Can LED Lights Cause a Fire?

Though there are many types of lights on the market, LED lights are growing in popularity. This is because of their inexpensive nature and low electricity requirements. But what are the risks of this type of bulb sparking a fire?

LED lights are unlikely to start a fire. The bulbs don’t get hot enough to ignite anything. The biggest risks are faulty wiring or overloaded circuits. This is often caused by the way they are installed, rather than an issue with the light itself.

Purchasing an LED light will have a lower chance of starting a fire. But that doesn’t mean that the risks are non-existent. Read on to find out how you can protect your family.

How Lights Start Fires

Can LED fairy lights cause a fire? To understand this, we need to know how lights can spark ablaze. Some of the most common ways they start a fire are;

The bulb gets too hot
Loose electrical wires making sparks
Brittle wiring
Heat Produced by LED Lights

The amount of heat they produce is determined by the way the light is produced. In traditional incandescent lightbulbs, this will be done by burning a filament. While this produces a lot of light, it also requires a lot of electricity. Also, traditional lightbulbs produce a lot of heat, increasing the chances that they will start a fire.

So, do LED lights get hot enough to start a fire? LED bulbs use a semi-conductor to pass electricity through the diode. This gives them a few advantages. First, it uses 75 percent less electricity and lasts 25 percent longer than traditional lightbulbs. It also puts out a lot less heat than traditional bulbs.

Because the bulb is cooler, you don’t need to worry about something making contact and bursting into flames.

Loose Electrical Wires

One of the most substantial risks is a loose electrical wire. This is especially common in Christmas lights, which need to be plugged into a socket. If the wires are exposed, they could create sparks. Often, just one spark can be enough to start a fire, particularly if there are flammable items around the electrical outlet. There are a few ways that you can lower the risks of this event;

Thoroughly check the lights, checking that the cord is in good condition.

Monitor the lights. Flickering or dimming could indicate problems in the flow of electricity.

When you are finished using Christmas lights, pack them away carefully. Put them into a box that rodents can’t eat through.

Brittle Wiring

The next thing to consider is the condition of the bulb. This is most common with traditional filament bulbs. When the wattage is exceeded, it can cause excess heat to be produced. It will also cause the bulb to become more brittle. This can increase the chances that they will start a fire.

The easiest way to address the problem is by matching the voltages. You want to make sure that you aren’t exceeding these limits. You will be able to find the voltage of the bulb on the packet.

Types of LED Lights and their Risk of Fire

There are a few types of LED lights that you can purchase. Each of these will pose some unique risks and benefits. Let’s briefly look at the options.

Strip Lights

This is one of the most popular types of LED lights. In this case, they will resemble a long rope. People like them because of their versatility. You’ll be able to wrap them around a balcony or driveway. But can LED strip lights cause a fire?

The risks are very low. Like most other types of LED lights, the bulbs won’t get hot enough to ignite anything. However, it’s best to do a test. Leave them on for several hours. Then, touch your finger on them. It might be a little warm, but it’s unlikely to be hot enough to make you feel uncomfortable.

Christmas Lights

Nothing ruins the holidays like your house burning down. This is often a period of increased risk, with fire departments responding to more emergencies.

But can LED Christmas lights cause a fire?

While LED lights are linked to some fires, they might not be the primary cause. As we mentioned, frayed wires will increase the risk of sparks. Since Christmas lights get tossed in and out of a box every year, there is a higher risk that they will be in poor condition. The tree might also be raising the fire risk, as it can be made of flammable materials. This is why it’s so important to check all the lights before you decorate with them.

Another common Christmas light problem is that you overload the circuits with too many lights. An overloaded circuit can cause short circuits. Check the total load of the lights before you plug them in. Often, you’ll want to keep it below 15 amps.

Lights for Growing Plants

Grow lights made with LEDs are among the most hazardous types of LEDs. These, in contrast to the other types, are intended to generate a certain amount of heat. This is important in order to assist the plants in their growth. However, are LED grow lights capable of starting a fire?

Again, an issue with the lights themselves is not typically the source of a fire that occurs in a grow room. There is an issue with the way that the lights have been arranged in this room. Take, for instance, the placement of multiple grow lights in close proximity to water. The interaction of water droplets and electrical wiring is not a happy one. In addition to this, there is a possibility that they will overload the circuits.

The size of the grow chambers adds another layer of danger to the situation. Since most are only a few acres in size, any fire that starts there is likely to spread rapidly. Things like fertiliser are one potential source of fuel for the flames. The good news is that as long as everything is set up properly, you shouldn't have to worry about grow lights starting a fire. This is because grow lights emit infrared light, which is not flammable.

Keeping the Lights on Purposefully

Traditional light bulbs are more expensive to operate than LED lights are, which is one of the advantages of using LEDs. Because of this, there are some people who like to keep them on throughout the night. But would that be acceptable to do?

Because LED bulbs don't become as hot as other types of light bulbs, there is very little chance that they may spark a fire if you leave them on all night. It is perfectly safe to do so. Due to these factors, LED lights are ideally suited for use as night lights.

Using LED Lights While You Sleep

There are a few other reasons why you might not want to sleep with a white or blue-ish LED light, despite the fact that the risk of fire is extremely minimal. These are the following:

The light that is preventing you from sleeping

Increased likelihood of suffering from depression as well as other mood disorders

Lack of sleep might make it more difficult to concentrate on tasks.

Because the strong, ultra-white light emitted by LEDs can prevent our bodies from producing melatonin, using these lights is an excellent choice when it comes to getting work done on a project, but they are not as effective when it comes to putting our bodies to sleep.

whether you are planning to use an LED night light, check to see whether it has a setting that allows you to dial the brightness down very low or select an other colour of light, such as red.

How to Decrease the Likelihood That Your LED Lights Will Cause an Accidental Fire

As we've shown, there is a rather low probability that LED lights will start a fire. However, this does not preclude the possibility of taking some measures to cut the risks to an even lower level.

Invest in Lights of Good Quality

Investing in lighting of a high-quality should be the first thing on your to-do list. Because of this, they are going to have an exceptionally lengthy lifespan. There will be less of a chance that these lights would malfunction due to bad wiring. A fire is more likely to be caused by an issue with the electrical wiring than it is by a fault with the LED bulb itself. As a result of this, it is strongly recommended to shell out a bit more money for a good LED light.

Make sure the Voltage Limits are Met.

One more typical issue is that the outlet has been overloaded with too much debris. Because of this, the likelihood of a short circuit is increased. Examining the power requirements of the lights is the most effective method for avoiding this problem. This will typically cost less than conventional light bulbs. Always make sure not to plug more than 15 amps into a single outlet.

A Few Parting Thoughts

LED lights are among the safest lights that are now available on the market. The risk that they will start a fire is extremely minimal because, in comparison to other types of lights, they do not get as hot. You merely need to check that they are a reputable, risk-free brand and that they are set up correctly.
 

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