How come LED Light Bulbs only last for about 2-3 Years?

I’ve bought and replaced a lot of light bulbs, and I noticed that all of them said “up to 20,000 hours” which would be about 5 years given 12 hours of daily use (which we definitely don’t).

  • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
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    5 days ago

    I have a dozen that run 12+ hours a day. I’ve had 1 fail in 5 years.

    Don’t buy cheap LEDs, and don’t put them in enclosures that trap heat.

    • rtxn@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Speaking from experience: LED drivers hate dirty power. If they burn out frequently, check the wiring for damage. I probably avoided a house fire.

      • trolololol@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        As an EE graduate I want to hear more about what dirt means and what driver can be affected by it. I’d expect power electronics to stand 100% over voltage over short periods and easy 20% long term, which would blow up lots of other things on the house before the driver or the LED starts performing worse.

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
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        5 days ago

        That’s a good point. LEDs dislike unstable power a LOT more than incandescent or fluorescent.