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Fast flickering LED kitchen light fixture

DanielKinnear | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on October 8, 2021 02:03am

I have a LED kitchen light fixture which has been working great for around 18 months. There’s no dimmer on it and it’s controlled by a standard light switch. A couple of days ago it started flickering fast, so fast it was like a strobe light and hard to look at. So I ordered a new one which came today. When I wanted to make sure the power was off to the fixture when I replaced it the flickering was gone. What could the reason be?

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Replies

  1. calvin | Oct 08, 2021 05:17am | #1

    Analogous propagation?

  2. User avater
    unclemike42 | Oct 08, 2021 07:35am | #2

    Thermal intermittent fault.

    either one of the connections or one of the components exhibited a failure while at elevated temperature from being on for a while.

    turning it on after cooling resulted in a temporary restoration of function.

  3. florida | Oct 08, 2021 10:09am | #3

    It's the power supply. If it's a separate item replace it and if not you may need to replace the lights.

  4. andy_s | Oct 13, 2021 07:40pm | #4

    Could also just be a loose neutral. LEDs "freak out" and make that strobe effect when the neutral isn't making 100% contact. Retwist the wire nut and see if that fixes it.

  5. JasonGraham | Dec 01, 2023 02:15pm | #5

    Fast flickering can be caused by various factors, such as a loose wire connection or a faulty driver inside the fixture. If you haven't already, it might be a good idea to double-check the wiring when installing the new fixture to ensure everything is secure.

  6. User avater
    JinMagnific | May 20, 2025 08:51am | #6

    I see it's been a while since you’ve posted, but I just want to ask if anyone checked for a loose neutral connection in the circuit? I had a similar issue and it turned out the neutral wire in a nearby junction box wasn’t tightened properly. Also curious—has anyone had flickering tied to a dimmer that claims to be LED-compatible but still causes problems?

  7. MichaelMahan | May 21, 2025 07:01pm | #7

    I've found that LED light flicker before they die. It's on its last legs

  8. User avater
    JinMagnific | May 30, 2025 04:16am | #8

    Turned out the dimmer switch was the culprit — it wasn’t rated for LEDs. Once I swapped it out for an LED-compatible dimmer (Lutron worked for me), the flickering stopped completely. Also had to make sure the wiring connections were tight, especially the neutral line. That solved it for good.

  9. User avater
    Kingslighting | Jun 03, 2025 04:38am | #9

    The fast flickering you’re describing is a common LED issue, but the fact that it stopped when the fixture cooled suggests a heat-related failure (as User 1 noted). Here’s a step-by-step approach to diagnose and resolve it:

    Check Wiring Connections First

    Turn off power and inspect the fixture’s wire nuts/terminals for looseness, especially the neutral (User 2’s point). A poor connection can cause intermittent flickering as resistance fluctuates.

    If the fixture is hardwired, ensure the junction box isn’t overcrowded—overheating can degrade connections over time.

    Test the Driver

    If wiring is secure, the issue is likely a failing driver (common after 18+ months of use). The temporary restoration when cool points to a thermal protection circuit or capacitor breakdown.

    Swap the fixture (as you did) but keep the old one to test in another location—if the flickering recurs, the driver is definitively faulty.

    Rule Out External Factors

    Verify the switch isn’t a dimmer (User 3’s fix). Even if you didn’t install one, a previous homeowner might have used a non-LED dimmer.

    If flickering persists with the new fixture, check voltage at the junction box with a multimeter. Consistent ~120V? If not, the circuit may have a shared neutral or other load imbalance.

  10. Michaelsun | Jun 04, 2025 11:43am | #10

    Your flickering that stops after cooling points to a heat-related failure - likely dying capacitors in the LED driver. Since it worked fine when cool but acted up after warming up, the new fixture should fix it. Before installing:

    Check all wire connections are tight (especially neutrals)

    Feel the old fixture after 30 mins - if it's unusually hot, that confirms overheating damage

    If the problem returns with the new one, you might have voltage fluctuations in your circuit

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