in a few minutes. If you cannot do without backlighting, then you can just install another resistor in the circuit, which will prevent the accumulation of energy.
The main thing is to find the cause of this glow, after which you can proceed to action.
Isolation, as noted earlier, causes the greatest difficulty in solving the problem. If you do not want to violate the integrity of the wall, then you can try to go the other way. Its essence lies in connecting an additional load (relay, resistor, incandescent lamp) in parallel with diodes that do not stop burning.
So, we told you why the LED lights are on when the switch is off, and also that it is not so difficult to solve such a problem. The main thing is to find the cause of this glow, after which you can proceed to action.
- Removing the backlight will be the easiest and fastest solution to this problem. In order to do this, it is necessary to disconnect the wires from which the backlight is powered, having previously opened the cover of the switch. Alternatively, you can also cut this wire, but first, be sure to find out where the power wire is, so as not to confuse.
Having done this, the current charging the capacitor will not flow, after which the lamp will no longer glow dimly or blink;
- If you want to avoid this problem, then before buying a switch, pay attention to the presence or absence of a backlight. If it is not, then the main problem will not appear;
- A good option would be to connect a conventional lamp in parallel, using this option will prevent the energy-saving light source from burning in the off mode. This is achieved due to the fact that the current to recharge the capacitor will go to the filament (This method is not very good for just one reason. The purpose of buying LED lamps is to save energy and longer life compared to incandescent and halogen lamps. the circuit of a conventional lamp increases consumption, and, accordingly, all savings disappear.As a result, such a solution is not ideal);
There are switches that have a mandatory backlight needed for any purpose. How to be in this case, and what actions to take?
A good solution to eliminate this problem would be to connect a resistor in parallel, which will help create additional resistance in the desired section of the electrical circuit. The main advantage of this method is its cheap price; you can buy a resistor in absolutely any radio engineering store.
It is worth noting that the resistor will not adversely affect the normal operation of the LEDs. But when the switch is turned off, the backlight will work, and accordingly, the resistor will consume current, which goes to charge the capacitor. Also do not forget to insulate the resistor, for this it is best to use heat shrink tubing.
You can connect it under the ceiling in the ceiling or in the lamp socket. For a more convenient connection of the resistor, a good option would be to use special Wago terminal blocks (in the image below).
The final step will be laying the resistor in the box, after which you can enjoy the absence of the blinking of the LED lamp after turning it off.
LED lamp design
In order to find out the reason for the glow of the device after turning it off, you need to carefully consider the device of the LED device, as well as find out the principle of its operation.
The design of such a lamp is quite complicated; it consists of the following elements:
- printed aluminum board
All components of the device are connected to each other, which ensures its reliable operation.
- Chips (diodes). The main element of the lamp, providing the emission of a stream of light.
- printed aluminum board on the thermal mass. This component is designed to remove excess heat to the radiator, so that the temperature in the device is maintained, which is necessary for the correct operation of the chips.
- Radiator. A device that is supplied with heat energy diverted from other nodes of the LED lamp. Usually this part is made of anodized aluminum alloy.
- Plinth. Lamp base designed to be connected to the lamp socket. As a rule, this element is made of brass, covered with a nickel layer on top. The deposited metal counteracts corrosion while facilitating tool-to-cartridge contact.
- Base. The lower part adjacent to the plinth is made of polymer. Thanks to this, the housing is protected from electric shock.
- Driver. A node that ensures stable uninterrupted operation of the device even in the event of a sharp change in the indicators of voltage drops in the electrical system. The functioning of this node is similar to a galvanically isolated modulator of the electric current stabilizer.
- Diffuser. Glass hemisphere covering the device from above. As the name implies, the part is designed to maximize the dispersion of the light flux emitted by the diodes.
Main Causes of Afterglow
Often many people have a question - why does the lamp burn when the light is off?
There can be many different reasons, but the most common are:
- The presence of problems with the wiring;
- The low quality of the LEDs you are using;
- The glow of the diodes is maintained by a resistor (due to the accumulation of electrics in it, after turning off, the diodes glow).
It often happens that this happens when the illuminated switch is open. And if burning is observed when the light is off, then, accordingly, a current flows through it, which immediately flows from the network to the backlight (located in the switch), then to the chandelier and again to the network. It is very small and does not affect the network load at all.
The current that goes through the backlight performs the function of charging the capacitor. When the charging reaches the desired level, the circuit starts up and this causes a flash, after which you should expect a shutdown, and then this process starts again.
The downside of all this is that the lamp circuit inside is initially designed for a certain period of time, which is measured by the number of starts. It will work for about 1-2 months, and after that it will simply fail.
A similar situation will be with weak blocks of LED strips, they also have a rectifier and a capacitor installed at the input. Therefore, a small current will flow through the illuminated switch, due to which the capacitor will be recharged in time. Therefore, the tape burns dimly in this mode, and there are also periodic flashes.
There are several likely factors that could explain why the lighting element is still lit after being turned off from the power source, albeit dimly:
- Problems with electrical wiring, in particular, poor-quality insulation in one of the sections of the circuit.
- The LED lamp is connected to a backlit switch.
- Poor quality emitters used in the design of the light source.
- Functional features of the lamp.