If you've bought or are considering buying an LED floodlight from ebay, then this video will show you some of the pitfalls. From unconnected ground wires to MUCH less than half the quoted power rating.
I'm not sure why it's so common to see the earth wires left unconnected. The fixture is mains voltage and metal, so it should be earthed, especially when the cable has an earth conductor in it. Although the LED operates at a reduced voltage, there is still the potential for water ingress, electronic failure or bad manufacturing that could result in the casing becoming live at mains voltage posing a shock hazard with the light and associated metalwork in the vicinity.
It's a shame really, because otherwise these fixtures are very neat and functional. The quality of the housing is quite good and the way the LED is mounted directly on the finned case means that it's temperature is maintained at sensible levels.
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15 thoughts on “Ebay led floodlight scam warning.”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars topytuser14 says:

    Is there a way to stop the refreshing of the led ?

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Venena Religio Est says:

    Clive, you are forgetting that in China accurate descriptions are an anomaly – itโ€™s the law ๐Ÿ˜ค

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Theo Davies says:

    They are junk.
    Don't know what duty cycle they can handle but as floodlighting a workshop for a few hours they burn out in days.
    10 years in R&D electronics.
    Keep up the good work.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ken W. says:

    I would remove the power lead from inside the flood light and install a long lead instead of using a junction box. The Chinese are terrible on blowing specs way too high. EXAGGERATION THEY DO A LOT. I SEE IT ESPECIALLY WITH LASER SPECS.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars danny verhamme says:

    The luxury model.. ๐Ÿ˜‚

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jay says:

    China is incapable of telling the truth…..from flood lights to viruses!๐Ÿคฃ

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Paul Drake says:

    These are probably marketed by the same people who sell rechargeable cells with a "100,000 mAh" rating.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars HEWfunkingKNEWit says:

    Its width not watts ๐Ÿ˜„

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Josip ฤ†uriฤ‡ says:

    Lumens dont exist to you or…?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars rocketboysmc says:

    i bought 4 led floodlight not from ebay but i have had every single one fail. the most common failure was the light never turning off and the other one started only glowing dimly. this happened about 3 months after the warranty expired.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Geoff Geoff says:

    Remember, those are Chinese Watts.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Chris England says:

    No earth, half the advertised wattage, but it's got three screws so "it must be the luxury model. Brilliant!

    On a more serious note, though, sooner or later, somebody's going to get killed by one of these lethal Chinese contraptions that totally disregard UK safety regulations and common sense. I can sort of understand that sometimes devices will fail the UK's stringent safety regulations because of a misunderstanding (eg. not having quite enough spacing between the mains and the output), but just leaving the earth wire dangling in mid-air? Even a complete dummy would surely ask "what's this for?" And in this case, they had even stripped the earth insulation, ready to connect it to something. Clearly they just don't care.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jules Anderson says:

    Customs should send this CRAP back to where it came from.
    Total disgrace

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David Burbridge says:

    Ebay, Amazon, Mercari. No matter the site, so much of what is on offer is this cheap, nasty AliExpress crap.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dewald Matthysen says:

    All leds run at around 50%.thats to prolong the life of the led if you run it at 100% then i drastically reduces the lifespan.

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