Why Do My LED Lights Glow After Being Turned Off?

LED bulbs and lighting are a cost-efficient and energy-saving improvement in any type of premises, whether domestic or commercial. They’re superseding all other kinds of lighting because they last longer and provide better quality light.  However, you may sometimes get confused by seeing the lights glowing after they’re switched off. Don’t worry; this is a common experience with LED lighting, usually known as “LED ghosting”. This article explains why it happens, what it means for your electrical supply and what you can do to stop it.

What Can Cause LED Lights To Keep On Glowing

LEDs work differently from standard lightbulbs. They rely on the agitation of electrons, which pass through various layers of semiconducting material. You’ll find all types of LED lighting products, including light bulbs and fixtures, torches,  vehicle headlights, indicator lights, etc. Any of them may display the phenomenon of LED ghosting.

There are some underlying electrical issues that could give rise to this ghostly afterglow. These include surplus electrical energy storage, issues with the LED driver and afterglow in a luminescent layer.

Surplus Electrical Energy Storage

When you switch off your LED light, it may continue to glow because its capacitor is storing leftover electrical energy. This is more likely to happen if you’re using dimmer switches or applications with pulse width modulation (PWM). This is due to some energy being left in the electrical circuit after you turn off the light. This can take some time to discharge – from just a few seconds to several minutes. 

This phenomenon is more prominent in LEDs because of their low electricity consumption: their simple construction means they contain no other power-draining components to help dissipate any charge remaining when you turn them off. It’s not a very dangerous situation, but something you should address if you want your LED lights to stop their ghostly afterglow.

Issues With The LED Driver

One of the most common reasons why your LED lights may continue to glow after being turned off is issues with the LED driver. The LED driver’s function is to control and regulate the electrical current flowing into and out of your light source. A malfunctioning or poor-quality LED driver can significantly slow down the release of electricity from the lighting circuit. This will allow the circuit to store excess energy, causing residual glowing after you switch off the light.

Afterglow In A Luminescent Layer

The afterglow that you might notice after you switch off your LED lights usually comes from a luminescent layer inside the bulb. This layer traps small amounts of electrical energy to give off light. Once you turn off the power, this energy can take a minute or two to dissipate fully, creating the impression that the lights are still shining weakly. If you haven’t seen it before, this can be slightly disturbing, but this glowing isn’t abnormal or dangerous.

How To Get Rid Of The Afterglow When You’ve Turned LED Lights Off

Replace Them

If you’re concerned about the ghosting effect, the best way to get rid of the afterglow is to replace the LED lights. This is the most effective solution, especially if the glow is due to design flaws in the LEDs or faulty components. They might be retaining some electrical energy in their circuits, so installing a higher quality, properly functioning replacement LED light can eliminate the glowing effect. With no residual electrical energy remaining after you switch the light off, you’ll also save on your power consumption.

Fixing this problem by replacing the LED is quicker, easier and more cost-effective than dealing with issues arising from faulty wiring. The latter would require expending time and effort in locating a professional electrician to handle the problem.

Check The Wiring And Electrical Installation

Faulty or incorrect wiring can give rise to several electrical problems, including improper grounding, short circuits and power surges. You may see your LEDs not just glowing after being turned off, but flickering or even staying on. If you suspect that your LED lighting system is suffering from such problems, consult a professional electrician. They can check out all your electrical connections and make sure they’re safe, as well as making any necessary repairs.

They’ll also evaluate the entire circuit to ensure that it complies with current electrical standards. This should include checking all wiring and cables to make sure they’re properly routed. This will ensure that your lights, switches and dimmers perform optimally.

Install A Bypass Capacitor

A bypass capacitor can be connected directly to the LED light to help reduce the voltage stored in it. This allows any excess electrical current to return to the circuit unimpeded. Installing a bypass capacitor will prevent LED lights from glowing after you switch them off.

No More LED Ghosting

LED lights are currently the best and most energy-efficient lighting systems available. Because of this, all other types of lighting are being phased out around the world. Standard lighting just can’t compare to LEDs’ quality of light and longer lifespan. However, if you’re concerned that your LEDs are still glowing when turned off, there are ways to stop this ghosting phenomenon. 

• Replace your ghosting LEDs with good-quality lights to help eliminate the residual load after switching off. To avoid LED ghosting in the long term, it’s important to install only top-quality LED bulbs, drivers and fixtures.

• Ensure your LEDs are installed with compatible functioning dimmer switches to prevent lingering afterglow.

• Check that your installation and all your wiring and cables are correctly routed and undamaged so no energy can be stored within the LED. This is important to prevent the occurrence of any potential electrical hazard.

Remember that LED lights glowing after being turned off may indicate underlying electrical issues that you must deal with quickly so they don’t pose any danger or reduce the lifespan of your lights.