LED Life Span

[MiguelEnfermo]

Question: Do LED grow lights slowly diminish in their proper wavelength emitting capacity over time or do they just stop turning on when they are used up? Meaning, do LEDs slowly stop producing the right amount of proper wave lengths of light as they get older and start to degrade? When do you know that a LED light is kaput? Do you replace them when they just don't turn on or do you replace them after so many hours even if they turn on? I searched this and couldn't find anything.
Thanks!

[OldManGrower]

Short answer is yes, they fail eventually. Entropy is everywhere.

[Bluey]

These diodes on the market now last a long long time. You should get at least 20,000 hrs out of them but you will notice a drop in yields if you don't first notice a drop in efficiency or having to drop them lower to get the same growth. If they are kept well ventilated & cool much longer.

My SF7000 boards have more than 8000hrs on them and are perfirming like new still.

[Bluey]

What light/s are you currently using?

Full spectrum LEDs use coatings on most of the LEDs to tune the spectrum so I don't think you'll notice much change there over time unless you use chemicals on them. The reds I'm not so sure about re spectrum or output but I know the UV do break down re spectrum or output faster than the others, but you don't need them and probably best not to use them given issues with eye damage etc.. I do have far and deep red supplemental light bars (Osram LEDs) but I only used them on half of my grow last time and noticed no difference in yield or quality to the plants beside them without the extra reds so don't plan on using them again. Modern full spectrum is all you need for a great grow.

[MiguelEnfermo]

Thanks Bluey. I think you just knocked a rock loose in my head. It was my friends setup (not sure the brand, but not a common brand) but they worked great the last years grow but this year plants are moving slow, but he uses an organic bug spray and I got folding money that his LEDs have smoodge on them from the spraying and I bet that is lowering his radiation output. Gonna tell him to try to clean them with Windex or something and report back.
Thanks!

[Bluey]

Don't use chemicals on them LEDs. Follow the manufacturers instructions. I think warm soapy water with a soft damp cloth is about as much as they'll take without risk of damage.