Author Topic: LED streetlights randomly turning off and back on?  (Read 1077 times)
Mr Lamp
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LED streetlights randomly turning off and back on? « on: October 25, 2025, 01:21:56 PM » Author: Mr Lamp
I've encountered a situation where some LED streetlights just turn off and then back on, one by one. It's completely random. I saw it first time when they were just installed, it was like 2017 or earlier, and it's still happening this day. Lastly today, I saw one being dark and then it turned right back on.
I don't have any videos of that right now, but I think I have to attempt filming it someday.
This area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CaFruPbVhhPgNJ6aA
The model seems to be iGuzzini Wow...
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An autistic lamp & motorcycle enthusiast from Finland.

Favorite lamp types: fluorescent & HID.

LED as general lighting is boring!

Ash
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Re: LED streetlights randomly turning off and back on? « Reply #1 on: October 25, 2025, 02:25:30 PM » Author: Ash
I have seen this too, here are my guesses :



The lights are controlled by some wireless node system, that updates their dimming level based on some schedule stored remotely. The system may periodically send the data even when it is not really changing dimming levels. For an unknown reason (bad handling of data loss ?) it might default to momentarily going to off during those events

I seen this happen with Juganu's system, when momentarily one or a few lights blink to off and come back on, at the same moment when some others change dimming levels



The drivers have a standard internal construction common to most switching power supplies, where the low voltage for the internal circuitry of the driver (typically 12V or so) is derived from the main power supply, by a separate winding in the primary side. This output is not regulated (other than by a clamping Zener diode), and is only designed so that it will produce sufficient voltage when the LED driver is working with its rated LEDs

Under light load (when the LED array voltage is at the minimum rating of the driver), the voltage powering the internal circuit may be borderline low. If any additional factor happens - a line voltage glitch, drifting of the LED voltage as it heats up (not sure about LEDs, but in ordinary rectifier diodes the voltage goes down when temperature goes up), aging of the circuit components - the voltage may drop below the circuit's low limits. When this happens it will shut down and restart through it's initial startup process, like if it was just powered on



Overheating and thermal protection also come to mind, but i would expect that to either only dim the LEDs (to not cut the light completely), or take longer time to cool down to restart
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