LED 12 volt lighting: Long term results

[Paul Stamser]

As original poster on this thread, I finally have some long-term results to share:

The small-size but bright 24 & 36-LED panels from Hong Kong (post #1, etc.) that I put into operation around Nov. 9, 2010 continue to perform flawlessly in my kitchen in daily useage in my 12-volt woods cabin. They have not failed, melted, or malfunctioned in any way. One 36-LED panel is mounted over my stove & sink and one 24-LED is over my kitchen table.

That's about 13 months of daily useage without a problem.

HOWEVER, the LED bulbs (single contact auto socket base) from Hong Kong that I put into operation around Nov. 28, 2010 (posts #30, 32, 40, etc.) began to fail a fews months ago when one or two of the LED's in the bulb began to flash after warming up. I think that two of them have done that so far and a third one flashes once in awhile. None of them have burned out totally, but the flashing is VERY annoying. I use the bulb type over my downstairs desk and don't use it any more than the kitchen LEDs which have not failed.

So, after a little more than one year of daily useage on both types, I find the small panel type to be reliable but the bulb type NOT reliable. Curiously, this is the second brand of bulb type LED's that I have tried. The first brand also burnt out and/or began flashing within a year or so. The bulb type appears to be well-made but they do not seem to last.

PS: the panel types are still poorly mounted hung with bread-bag ties and the wires just loosely twisted together!