How Long Do LED Light Strips Really Last?

LED light strips, also known as Light Emitting Diodes, are known for their energy efficiency, quick illumination, and long lifespan. They are a cost-effective option for achieving full lighting in various spaces. While LED light strips outlast traditional lightbulbs, it’s essential to understand just how long they truly last.

How Long Can You Expect LED Light Strips to Last?

LED light strips have an average lifespan of about six years. However, several factors influence their longevity, including frequency of use and product quality. To estimate LED lifespans, metrics like ‘L70’ are used. Interestingly, the adhesive backing on LED light strips generally fails before the LEDs themselves, necessitating replacement.

LED light strips offer convenience for illuminating a wide range of spaces. However, it’s crucial to consider their lifespan before making a purchase. Let’s delve deeper into the lifespan of LED light strips and the factors that impact their longevity.

The Longevity of LED Light Strips

Unlike fluorescent and incandescent bulbs that often flicker and eventually go out, LED lights have a gradual decrease in light output over time. This is advantageous as mechanical damage or power surges do not lead to immediate failures. LED lights remain somewhat usable until their light output diminishes significantly. Instead of completely failing, LEDs tend to dim over time.

You might be wondering, how dim is too dim? The industry widely accepts a 30% loss of light capacity or when 70% of the original light capacity remains as the threshold. This measurement is known as the L70 metric, representing the number of hours an LED light would take to reach 70% of its original light output capacity.

Calculating the L70 Metric

Several factors contribute to the lifespan of an LED light strip, including quality, material selection, and durability. To achieve objective results, a test methodology called LM-80 is used to assess the longevity of LED lights. Reputable LED manufacturers undergo this test, and it is recommended that LED strip suppliers also perform it, especially for bulk purchases.

However, conducting lifespan tests for LED lights is time-consuming. For instance, a 10,000-hour test requires approximately 14 months to complete, even with continuous illumination. In the fast-paced LED lighting industry, this duration is impractical. Therefore, an extrapolation algorithm called TM-21 was developed. It analyzes LM-80 samples over several thousand hours and provides a projected lifetime number, which is then reported on specification sheets and warranties.

While LED lights dim over time, they can also experience color shift if the materials used in production degrade at different rates. Although LM-80 tests report color shift extent, this information is rarely included in LED strip specifications.

Understanding Delta U’V’

Finding documentation regarding acceptable levels of color stability for LED lights can be challenging. However, examining the LM-80 test reports of LED manufacturers or reviewing the metric known as “delta u’v’” can provide insights. A delta u’v’ exceeding 0.003 is considered noticeable to the human eye. For most indoor lighting applications, a delta u’v’ under 0.006 over the LED’s lifespan is deemed suitable. However, applications that demand higher color stability, such as museums and lighting artwork, may require products with even better color stability over time.

While LED longevity is a commonly discussed topic, other factors are equally important. The adhesive and power supply of LED light strips are prone to failures, which can significantly impact their functionality.

The adhesive backing on LED light strips can degrade over time due to environmental conditions like humidity, dust, and sunlight exposure. Consequently, the LED strip may detach from its installed surface.

Why Do LED Lights Last so Long?

Compared to incandescent light bulbs, LEDs have a significantly longer lifespan. This is because they are up to 90% more efficient. LED lights are incredibly robust, lacking fragile components that can break or wear out over time. Their unique method of light production, known as electroluminescence, contributes to their longevity. LEDs are made of substrate semiconductor materials with positive (P) and negative (N) doped regions. When an electric current passes through the PN junction, electrons jump to higher energy states and emit light when they return to the ground state. This process consumes minimal energy and generates little heat.

Factors Influencing the Lifespan of LED Light Strips

Multiple factors can directly affect the lifespan of LED light strips, including frequency of use, application, environment, temperature, electrical current, and usage patterns. Therefore, the lifespan indicated by manufacturers on packaging should be interpreted as an estimate under normal conditions, rather than an exact figure.

Let’s explore four of the most crucial factors determining the lifespan of LED light strips.

1. Exposure to Extreme Heat

LED lights, like most electronic devices, are vulnerable to heat. While they can be used outdoors, in garages, or sheds, LED lights generally perform best at temperatures below 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius). Excessive heat increases the temperature of the semiconducting element within LED lights, accelerating the diodes’ degradation rate.

2. Daily Usage

To maximize the lifespan of LED light bulbs, users should develop good habits, such as turning off indoor lights before bedtime and outdoor lights in the morning. By reducing unnecessary usage, LED lights can last longer.

3. Electrical Currents

LED lights respond to excessively high electrical currents by shining brighter as they attempt to utilize all the incoming energy. This not only shortens the bulb’s lifespan but can also cause the light fixture and LED circuit to overheat and burn out.

4. Heat Sinks

Heat sinks are components commonly used in LED lights to absorb and dissipate heat, cooling the internal components and circuitry. LED lights with high-quality heat sinks generally have longer lifespans than those with low-quality heat sinks.

Can You Leave LED Lights on 24/7?

LED lights are designed to produce minimal heat, making them safe for continuous use. You can leave LED light strips on 24/7 without any issues. They work well in large, narrow areas like kitchen counters. However, it’s advisable to conduct stress tests before subjecting LED lights to prolonged use.

Do LED Strip Lights Consume a Lot of Electricity?

LED strip lights consume significantly less electricity compared to incandescent light bulbs. The power consumption depends on the light density and strip length. On average, a 5-meter LED strip light costs less than $3 per year to operate. In terms of electricity measurement (KWh), an LED bulb uses 127.5KWh over its 15,000-hour lifespan, while an incandescent bulb consumes a staggering 900KWh over the same period. The cost per KWh varies based on location, but with an average rate of 13 cents per hour in the US, an LED bulb only amounts to $16.58 on your energy bill, while an incandescent bulb costs approximately $117 – nearly 7 times as much.

In conclusion, LED light strips offer a durable lighting solution with an estimated lifespan of around six years. The factors influencing their longevity include exposure to heat, frequency of use, electrical currents, and the quality of heat sinks. By understanding these factors and implementing good practices, you can ensure the longevity and optimal performance of your LED light strips.