# Light fixture question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291 "2021-03-05T19:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/1 "2021-03-05T19:58:58Z")
Okay, I feel a bit stupid asking this question since I was trained as an electrician way back in the day, but here goes. A couple of years ago we bought a bathroom vanity light fixture. It was interesting to me because there weren’t any actual light bulbs in the thing, just these three LED “buttons” that illuminate. Never seen those before. Anyway, they put out good light and we were happy with it. A couple of days ago the whole fixture went dark, as in none of the emitters were emitting. I checked the wall switch and it’s working just fine. So now I’m assuming that there is some component of the fixture which has fried, since it’s unlikely that all three LEDs would burn out at once. But I’m not an electronics guy, so I have no idea what it might be or if I’ll be able to replace it. Any ideas, or am I going to have to fork out another $150 for a fixture? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/2 "2021-03-05T20:32:33Z")
It all depends on the particular fixture. There may be an LED driver circuit that is powering all three emitters - take the fixture apart and see if they all wire to a single board. But, even so, that’s probably not a user-replaceable part. You _might_ be able to buy one from the manufacturer, but I doubt it. There also might be a fuse. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/3 "2021-03-05T22:18:38Z")
Hopefully a fuse, but more likely a small electronic part has fried that helps to power all 3 LEDs. If you’re very lucky, it is visible and it can be unsoldered and replaced. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/4 "2021-03-05T22:33:53Z")
The most common failure in LED power supplies is the electrolytic capacitors. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/5 "2021-03-05T22:37:46Z")
Kind of directly responsive to your OP: We had pendant lighting over a kitchen island that was more than a year out of warranty, but when it blew, the manufacturer replaced it at no cost (though I had to install it). Maybe worth considering taking a shot at this … if all else fails. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/6 "2021-03-05T22:37:54Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > There may be an LED driver circuit that is powering all three emitters - take the fixture apart and see if they all wire to a single board. I’m guessing that replacing that board would be like replacing the CPU in one’s computer and would cost nearly as much as replacing the whole thing. I’m waiting for an answer from the company as to a solution, but don’t hold out much hope. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/7 "2021-03-05T22:45:40Z")
Replaced a bathroom light fixture a few years ago. Bought the fixture, sleek looking and compact LED, more than we wanted to spend but it “caught my wife’s eye”. Called the electrician to put it in. As he was tearing out the old fixture he saw the new one and said that “ya know, if that quits working you replace the whole fixture, there are no bulbs to replace”. Realizing it was hard wired in and would need an electrician to replace if it failed/burned out we quickly took it back and got a standard fixture and used LED bulbs. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/8 "2021-03-05T23:44:33Z")
> [@a6ka97](#): > > Realizing it was hard wired in and would need an electrician to replace if it failed/burned out we quickly took it back and got a standard fixture and used LED bulbs. I’m considering that. My wife saw an LED fixture she liked online with the same emitter lamps. The price was $400! For something that may just quit on me? Don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/9 "2021-03-05T23:52:57Z")
I get the problem with lack of user-serviceable parts but it’s disappointing that the answer is to get a fixture designed for A-series bulbs and then put in LED replacements for incandescent A-series bulbs. In theory, LEDs should last a really long time and there’s no reason to stick with the A-series bulbs and sockets. The fixture can be any shape. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/10 "2021-03-06T00:18:36Z")
Some of the led products we install have three to five year warranties. If it’s only been a couple years it may still be under warranty. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/11 "2021-03-06T04:38:38Z")
Great information! I looked on the Kichler website and this type of light does indeed have a 5-year warranty. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/12 "2021-03-06T16:52:51Z")
And even if it’s past warranty, as someone here said, they may replace it. I’ve had three Cree bulbs die; emailed, they send a new one. I assume that’ll stop eventually, but at this point they haven’t been on the market long enough for the warranty to run out. An LED fog light bulb for my car, OTOH, died after less than a year–with a “10,000 hour” warranty, but only six months actual warranty. I had to kind of bludgeon them (via email) before they replaced it. Saying “10,000 hour life” but then only warrantying it for six months is kinda bogus. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/13 "2021-03-06T17:03:35Z")
I installed an LED fixture in my laundry room about 5 years ago. It crapped out a few months ago. Swapped out all the LED stuff for a regular light socket and installed an LED bulb. I had the parts so the change didn’t cost anything. I wasn’t going to buy another $75 light fixture. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/14 "2021-03-06T20:30:35Z")
My wife and I have had that same conversation about replacing bulbs versus replacing entire fixtures. We like LEDs, but in the form of screw-in bulb only. I don’t enjoy replacing fixtures. e ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/15 "2021-03-06T21:52:41Z")
I really prefer using standard fixtures with LED bulbs. I’m not a fan of LED fixtures either, but I just ended up having to suffer through 3 being installed for the new bathrooms. I’ll be cursing most of them sometime in the next 6-10 years. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/16 "2021-03-10T14:57:49Z")
Yeah, they might. I bought a couple of Sylvania brand 100 W equivalent bulbs at a Lowe’s back when the things were costly. I saved the boxes and receipt. One started to flicker, Lowe’s replaced it with a similar bulb since they didn’t sell Sylvania bulbs any more. Lowe’s kept the receipt. The other one went bad a year later. I e-mailed the company, and they said no problem. They proceeded to send me a new bulb by UPS. I’d contact the manufacturer! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/17 "2021-03-10T14:59:23Z")
As per my first post, this fixture has no bulbs. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/18 "2021-03-10T15:13:43Z")
My point was that the manufacturer of _our_ LED fixture – which also didn’t have separate bulbs – replaced the fixture, free, out of warranty. Won’t hurt to make the call … if’n you want to. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/19 "2021-03-10T15:34:54Z")
My point is the manufacturer can only say no if you contact them, and they may replace it. If you still have the box it came in, include the UPC code and model number of the product and describe the problem. If you don’t have those things, look them up online. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291/20 "2021-03-10T17:35:12Z")
I contacted Kichler’s tech support. They basically said that it’s an unreplaceable component inside the fixture. I replied that I thought it ironic that they sell a product with lights that are supposed to last for ten years and then put in cheap electronics that crap out soon after the warranty is done. No answer to that, but I didn’t expect one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-fixture-question/937291.md?page=2)