Would Overvoltage Cause LEDs To Burn Out??

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rjken1969

Member
Location
Princeton, NJ
I am doing work at an installation that is losing new LED fixtures left and right, on a job that is still in construction. The manufacturer says the fixtures have been exposed to a high voltage. However when the contractor pulls a reading, it's in the range of 287-282. My thought is there could of been a spike, there is not surge protection in place. Anybody have any other thoughts?
 
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broadgage

Senior Member
Location
London, England
qcroanoke said:
Pardon me for asking but could you tell me why a MWBC would have anything to do with it?
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If correctly installed, a MWBC should not cause any problems since the voltage at the fixture should remain close to the nameplate.
In practice though it takes only a momentry open circuit or poor connection on the shared neutral to produce significant overvoltage that could well kill the LED or driver.

In most circumstances working "hot" should be prohibited, but in practice it does happen and any disturbance to a splice or connection in a shared neutral with the circuit energised could result in overvoltage.
The person responsible is most unlikely to admit to either hot working or to causing costly damage.
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
broadgage said:
If correctly installed, a MWBC should not cause any problems since the voltage at the fixture should remain close to the nameplate.
In practice though it takes only a momentry open circuit or poor connection on the shared neutral to produce significant overvoltage that could well kill the LED or driver.

In most circumstances working "hot" should be prohibited, but in practice it does happen and any disturbance to a splice or connection in a shared neutral with the circuit energised could result in overvoltage.
The person responsible is most unlikely to admit to either hot working or to causing costly damage.
Click to expand...

They may also not realize what may happen if they open that neutral, otherwise they probably wouldn't do it in the first place.
 
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rjken1969

Member
Location
Princeton, NJ
The fixtures have built in surge suppression. The manufacturer provided some feedback, they state that once the surge suppressor was replaced the fixtures returned to normal operation. Which makes me think there was a spike in voltage, or spikes are occurring, as the fixtures are dropping off almost daily. This is an older system that does not have SPD protection.

It seems as if there could be a problem with the neutral. Perhaps at the lighting panel, as there doesn't seem to be an issue with any of the other electronic equipment.
 
qcroanoke

qcroanoke

Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
Location
Roanoke, VA.
Occupation
Sorta retired........
ptonsparky said:
Opened shared neutral on 480/277. Makes for a "spike". Usually proceeded by an "Oops" and followed by "These power supplies are a POS!!"
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That's what I thought you meant, but you didn't say that. Understood now.
 
ELA

ELA

Senior Member
Occupation
Electrical Test Engineer
What is the published operating range of the led drivers?
 
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