Chances of constant current LED's having been fried!?

[rolyberkin]

Picked up a job where the previous electricians had not connected some collingwood LED stair lights (they were exited from the job!), they had been wired in parallel and no doubt hooked up to an LED driver, anyone up on their electronics? Have they definitely been fried or is it worth taking a punt on a constant current driver to see if they work? They are 1w each and 350ma?

 

[mattg4321]

The collingwood stuff does clearly say on it they must be wired in series otherwise the lights will be damaged. This is on a sticker attached to every light fitting.

I'd still give them a go though to be honest. Haven't got a lot to lose and they may work. If not, charge for the driver and keep as stock!

 

[rolyberkin]

Long story, a job I picked up, had to dig them out of an oak staircase to identify them, I get the feeling that the previous sparks had connected them and they didn't work. Dug the cables out of the plaster and clearly wired in parallel so yes worth a punt but I don't hold out much hope!

 

[Shoei]

If they've only ever been connected to a constant current LED driver then it's unlikely they're damaged, the driver will just deliver current up the the maximum specified. Not sure why they have a label warning of damage if connected in parallel, the worst that should happen is one of the lamps or lamp strings will light up while the other(s) don't.

If they've been connected to any other kind of driver then they may be fried.

1W @ 350mA suggests the lamp is a single LED, it's only 2.9V DC. If you have a DVM with a 'diode' range you may be able to test indivdual LEDs with that. If you probe it with red to + and get an indication on the meter, but no indication with the probes reversed, then they're probably OK. You might even see a glimmer of light from them with the meter connected.