Cheap LED panel leaking light during dark

[SnaFuu]

So here i am about to do the pitch dark shuffle through my flower room for something i left in there when i open the door and BOOM. My cheap chinese LED panel in the middle of the room is glowing.. quite bright.

This LED panel is plugged into a pass through from my 4 bulb T5HO fixture and then plugged into my 12/12 box. I use these lights as a supplement to my 600w HPS and 600w + 400w MH's. It's pretty much in the middle of the room and the glow coming off it is like a full moon i'd say. After standing in the room for 30 secs my eyes had enough light to adjust and i could see every corner of the buds and room.

This LED is obviously getting some sort of power (albeit low voltage) and i'm not sure where my problem is. All the other lights on the same box and timer are off, including the 4 bulb T5HO the dang thing is connected to!

Here's my timer and boxes, left is 24h right is 12/12. Perhaps i have the timer wired incorrectly and it's letting some power through. Any ideas?

 

[PurpleBuz]

get a tester and verify the Chinese panel is being switched on\off on the correct leg.

 

[JMichael]

Assuming you have everything wired properly, it would seem the timer is the most likely the problem. IMO Have you tried unplugging all the other devices one at a time to see if the lights go out when you unplug any of them?

 

[dionysus4]

this is not uncommon for leds on EU plugs(2 pin)
but you have a us plug (3 pin)so id guess the manufacturer wired the ac cables in backwardsto the driver(it still works because its ac) but when the timer disconects(1 ac wire) the led pulls juice from the other

trouble shoot everything else first then cut the ac cord on the led and turn it 180 degrees than reconnect

google led dont turn off completely and led glow etc
electrician forums are booming with info on this-usually when leds are connected to more than 1 on/off switch lime multiple light switches/ dimmers or in ur case a timer

 

[SnaFuu]

this is not uncommon for leds on EU plugs(2 pin)
but you have a us plug (3 pin)so id guess the manufacturer wired the ac cables in backwardsto the driver(it still works because its ac) but when the timer disconects(1 ac wire) the led pulls juice from the other

trouble shoot everything else first then cut the ac cord on the led and turn it 180 degrees than reconnect

Ahhh that's a good idea but not sure it's the problem, because when troubleshooting i notice it only glows when plugged into that specific timer. (The right 4 outlet box)

Some power must still be getting to that box, but not enough to turn the other lights also plugged into the same box on.

So i'm 90% sure the problem is with the timer wiring, and i half expected some sparky type to jump on here and let me know how i messed up when wiring it. lol

 

[SnaFuu]

Assuming you have everything wired properly, it would seem the timer is the most likely the problem. IMO Have you tried unplugging all the other devices one at a time to see if the lights go out when you unplug any of them?

Yes i have it stays glowing as i unplug the other lights... It turns off when i unplug it... Glows when i plug it back in, turns off when i cut power to the entire panel etc.

Turns on fine when the timer kicks on... Same with the other 1800 watts in there. So i dunno. Must have a bit of power at that box even when timer is switched off. I need to buy a multi meter to see whats goin on here if no one has had a similar issue lol

 

[PurpleBuz]

Ahhh that's a good idea but not sure it's the problem, because when troubleshooting i notice it only glows when plugged into that specific timer. (The right 4 outlet box)

Some power must still be getting to that box, but not enough to turn the other lights also plugged into the same box on.

So i'm 90% sure the problem is with the timer wiring, and i half expected some sparky type to jump on here and let me know how i messed up when wiring it. lol

I told you already the led light being switched on the wrong wire (on ac common instead of ground). could be the timer, or could be the led wiring itself. Verify all your wiring and get a cheap little tester to verify which is common all the way from the plug to the driver in the led light.

 

[JMichael]

I told you already the led light being switched on the wrong wire (on ac common instead of ground). could be the timer, or could be the led wiring itself. Verify all your wiring and get a cheap little tester to verify which is common all the way from the plug to the driver in the led light.

This ^^^^^ is why I prefaced my above comment with "Assuming you have everything wired properly".

 

[SnaFuu]

I told you already the led light being switched on the wrong wire (on ac common instead of ground). could be the timer, or could be the led wiring itself. Verify all your wiring and get a cheap little tester to verify which is common all the way from the plug to the driver in the led light.

I am here to do just that.. Verify my wiring. Note the close up of the timer wiring.

Anyone with a similar timer see something wrong?

Any similar experiences?

 

[SnaFuu]

I told you already the led light being switched on the wrong wire (on ac common instead of ground). could be the timer, or could be the led wiring itself. Verify all your wiring and get a cheap little tester to verify which is common all the way from the plug to the driver in the led light.

When i bought the T5HO fixture i had to wire in the extension cord and at the same time wired in a female plug for a pass through. Is that what you mean...Maybe that's what is wired backwards ?

And so switching the ac wires at the male plug on the T5HO fixture would probably be the fix.. If im understanding

 

[PurpleBuz]

When i bought the T5HO fixture i had to wire in the extension cord and at the same time wired in a female plug for a pass through. Is that what you mean...Maybe that's what is wired backwards ?

And so switching the ac wires at the male plug on the T5HO fixture would probably be the fix.. If im understanding

yes thats the idea, but thought we were talking about an led light ? it could also occur on the timer if you connected the AC wires to the led backwards. pay attention to common and load wires.