LED lamps are used to save energy and improve lighting in a room. In the event of a malfunction, you do not need to immediately throw out the lamp, because often you can do the repair of an LED lamp with your own hands. The cost of such repairs will be much less than the cost of a new device.

The lamp repair procedure consists of the following steps:

1. Analysis of the device and the principle of operation of the LED lamp
2. Checking for problems with the electrical network and chandelier
3. Dismantling the lamp and its repair

This algorithm will allow you to gain the necessary knowledge about the lamps and check if the problem is really with the lamp.

Device and the principle of work

A modern LED light bulb consists of the following elements:

The base required for screwing the lamp into the chandelier holder.

• Driver, or ballast starter housed in a plastic case with air holes. Designed to convert alternating current into direct current. The capacitors located on it have a higher power than the capacitors of conventional fluorescent lamps. Ventilation slots are required because the heat generated by the diodes accumulates inside the lamp. The more holes and the higher the quality of the capacitors, the longer the light bulb will last. Voltage drops are regulated by zener diodes, on which the luminaire durability also depends.
• Aluminum radiator... Serves to cool the lamp. The radiator fins are arranged in a spiral and lengthwise.
• Aluminum board with LEDs. The side of the board facing the radiator is covered with cooling thermal paste, since most of the heat given off by the diodes is received by the board on which they are located.
• LEDs (five or more). The power of a particular lamp depends on their number, and the quality of the diode affects the light emitted as a result of their work.
• Light diffuser. Fixed on the inner aluminum ring and designed to evenly distribute the light generated by the diodes. The diffuser material is matte plastic, which hardly heats up.
• The main component of an LED lamp is LEDs. These are semiconductor devices that convert electric current into a beam of light. The elements of a diode are a substrate through which no electric current flows, as well as a semiconductor crystal located on it. They are both housed in a housing with contacts on one side and a plastic lens on the other. There is a small space between the lens and the crystal itself, filled with transparent silicone. The LED is fixed to the cooling aluminum plate.

The lamp glows due to the recombination of electrons located between the contacts of the semiconductor. The contacts must have varying degrees of conductivity. At the locations of the contact outputs, the semiconductor crystal is doped on the one hand with an acceptor impurity, in which there is a lack of electrons, and on the other hand, with a donor impurity, in which there are too many electrons. Electric current causes electrons to recombine, resulting in energy being converted into light. It may seem that there is a direct relationship between the amperage and the brightness of the light.

This is true, but an increase in the strength of the electric current will lead to the fact that the resistance in the semiconductor will cause heating of the LED, because of which the contacts may begin to melt, and the semiconductor may even burn out.

Examination electrical problems

Before disassembling the lamp, you need to make sure that the problem is really with it, and not with the wiring or contacts of the chandelier. They are checked according to the following algorithm:

1. Mains voltage measurement, which should be 220 volts. It is made using a voltmeter or multimeter. A complete lack of voltage indicates a problem with the power supply or switch.
2. Checking the status of the luminaire... If the problem of lighting is not solved by replacing the previously installed light bulb with another that works for sure, it is necessary.
3. Fuse integrity analysis... Replacing the old element with a new one can fix lighting problems. It is not advisable to use cheap fuses, since their poor quality in almost all cases causes luminaire malfunctions.
4. Checking the chandelier wires for a short circuit.
5. Troubleshooting Driver Issues, transformer or rectifiers. Poor quality capacitors are often the culprit. In a cheap, poor quality chandelier, even good capacitors cannot last long.

If no problems were found, it is necessary to inspect the lamp.... To check the lamp with your own hands, you will need the following tools:

• A multimeter to determine the location of a malfunction if it is not visible to the naked eye.
• Soldering iron for connecting diodes and driver at the end of the repair.
• A screwdriver for removing the bolts and separating the diodes from the board.
• A thin knife or scalpel.

Disassembly lamp

Before starting repair work, the lamp must be disassembled. This is an easy task if done carefully and consistently. The disassembly algorithm is as follows:

• Pry off the bulb dome with a flat screwdriver and remove it. Do not be afraid to put in effort, even if the dome does not give in - it really comes off.
• Unscrew the screws from the aluminum plate.
• Pry the plate with a screwdriver and remove it.
• Unscrew the base - in the same way as opening a threaded can.
• Carefully fold back the sides of the plinth at all squeezed-out points. Removing the plinth is almost effortless.
• Separate the wires on the aluminum board with a knife or scalpel.
• Remove the driver.

Examination DIY lamp

First, the disassembled LED lamp is visually inspected for burnt or melted elements. Often such problems are related to the lamp driver, but if they are found on the base or in the wires, it is necessary to re-solder. If there is no soldering iron at hand, and there is no experience in carrying out such operations, it is better to simply replace the old driver with a new one. You can buy drivers without any problems in the store. After that, the light bulb will still serve its due date.

Visual inspection may not give results, and then you need to check the condition of individual parts of the lamp using special devices.

Malfunctions can occur in the current limiting capacitor, its resistor or diodes. All these elements need to be ringed with a multimeter, which will help determine the location of the breakdown.

LEDs Is another type of detail that can cause problems. Not all burned out diodes can be seen with the naked eye: the rest must be checked with a multimeter or a battery, using it as a battery.

If you don't have a multimeter at hand, you can check the lamp by applying a voltage of 1.5 V to it (provided that the resistance is standard 150 ohms). The elements that light up as a result work normally, while the rest are faulty.

Damaged LEDs are carefully replaced with a soldering iron. It is better if the master does it, although you can do it yourself. LEDs should be replaced with parts of exactly the same quality and color. The elements can even be soldered out of the LED strip. However, you can use an easier way out of the situation and buy a new lamp.

If, this indicates a low quality of the capacitor.

This problem can be easily solved by replacing it. With a new capacitor, the light bulb will shine brightly again and without interruption.

Following the above steps will give new life to a faulty LED lamp. Do-it-yourself lamp repair will allow you to save not only on the purchase of a new lamp, but also on the services of master electricians.