Has anyone had this happen?

[Sophon]

Some years ago I replaced the fluorescent rings in our ceiling lamps with the LED type. A week ago two of them failed (almost at the same time), and when I was replacing them with new ones I found this:

The LED rings are from the Sylvania brand, and on both of them the plastic "light diffuser" had melted and started drooping. I found that surprising, as LED lights don't really get that hot.

 

I replaced the two lights with new Sylvania rings bought at the same time as the original ones, and when I checked them two days later the plastic on the new rings had already started melting and drooping. I guess some kind of production defect.

 

I guess it's time to go buy some new ones, maybe not Sylvania this time even though one would hope that they have caught and corrected the problem by now.

[Crossy]

Interesting.

 

Can the diffusers actually be removed, that would stop the drooping issue at the expense of a "harsher" light 🙂

 

Ours are all Lamptan ones which don't have those diffusers, they rely on the main plastic cover for diffusion.

 

[BritManToo]

I buy the cheapest on Lazada, about 50bht each.

They work perfectly, no melting.

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.zbfoa

[stupidfarang]

I would look at replacing any and all lights for another brand if this is happening due to possible fire risk, if you know a good electrition get them to check.

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, stupidfarang said:

I would look at replacing any and all lights for another brand if this is happening due to possible fire risk, if you know a good electrition get them to check.

Do you normally pay an electrician to change your light bulbs?

[Sophon]

8 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Interesting.

 

Can the diffusers actually be removed, that would stop the drooping issue at the expense of a "harsher" light 🙂

 

Ours are all Lamptan ones which don't have those diffusers, they rely on the main plastic cover for diffusion.

 

 

No, the diffusers can't really be removed. They are attached to the aluminium strip with the LEDs by 21 plastic "rivets" and the three magnets holding the light in place are attached to the plastic bit. 

 

I bought these on Lazada, maybe they were cheap because they knew about this issue?

[Sophon]

7 minutes ago, stupidfarang said:

I would look at replacing any and all lights for another brand if this is happening due to possible fire risk, if you know a good electrition get them to check.

 

I'm not really that concerned about fire risks, the LEDs don't get that hot. There is a big difference between the heat required to soften plastic and what is required to set it on fire.

[Sophon]

On a slightly related issue, I have bought some Philips LED bulbs for our ceiling spots but they don't seem to work with our lamp fittings. When i screw them into the fitting, it doesn't feel like they make proper contact with the contacts in the fittings. I have some cheap Chinese no-name bulbs that work fine.

[impulse]

41 minutes ago, Sophon said:

The LED rings are from the Sylvania brand, and on both of them the plastic "light diffuser" had melted and started drooping. I found that surprising, as LED lights don't really get that hot.

 
I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that they were counterfeit Sylvanias.  Occasionally, just for giggles, I look for spelling errors on the packaging. 

 

And I've walked past open shop doors on the street watching Thai workers repackage generic products into name brand packaging.

 

Not too uncommon in Asia.  Especially if the price seems too good. 

 

[Sophon]

8 minutes ago, impulse said:

 
I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that they were counterfeit Sylvanias.  Occasionally, just for giggles, I look for spelling errors on the packaging. 

 

And I've walked past open shop doors on the street watching Thai workers repackage generic products into name brand packaging.

 

Not too uncommon in Asia.  Especially if the price seems too good. 

 

 

I did consider that, but I don't believe it's counterfeit. The packaging looks exactly like the genuine article with crisp printing and no spelling mistakes. There is even a QR code leading to product details on the Thai Industrial Standards institute, where you can also file a complaint about product not meeting standards.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Do you normally pay an electrician to change your light bulbs?

 

If all you're doing is unscrewing one lightbulb and screwing in another, DIY is fine regardless of skill level. 

 

But if you're having to disconnect wires and splice new wires on (like the OP), it could be a recipe for disaster unless you know what you're doing.  And that includes using a voltmeter to look for stray voltage that could bite you big time.  It's scary how many circuits are energized in Asia even when the wall switch is turned off.   Sometimes, it's not even the wires that are live.  It's anything metal.

 

In fact, I test everything metal with the voltmeter even when I switch off at my apartment breakers.  There's no telling what's leaking in from the room next door, the floors above, or the floor below.

 

[carlyai]

When I did some building extensions in the Pattaya house I removed the wiring before new walls and roof extension. I usually treat everything as live even though main breakers etc turned off. Up to the last wires I was tempted to just do with my hands, but luckily I used my insulated pliers and while removing the wires I shorted them with the pliers and a great big flash nearly blinded me..

.scary. I checked the cable and it went straight back to the incoming mains cable. No consumer unit no circuit breaker.

Maybe wired like that from the start.