Why Do Led Strip Lights Get Hot?

LED technologies are often praised for having less heat output and being more efficient. This statement is correct to some extent, but it is not entirely true. LED light bulbs do not get hot to the touch; they do generate heat, as do all lights.

 Does it happen all the time that the LED strips in your home get warm or hot to the touch? This is a common question from the public. Is it safe if LED strip lights get warm? As a first step, LEDs get hot. People say that LEDs are cool and efficient, but why do LEDs get hot in the first place? Find out more by reading on!

However, while LEDs are significantly more energy-efficient than traditional lighting technologies, they are still relatively inefficient when measured on an absolute basis. It is customary to express efficiency values as a percentage, which indicates the proportion of electrical energy converted to valuable light energy instead of the proportion wasted as heat energy.

LEDs have efficiency values between 30 percent and 50 percent in most cases. Thus, for a typical LED with 40% efficiency, for every 100 watts of electric power applied to the light source, only 40 watts are converted into usable light energy, and all of the remaining 60 watts are converted into heat.

Additional components and inherent resistance in the circuitry can further reduce the efficiency of LED strips, resulting in even lower efficiency values. As a result, it is not uncommon to see LED strips operating at 30 percent efficiency. In other words, a 90-watt LED light strip reel will emit 63 watts (90 watts multiplied by 70 percent) of thermal energy, which is approximately the same amount of heat as a 60-watt incandescent bulb, which, as you may recall from personal experience, can get quite hot.

When you find out that LEDs aren't nearly as efficient as you thought they were, you might be surprised. It is very different when it comes to LEDs and incandescent bulbs. LEDs have efficiency values that are much higher than those for incandescent bulbs, which have 5% or fewer efficiency values. Most of the light energy emitted by incandescent bulbs is longer wavelengths, like deep red and near-infrared, which don't help much with lighting or even at all. This makes incandescent bulbs less efficient. In addition, incandescent bulbs cost a lot to run because they use a lot of electricity.

Is it true that LED strip lights heat up?

LED strip lights use very little electricity. It goes from 3w/m to 18w/m. Some special led strip lights will have a lot more wattage, but that will be hard to put in because they will have to fit into the aluminum profile.

LED strip lights don't get hot when you touch them. If you touch a low-wattage strip light, you can't feel the heat. The led strip light will be between 30 and 50°C.

• LEDs aren't dangerous when they start to get hot.
• LEDs can't start a fire because they don't give off enough heat.
• LEDs have a range of efficiency of 20 to 50 percent.
• It doesn't get hot like an incandescent one when you use a light bulb.

Is the heat generated by LED strip lights dangerous?

People get hot when they touch an object 40°C or more. At 50°C, your skin can be burned.

When the wattage is less than 20w/m, the temperature won't go above 50°C with led strip lights. This led strip light should not be installed on aluminum profiles. If the wattage is more than 20w/m, you should use high power, and high density led strips. The environment is hot, and there isn't a lot of good heat dissipation, so the temperature of the strip light will rise to about 50°C.

Most of the time, people don't touch the led strip lights. You don't want to get burned or have short circuits. Those led strip lights will also last a long time.

Are led PCBs (printed circuit boards) and other components susceptible to damage from high temperatures.

A good PCB can handle a lot of heat. Temperatures during our SMT process will rise to 250°C. As time goes on, you will learn that PCBs aren't easy to damage with heat.

And the LED parts, like the resistance, the IC, and so on. These parts also can't be damaged by heat.

The LED strips will not be damaged by high heat, so we now know that. It's not a good idea to use low-quality led strip lights. So you don't have to be afraid that the heat will damage your led strip lights.

Do LED strips have the potential to catch fire?

We're still looking for an answer to the question of whether or not a led strip light can catch fire.

If you purchase a high-quality LED strip light, it is unlikely that it will catch fire. In order to ensure high-quality LED strip lights, the factory follows a strict quality control process. They will consider every possible starting with the design. They must use high-quality PCB, LED, resistance, and 3M tape during the manufacturing process.

A high-quality LED strip light will produce less heat and have a long life span. It is necessary to consider the overall quality of the led strip light.

Is it possible to leave the lights on all the time?

To reduce the risk of fire accidents and increase the safety of people who use light bulb furniture, manufacturers have begun using LEDs in place of the original lamps in recent years. Because LED lights have a high brightness level, they provide absolute safety for consumers when used for service in everyday life. Additionally, because LED lights have an extremely long life and operate on a 24/7 basis, you can turn them on and use them all day without worrying about an explosion or damage if you forget to turn them off.

What are some factors that cause the led strip lights to be hot?

LED strips are safe. In rare cases, they may cause a fire, but there is no other risk. But take good care of your lights—nothing to worry about if well-maintained.

Unless you've made one of the following missteps:

LED Strips of Poor Quality

There are risks if you try to save money by buying cheap LEDs. It's better to spend more money and purchase high-quality LEDs that can withstand heat and fire better than cheap LEDs.

Unreliable Power Source

One of the most common causes of malfunctioning LED strips is power supplies. A low-quality power supply is frequently capable of generating a surge current that can permanently damage LED strips.

Amperage and Wire Size are not a match.

Whenever you are installing or wiring the led strip, make sure to use a wire rated for the current that will be drawn from the circuit. When the rated amperage of the course is increased, the wire's diameter must be increased to avoid a fire caused by overheating and melting of the wire. Many factors, including the number and length of strip lights, influence the size of the ampere delivered to the consumer. As a result, before installation, it is necessary to determine the maximum current that can be carried by the circuit and to confirm the wire size that is required.

Imperfectly Setup

The installation of your LED strip must be done correctly; otherwise, you will experience LED strip failure. Always pay attention to ensuring that the connections are tight and properly insulated. Wherever possible, soldering should be used for joints. Furthermore, avoid placing the strips in direct sunlight if at all feasible.

How can we reduce the heat of LED Strips?

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can remove heat. Here are a few ideas to get started:

Make use of LED channels.

Dust, water, and other outside elements are prevented from damaging the LED strip by using an LED channel to contain the LED tape. Furthermore, because LED channels have a large surface area, they can dissipate heat much more efficiently than other types of lighting. It is because of this heat dissipation that the space remains completely cool.

Make use of dimmer switches and infrared switches.

Dimmers allow you to control the brightness of a room. As a result, you can reduce the power supply of the LEDs to ensure that they function correctly. Additionally, infrared switches should be used for applications such as cabinet lighting. As a result, light is reduced, resulting in less heat.

Make use of branded strips.

Choosing branded and high-quality LED strip lights can help you take your LED safety a step further than you might have imagined. There is no substitute for a high-quality brand-name product. The warranty that comes with branded strips makes them safer, slightly more expensive, but more durable than generic strips in the long run. These strips have received UL and ETL certification, ensuring that they are always dependable.

Installation by a qualified professional

I'm not suggesting that your installation will be incorrect; instead, I suggest that you delegate the task to someone else if you aren't an expert. It is preferable to spend money now on professional assistance rather than later on paying for damages.

Conclusion

As far as I'm concerned, the LED strip is here to stay. These are excellent lighting fixtures and decorators that are safe, long-lasting, and efficient. It's no surprise that they've taken over most of the market's competitors.

You shouldn't have to worry about LED strips catching fire if you stick to the best brands and products and pay attention to safety precautions.

References

Can LED strip lights catch Fire？Speaking from experience. (2021, November 18). Lightstec-China LED Strip Light LED Aluminum Profile Manufacturer Supplier. https://www.lightstec.com/can-led-strip-lights-catch-fire/

Can you leave led lights on all night? Is it safe to use lights 24/7? (2021, February 18). Laokoon Lamp Company. https://laokoonlamp.com/can-leave-led-lights-24-7/#are-led-lights-safe-to-leave-on

How hot do LED strips get? Is it normal? (2019, September 10). Next Generation LED Lighting | Waveform Lighting. https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/how-hot-do-led-strips-get-is-it-normal

Can LED strip lights catch fire? Myledy. (2021, April 19).  https://www.myledy.com/can-led-strip-lights-catch-fire/