LED Degradation, Decay & Lifetime

LED Degradation, Decay, and Lifetime: Understanding the Factors That Matter

In the world of horticultural lighting, the lifespan and degradation of LED fixtures are critical factors for growers aiming to maximize crop quality, yield, and operational efficiency. Despite being one of the most advanced technologies for indoor cultivation, LEDs are not immune to wear and tear. Over time, their performance gradually diminishes, a phenomenon known as LED degradation. At Treegers, we’ve prioritized engineering our fixtures to minimize degradation and provide long-term reliability, ensuring our customers achieve consistent results across the lifetime of their investment.

What is LED Degradation?

LED degradation refers to the gradual decline in a fixture’s light output over time. While manufacturers list output specifications for new fixtures, these numbers can decrease over time depending on the quality of components, design, and environmental conditions. Poor-quality LEDs combined with inadequate thermal management and overdriven diodes can lead to rapid degradation, sometimes exceeding 10-15% annually. This impacts both crop productivity and facility profitability, as reduced light intensity directly translates to reduced plant growth and yields.

Engineering Against Degradation: Treegers' Approach

At Treegers, we’ve engineered our fixtures to minimize degradation through meticulous design and the use of high-quality components. Our approach considers all critical elements that impact a fixture's lifespan, including LED diodes, drivers, power supplies (PSU), temperature design, and heat management systems. By maintaining optimal thermal performance and avoiding overdriving the diodes, we’ve achieved industry-leading durability and efficiency in our products.

For example, our fixtures maintain less than 10% decay over 5 years, with light output far exceeding market standards. Even tested under highly unlikely extreme conditions—such as 85ºC operating temperatures—our 3535 Red LEDs retain 95.71% output at 25,000 hours, 93.14% at 40,000 hours, and 91.47% at around 50,000 hours. In more realistic scenarios, such as an ambient temperature of 45ºC with 12 hours of daily operation (21,900 hours/year), our red diodes retain 95.93% light output, and our white diodes retain 95.74%.

The Importance of Thermal Management

Thermal management is one of the most crucial factors in preventing LED degradation. High temperatures accelerate wear on the diodes, leading to reduced efficiency and lifespan. At Treegers, we’ve optimized the cooling and heat dissipation systems in our fixtures, ensuring that components operate within safe temperature thresholds. By maintaining diode temperatures below critical levels, we reduce stress on the diodes, which helps to preserve their light output and ensure a longer lifespan.

Additionally, proper soldering pad temperatures (Ts) during manufacturing play a vital role in preventing early degradation. Our precision-engineered manufacturing process ensures that soldering temperatures remain stable, resulting in fixtures that stand the test of time.

The Role of Environmental and Maintenance Factors

External factors, such as heavy sulphur environments, dust, and debris accumulation, can also contribute to LED degradation. These contaminants interfere with thermal dissipation and can lead to increased fixture operating temperatures, further accelerating decay. Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential for ensuring optimal thermal performance and maintaining the integrity of the protective coatings on the diodes.

At Treegers, our diodes are engineered with robust protection technologies to withstand demanding environments, but proper maintenance remains key to preserving their performance. This includes periodic cleaning and ensuring the surrounding environment is controlled for contaminants.

The ROI of Quality LEDs

Investing in high-quality LED fixtures is essential for growers looking to minimize operational costs and maximize yields over time. While low-cost fixtures may seem attractive initially, the rapid degradation rates and frequent replacements associated with cheaper components often lead to higher long-term costs. At Treegers, our commitment to premium materials and precise engineering ensures our fixtures deliver consistent light intensity, preserving both crop quality and grower profitability.

By maintaining 91.70% light output for red diodes and 91.60% for white diodes even under 24-hour daily operation for 50,000 hours, Treegers fixtures set a benchmark for reliability and durability in the market. This level of performance guarantees growers a predictable and efficient lighting solution that delivers measurable returns on investment over the fixture’s entire lifespan.

The Treegers Difference

LED degradation is a reality every grower must account for, but at Treegers, we’ve made it our mission to provide solutions that minimize its impact. Our advanced designs, top-bin diodes, optimized thermal management, and durable components ensure that our fixtures stand out in a saturated market. With less than 10% decay over 5 years, our LED fixtures provide consistent, high-quality light output, ensuring healthier crops, better yields, and long-term profitability for growers worldwide.

Choosing Treegers means choosing innovation, reliability, and performance—qualities that make all the difference in your growing operation.