L.E.D Driver Humidity Flicker?

[SunshineSupergirl]

L.E.D Driver Humidity Flicker?

So in the last 2 weeks I have noticed thar BOTH of my LED LIGHTS have been flickering occasionally and also seem to change intensity every time it comes on and off instead of just staying where I set the dimmer switch.

And after doing some research on the internet according to AI at least, it could be that it's getting too much humidity and that could actually hurt the driver of the unit which would cause the flicker and the change in intensity even though I didn't touch anything or change the controller knob.

I have been running my humidifier to a 100% power so that it could humidify more quickly and for the last 40 days nothing has happened since that time but all of a sudden now there is this problem.

So it might be that I was just pushing too much moisture all at once and the LEE driver's didn't like that.

So I'm going to back off the amount of water vapor that comes out, take it down to 50%, see if that helps.

And if it stops the flickering that's great!

But if it doesn't then I might have another problem.

The only issue with running it at 50% is it takes a little bit longer to humidify everything but only about 30 to 45 seconds.

I guess I didn't realize how powerful my humidifier was for such a small space!

I really hope I haven't permanently damaged the driver!

 

[Phyto]

How humid is the tent? What kind of lights do you have? Most (but not all) LED lights are rated for at least damp environments . Most manufacturers list an IP rating, you want one with a 65 rating orcsbove.

 

[SunshineSupergirl]

How humid is the tent? What kind of lights do you have? Most (but not all) LED lights are rated for at least damp environments . Most manufacturers list an IP rating, you want one with a 65 rating orcsbove.

I have these LEDs

Right now the humidity is 55%. I dropped it down from 60 just to keep the humidifier off for a while.

But I was running with 100% power on the humidifier and germinating at 80% and the humidifier would only stay on for like 30 seconds pushing vapor out like that and then it would shut off.

So it's definitely was pushing a really strong stream of vapor, at 100%

I think I just pushed out too much vapor too fast, it may have accumulated over time or possibly damage the components since I have been using the lights since late March this year.

MagLong 2000
Spider Farmer SF1000

They both have MeanWell drivers

 

[Phyto]

They have IP Ratings of 65, so they should be good in damp/humid conditions. Did the flickering occur around the same time as the humidifier was running? Hopefully lowering the humidity will help.

 

[SunshineSupergirl]

They have IP Ratings of 65, so they should be good in damp/humid conditions. Did the flickering occur around the same time as the humidifier was running? Hopefully lowering the humidity will help.

Yeah, but it also flickers every now and then even when it's not.

I Just added two heat mats to the grow window, 17W a piece.

Wondering if it would flicker because of amp drain?

But then it would just trip the circuit breaker so probably not that.

I checked the cords on the lights, made sure everything was tight, including the fuse cases.

If it persists I'm going to be confused.

I used the MagLong light by itself last year and it never flickered.

Praying it will correct itself and work again properly.

 

[HerbalEdu]

your space is most prolly too small to mitigate well rh ... when the humidifier is turned on ...

and you most prolly experience short rh spike ... that are no good for the lights ...

 

[SunshineSupergirl]

your space is most prolly too small to mitigate well rh ... when the humidifier is turned on ...

and you most prolly experience short rh spike ... that are no good for the lights ...

I've been able to manage my rh very well actually.

I believe the issue is too high intensity moisture all at once,the fan blasting that stream of vapor near the top , I thought having the humidifier on 100% would be helpful, but it wasn't necessary to have it at 100% for such a small space indeed.

 

[Grownsince95]

You can take the driver off the spider farmer panel and keep it outside the growing area if you want. Im not sure about the other light. This is how I use my sf-2000's since day 1. You'll need a spare extension cord and four of those little thimble shaped wire connectors. It's surprisingly easy. Take it from someone who's scared to death to do electrical work lol.

 

[JIMKSI64]

I do not think moisture is causing this.
A flicker in a light can have a few causes but if moisture was the issue it would do it more consistently or the problem would get worse.
It looks like you are not using a controller for the lights as I see no runs to the com inputs. As it is both lights I think you have a circuit capacity issue or to much stuff on the same plug.
With a pair of lights and a fan or 2 and a humidifier the circuit is not a huge draw but we have no way to know what else is on the house circuit. Could be a window ac upstairs on the same fuse or breaker.
Any flicker or problem affecting 2 different lights is normally not component failure it's a circuit issue.
Looks like the comment you are not using a controller may be wrong as that appears to be 95's light.

 

[SunshineSupergirl]

I do not think moisture is causing this.
A flicker in a light can have a few causes but if moisture was the issue it would do it more consistently or the problem would get worse.
It looks like you are not using a controller for the lights as I see no runs to the com inputs. As it is both lights I think you have a circuit capacity issue or to much stuff on the same plug.
With a pair of lights and a fan or 2 and a humidifier the circuit is not a huge draw but we have no way to know what else is on the house circuit. Could be a window ac upstairs on the same fuse or breaker.
Any flicker or problem affecting 2 different lights is normally not component failure it's a circuit issue.
Looks like the comment you are not using a controller may be wrong as that appears to be 95's light.

Spider Farmer SF1000 has a dimmer switch on it, same as MagLong.

Each light is plugged into its own outlet into a good surge protector, also each light is plugged into a Wi-Fi controller for Google Home, Timer etc

Everything was fine until 2 weeks ago.

I don't think I'm pulling too much power, the heater doesn't even come on expect for night time now.

I just added 2 17W heat mats, to the same power outlet/surge protector.

Not sure what's the cause really.

Maybe I'm having dimner switch issues?

The LEDS will sometimes change in intensity as well, after each off/on cycle, but it does that less often.

I'll get to the bottom of this somehow!

 

[JIMKSI64]

Of this was my grow ( and at one point it was my grow as I had the same issue but only when my humidifier ran ) I would/did put a dvom on the circuit and hit the min/max button. It will report any drop out in cottage or current if you have a good enough meter.
My problem was an insane monkey wired my house. I got random circuit runs. I had to run a dedicated 30 amp service just for my grow setup.
Also my house was built in 84 ( not by me ) and the use of aluminium wires is problematic. Al vrs cu the expansion rate is triple and this loosens connectors and connecting screws on breakers. It's like a maintenance item in this house.

 

[SunshineSupergirl]

Of this was my grow ( and at one point it was my grow as I had the same issue but only when my humidifier ran ) I would/did put a dvom on the circuit and hit the min/max button. It will report any drop out in cottage or current if you have a good enough meter.
My problem was an insane monkey wired my house. I got random circuit runs. I had to run a dedicated 30 amp service just for my grow setup.
Also my house was built in 84 ( not by me ) and the use of aluminium wires is problematic. Al vrs cu the expansion rate is triple and this loosens connectors and connecting screws on breakers. It's like a maintenance item in this house.

I don't know what a dvom is.

My MagLong doesn't have a box on top of it like the spider Farmer does, it can't daisy chain.

I'll check to see how much power drain I have though.

 

[HerbalEdu]

you literally have the humidifier blowing condensed water next to your lights ... so locally you're rh could be higher than what your measuring due to mitigation that's far from optimal in a space as small as yours. also condensed water may infiltrate and accumulate with the driver and connectors ...

"Household areas like kitchens or bathrooms are prone to flickering or wavering lights due to increased relative humidity caused by activities like cooking or washing that produce water"

"LED lights are known for their energy efficiency and durability, but they are not immune to moisture damage. When exposed to water or high humidity, LEDs can suffer from various issues that affect their performance and lifespan"

"Is 60 humidity too high for electronics?
Typically, the sweet spot is between 40% and 60% relative humidity. This range minimizes the risk of ESD while also preventing corrosion and condensation"

"High humidity levels can lead to the infiltration and accumulation of moisture into sensitive electronic components, causing corrosion and short-circuiting. Moisture and condensation can be especially detrimental to circuit boards, connectors, and other exposed parts."

here are some others reasons:

10 Reasons Why Your LED Lights Keep Flickering

Discover why your LED lights are flickering & how to stop them with our troubleshooting guide. Read the blog or watch the video for easy-to-follow fixes.

thelightingoutlet.com.au

1. Downlight & Dimmer Compatibility
2. The Ripple Effect
3. Loose Connections
4. Dusty or Dirty Sockets
5. Loose Electrical Wiring
6. Incompatible Dimmers
7. Installing Non-Dimmable Bulbs
8. Inrush Current
9. Overloaded Circuits
10. Additional

 

[SunshineSupergirl]

you literally have the humidifier blowing condensed water next to your lights ... so locally you're rh could be higher than what your measuring due to mitigation that's far from optimal in a space as small as yours. also condensed water may infiltrate and accumulate with the driver and connectors ...

"Household areas like kitchens or bathrooms are prone to flickering or wavering lights due to increased relative humidity caused by activities like cooking or washing that produce water"

"LED lights are known for their energy efficiency and durability, but they are not immune to moisture damage. When exposed to water or high humidity, LEDs can suffer from various issues that affect their performance and lifespan"

"Is 60 humidity too high for electronics?
Typically, the sweet spot is between 40% and 60% relative humidity. This range minimizes the risk of ESD while also preventing corrosion and condensation"

"High humidity levels can lead to the infiltration and accumulation of moisture into sensitive electronic components, causing corrosion and short-circuiting. Moisture and condensation can be especially detrimental to circuit boards, connectors, and other exposed parts."

here are some others reasons:

10 Reasons Why Your LED Lights Keep Flickering

Discover why your LED lights are flickering & how to stop them with our troubleshooting guide. Read the blog or watch the video for easy-to-follow fixes.

thelightingoutlet.com.au

1. Downlight & Dimmer Compatibility
2. The Ripple Effect
3. Loose Connections
4. Dusty or Dirty Sockets
5. Loose Electrical Wiring
6. Incompatible Dimmers
7. Installing Non-Dimmable Bulbs
8. Inrush Current
9. Overloaded Circuits
10. Additional

As of 12:30 PM The flickering has seemingly stopped.



Hopefully it will stay that way