This is an unusual one. It's the very hefty LED module out of a streetlight, that has failed prematurely.
The failure mode is odd. The high open circuit voltage from the universal Xitanium driver has resulted in tracking on the aluminium core PCB, that has progressively burned along a thin copper track, eating right through to the aluminium layer to sustain the tracking current.
Tracking is when the carbon created from a burning connection or current leakage causes the formation of a conductive path.
After the unofficial repair I tested for voltage on the heatsink plate with reference to the positive and negative LED supply. There was no significant voltage, so the tracking has purely been using the aluminium as a current path as it nibbled its way along the thin track.
In this case the LED might have fluctuated a bit before failing, but the current regulated supply with high open circuit voltage (300V minus combined LED voltage) would have maintained the illumination via the fault until it finally burned clear.
My fix involved heating the whole module up to facilitate soldering on the heatsinked PCB, removing LEDs on damaged pads, and then linking that section out with a thin wire (thin copper tape could have worked too). The current automatically regulated to the remaining LEDs, so the result is a working, very slightly dimmer streetlight. (about 6% dimmer)
It's firmly in the category of an emergency repair for using the panel in less critical applications. The fact one LED has failed suggests others may follow suit.
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The failure mode is odd. The high open circuit voltage from the universal Xitanium driver has resulted in tracking on the aluminium core PCB, that has progressively burned along a thin copper track, eating right through to the aluminium layer to sustain the tracking current.
Tracking is when the carbon created from a burning connection or current leakage causes the formation of a conductive path.
After the unofficial repair I tested for voltage on the heatsink plate with reference to the positive and negative LED supply. There was no significant voltage, so the tracking has purely been using the aluminium as a current path as it nibbled its way along the thin track.
In this case the LED might have fluctuated a bit before failing, but the current regulated supply with high open circuit voltage (300V minus combined LED voltage) would have maintained the illumination via the fault until it finally burned clear.
My fix involved heating the whole module up to facilitate soldering on the heatsinked PCB, removing LEDs on damaged pads, and then linking that section out with a thin wire (thin copper tape could have worked too). The current automatically regulated to the remaining LEDs, so the result is a working, very slightly dimmer streetlight. (about 6% dimmer)
It's firmly in the category of an emergency repair for using the panel in less critical applications. The fact one LED has failed suggests others may follow suit.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
https://www.patreon.com/bigclive (extra streams and channel interaction)
Or alternatively:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
#ElectronicsCreators
Is it fixable? Everything is fixable if you have the money
Bridge the LED's out, I have done that in some SL led clusters. Those tiny leds are overdriven very hard. I like your colour coded security bits set.
A nice heatsink to build a nice growlight
The kink palculator, funny.
Can you lower the set-point of the PSU to perhaps lengthen the service life, at reduced output obviously, then that could be a better longevity fix I would think?
All this fantasy BS about LEDs “will last years longer than incandescent” is utter nonsense. I don’t recall sodium lamps dying so soon…
Eco warrior horse shit. 🤦♂️😂
Hi – I came across a similar panel floodlighting Harlech Castle. I’m curious why some of the clusters are twos and some fours at random across the surface.
the question must be asked….why is nobody making replacement led arrays for this sort of thing ? I work in an industry where they are needed. I've looked, but cannot find any ( and one example is for streetlights ). Surely replacement arrays should be in all shapes and sizes, and cheap, to ensure cheap repairs are possible, instead of having to replace everything
Bring back low pressure sodium! Nothing beats that pinky red colour as they warm up.
In tropical climates I'd be guessing that the failure might be due to a lightning strike.
The kink palculator HAHAHAHAHHAHA