Community Forums

wagonmaster2 · 09-02-2016, 08:32 PM

I've read that regular light bulbs last longer if left on all the time during time light may be needed off/on rather than turn off when not needed and back on again in a short time, but it does use more electricity.

What about LED bulbs? Should they be left on all the time lighting may or may not be needed, or keep turning them off if not needed for a half hour or so then back on again when needed? Will either action help extend the life of the bulbs?

Lug_Nut · 09-02-2016, 09:19 PM

I doubt it matters much. Over 4 years ago I installed blue LED's behind my TV at home. They have never been turned off and will probably stay lite for many, many years to come.

Peter

vsheetz · 09-02-2016, 09:32 PM

With the long life expectation of LED lights, in practical usage it should not matter.

kerryvan · 09-02-2016, 09:39 PM

The reason for ordinary (old fashion) light bulbs to die is the filament failure, due to shock. This can be physical shock, drop / hit/ etc. or thermal shock turn on/ off. If the on/ off cycle was fast enough there would be very little shock. But when going from a long off time the inrush of current that heats the filament is a shock. Kind of why there is a brighter flash when you turn them on and they burn out. Keeping them on reduces the thermal shock, but makes them more susceptible to physical shock.

Led on the other hand will last yrs. unless the internal junction gets stressed. Normal operation with a solid design means yrs of service. Over driving the led will degrade the life, but as a consumer it is hard to distinguish a over driven led. A transient spike on the power line to the led will take them out, but if you are using house 12 v dc then it would be difficult to get any spike due to the amount of battery storage. If you are using a remote ac to dc converter to generate the led power then transients on the AC could get through to the led and take them out.

hope this helps, bottom line no effect on led life. spend time worrying about the battery life...

Algoma · 09-03-2016, 08:56 AM

An LED dimmer works by pulsing the bulb on and off a number of times a second. The pulse width determines the brightness. If an LED can survive this it can survive being turned on and off as many times as you want. Why waste power keeping a light on that you don't need?

wagonmaster2 · 09-03-2016, 09:05 PM

Thanks you'all. Appreciate that information. The reason I was asking is that about 10 of the 51 LED ceiling lights in my 2015 Dutch Star began going dim/out within 4-6 months after taking delivery. Newmar replaced those but before 11 months had passed 12 more did the same thing. This time Newmar replaced them all so I was wondering how long before I have to start replacing some of them myself. Kind of a sorry arrangement when theres no bulb to replace, just the whole unit must be changed.