Why LED Failure Rate Matters in Horticulture (And What You Should Expect)

Not all grow lights are built the same. If you’re running a commercial grow, especially one with tight harvest schedules or regulated crops like cannabis – failure rate isn’t just a number. It directly affects your yield, your time, and your bottom line.

So, let’s break it down.

What’s an Acceptable LED Failure Rate?

Failure rate refers to how many fixtures stop working or lose significant performance over time. These led failures can be:

• Catastrophic: Complete fixture failure
• Degradation: PPFD drops significantly
• Component-Level: Driver or diode issues that might start intermittent

Here’s the expected performance breakdown by tier:

A Lighting Research Center (RPI) report found that even with just a 1% annual failure, cumulative replacements add up and by year 10, some systems suffered 25% total fixture failure, dramatically increasing total cost of ownership.

Even small LED failures can mean:

• Uneven canopy development
• Labour needed for fixture replacement
• Downtime and potential yield loss

Why LED Fixtures Fail (And What to Watch For)

According to uPowerTek, most LED failures are tied to:

1. Driver/power supply faults due to overheating or poor surge protection
2. Thermal stress from inadequate heat sinking or enclosure design
3. Electrolytic capacitor degradation shortening lifespan
4. Spectral imbalance from poor diode mix, leading to inefficiencies

So, having strong specs like high photon efficacy or PAR output is great on paper but if the fixture can’t handle heat or power, these specs don’t translate into reliable results.

Drivers are also a key component in keeping the LED failure rates as low as possible. Having multiple low-power drivers can double or even triple the failure rates.

Why DLC Certification Isn’t Enough

Something else to consider: certifications can be misleading. While having your fixture DLC certified is important, keep in mind that the certification doesn’t account for product failure rates, warranty redemption policies, or the historical reliability of different manufacturers.

In other words, it’s crucial to do your own research on failure rates, either from the lighting company or directly from growers who use the lights, before making a purchase. If overlooked, this can seriously impact your grow and jeopardize your ability to achieve a return on your investment.

What You Should Be Asking Lighting Companies

Before buying, request these real-world metrics to guarantee a safe purchase:

• Percentage of units returned in the first 1-3 years
• Estimated runtime before failure
• Everything included in warranty claims
• What drivers are used and the drivers failure rate

Premium LED fixture companies don’t just provide specs, they back them with data, transparency and robust warranties!

Built to Last: Aelius LED

At Aelius, we engineer our fixtures with reliability as a cornerstone. We guarantee < 1% annual failure rate, supported by field data from growers across North America. Our robust designs, including our aluminum housings, and in-house quality control ensure that performance lasts cycle after cycle.

Because your lights shouldn’t be the weak link in your operation.

About Aelius LED

Aelius LED is a global supplier of premium Horticultural LED products for all stages of a plant’s life cycle. Aelius aims to help cultivators worldwide realize the true genetic potential of their crops by providing results-driven LED Light Fixtures designed to master commercial cultivation. Aelius LED is dedicated to the discovery of new technology and contributing to growth of the controlled environment agriculture industry. Since its inception in 2018, Aelius LED has expanded to hang above a variety of crops in over 10 countries and is now on the hunt for distributors to bring even better customer service to the #AeliusFam across the globe.

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