Safety Circuit

[leecue]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can give me some advice please. I bought a set of 12v blue led's for my fish tank from amazon i had them fitted for a couple of weeks when they set on fire! I've contacted the seller to claim a refund and compensation for tmy original light unit that the faulty lights melted.... They have refunded my money for the leds but are now saying that the power supply that I used must not have have a built in safety circuit .Which caused the leds to build up enough heat to burn when water got inside the leds and shorted them out... The supply I used was from a netgear router 12v 1A and ce marked, does the ce mark mean that it must pass safety specifications? Are they just trying to fob me off as I suspect?

 

[Doc Hudson]

Welcome to the forum, If water got into the wiring it is irrelevant what the supply is or isn't as the fittings should be suitably manufactured to prevent the ingress of water, I would suggest that they were not fit for purpose. However I would have also though that the manufactures instructions should have given a specification of the type and rating of supply needed to operate the LED's.  The Ce mark should mean that an appliance meets European electrical standards but a ce mark would not prevent someone connecting two incompatible items together.

Doc H.

.  

 

[NozSpark]

I dont understand how a 12W (max) supply could generate enough heat to start a fire.... it could only be due to component failure within the lights.

Were the lights designed for a fish tank or have the correct IP rating for where you put them?

 

[Badger]

i dont understand why a netgear router power supply was used as surely the lights would have come with a power adaptor for these lights as standard or am i missing something ? :yawn

 

[Blue Duck]

i dont understand why a netgear router power supply was used as surely the lights would have come with a power adaptor for these lights as standard or am i missing something ? :yawn

Depends where you get them normally you can choose what you get. just lights, lights+remote, lights+psu+remote and so on.

I also used an old netgear psu but not for any length of time just to see them working as I had run out of fully charged 12v batteries.

The ones that seem to be most common are rated ip65? But the ends where you connect will not be.

Where's slipshod when we're having a conversation about eBay LEDs ..?

 

[Steve3948]

Is this LED tape or individual LED lights.

Constant Current or Constant Voltage.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Watching

 

[Andy™]

watching the watcher

 

[Sharpend]

Watching the watcher and watched from the watch tower!

No that's definitely wrong!

 

[Blue Duck]

 

[leecue]

Hi,thanks for your replies  sorry for the late update but i've been having problems with the forum on my phone and tablet.. it keeps deleting my posts when quoting, cutting and pasting etc... very irritating!on the pc now so will give it another go!

The lights were bought from Amazon as a strip advertised as 

• 12V BLUE 1 METRE SMD FLEXIBLE STRIP LIGHT
• HIGH QUALITY FULLY WATERPROOF ITEM
• 60 SUPERBRIGHT 3528 LED's WITH 30,000hr LIFELINE
• STICKY BACKED FOR EASY INSTALLATION, CAN BE EASILY CUT AND REJOINED
• IDEAL FOR HOMES, GARDENS, AQUARIUMS, BARS, CARS, ETC...
• Product Description This LED strip is manufactured to the highest quality available and is perfect for transforming many types of projects. The strip features 60 Superbright 3528 SMD LED's which are outstandingly bright as well as being very reliable. The strip has a sticky reverse making installation an easy process and they are fully waterproof making them suitable for water related use. The strip passes all UK safety regulations and are a real must have for any DIY enthusiast. We only sell items of the highest quality and offer a one year guarantee on any product purchased from us. PLEASE NOTE: This listing is for the strip only, if you require the 12v supply then please see our other listings or alternatively search the ASIN code B0044EFO86 in the top browser and it will direct you to the correct rated supply for this item.
   
  the supplier wanted £10 for a separate power supply which was badly rated on feedback plus i knew i had a couple of 12v power adapters lying around and didnt see the harm in using them!
  The LED's are a tape and i dont understand what Constant Current or Constant Voltage means?
   
  thanks Lee
  
•  

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Ok , ive watched, here's my opinion (which some think is worth sweet FA  )  The LED strip was probably faulty. I mix & match PSU's all the time. The PSU could have been  faulty and putting a too high voltage out. As mentioned the current draw is so low its unusual to cause any heat for a fire. Did you attach the strip  by only the self adhesive backing and was it straight or did you bend it to fit ?

PS, They did send you the correct strip, yours should have had the front face covered with a silicon gel. Where did the fire start ?

PPS, was that really worth all the watching  :B-

 

[leecue]

I attached it only by the adhesive backing and it was attached to the underside of a light unit which was straightt. I tested the PSU before using it and was 12v. The fire started in near enough the middle of the strip.

thanks

Lee

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

leecue, as I see it, you do not have a leg to stand on, as you chose to use a power supply that was not designed for the job. They offered to supply a suitable power supply which you declined.

Yes leds are not supposed to "catch fire" (never heard of any that have until you posted) seen some go very bright very quick though.

What exactly happened? did you see any flames or did they just melt or melt something?

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

I recon  it was a faulty strip. If you look close you can usually see where the electronic strip is joined in the factory by a solder joint. They probably make very long lengths and this is normally cut into 5m lengths. In your case 1m lengths so yours may or may not have had this join. The PSU you used was possibly a higher grade than the item the supplier was selling

 

[leecue]

i would post pics up but i need 10 posts first...

5

 

[NozSpark]

Unless he powered it backwards????

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Post a few more short bits of  wisdom  ;

Unless he powered it backwards????

They wont work

 

[leecue]

They offered to supply a suitable power supply which you declined.

The power supply that they link to on their advert has feedback saying;

This product is extremely harmful to anyone under the age of 15, and even pets. There is a constant high pitch tone that is deafening to the ear, and can upset and distress pets. The plug became EXTREMELY hot as to you could not touch it, and after examining the labels like one of the other reviewers, this product is not legal in the UK. BEWARE! The lights that this powered are also very dodgy, they flicker and burn out very quickly. Source this setup from somewhere else, please.
 
 
 
I bought this through Amazon and when I plugged it into the Mains wall socket it blew up in my face !This produced a very loud bang, accompanied by smoke. Upon looking at the unit it was blackened and charred and had seperated into pieces (casing broke apart etc)

I also noted that this does not have a CE mark and should therefore NOT be sold into Europe.

I have followed up directly with the supplier and asked them to remove it from sale immediately.
 
 
 
failed after one year & a couple of months or so...since i have power supplies at home that are plugged in 24/7 & 5, 6 & 7 years old, i'm NOT particularly impressed

maybe i just got a lemon !?..
 
 
 
Would you buy it?...

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

Reading the reviews of said lights, one review clearly says the silicone splits too easily, but I guess its down to how its treated before installation.