LED light striip on Occupancy Sensor

[deckscrew]

We did a job a few months ago and installed cove LED lights strips (38 feet in length). The cove lighting is in a public restroom and is on an occupancy sensor switch. The transformer has failed twice in the last 6 months. The LED light supplier who also provided the transformer appropriate to the light strip says the frequents on/off of the light strip is causing the transformer to fail (it flickers). They claim that the LED light and transformer is designed to stay on all day, not to be turned off and on constantly. Does this sound right? If the supplier is correct I'll have to tell the owner, but if they are BSing me I need a new supplier. Thanks

 

[GoldDigger]

We did a job a few months ago and installed cove LED lights strips (38 feet in length). The cove lighting is in a public restroom and is on an occupancy sensor switch. The transformer has failed twice in the last 6 months. The LED light supplier who also provided the transformer appropriate to the light strip says the frequents on/off of the light strip is causing the transformer to fail (it flickers). They claim that the LED light and transformer is designed to stay on all day, not to be turned off and on constantly. Does this sound right? If the supplier is correct I'll have to tell the owner, but if they are BSing me I need a new supplier. Thanks

I vote BS, with reservations (see last sentence below *). If this were a fluorescent or CFL I could see the life of the lamp and maybe CFL electronic ballast being reduced, but for LEDs, no.
A transformer that fails just because you toggle the input (not the load) on and off is either undersized or not right for that use in the first place. Any idea what fails in the transformer?

It could also depend on how well the occupancy sensor is working and how it is reacting to load the transformer is putting on it. If, for example, the switch is acting asymmetrically and causing DC to flow through the primary of the transformer, it could be damaged.

* On the other hand, if it is not just a transformer but an LED driver with all sorts of electronics inside, then it is more credible. But still a bad design.

 

[deckscrew]

I thought BS myself since they designed the system. Though they did not know the intended use. This lightstrip is generally used for accent lighting, but in this case it is being used for general lighting

 

[normbac]

Are you sure it is a transformer and not a driver. If so i would replace with a driver and see if the problem stops.

 

[ptonsparky]

The problem may be with the combination of the OS. Have the OS cycle a small relay instead.