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Recently, we’ve photographed and tested many quite expensive, “in use”,
3 and 7-Function “LED” Stop and Turn (lane changing) Lamps including
many failed CHMSLs … where because of Seal Failure … have
prematurely (partially or totally) quit working, and
in most cases, are also, displaying “trapped” moisture droplets
behind their also Sun Faded Lenses. We even found a
number of high-priced, and supposedly, high-quality Glass Lensed “LED”
Emergency Lamps mounted on new, $200,000+ Fire Engines … where 40+% of these
very expensive “LED” Lights already had seeable water droplets* trapped
on the inside surface of their Glass Lenses.
*Thus, 100% humidity
It’
becomes apparent to anyone taking the time to study outdoor used LED Light
Designs … that sooner or later, “seal failure” leads to water (and/or
100% Humidity) getting inside the lamp, which … “first, degrades”
… and soon, “fully destroys” the “LED” Electronic Circuitry
that’s needed to keep the “LED Array” illuminated.
So what good is a PROMISE of
a LONG “LED” LIFE?
… which is basically the only feature that “LED” Lighting Manufacturers have
to brag about … if, in reality, the LED Circuitry can’t be reliably
protected from Heat and Moisture degradation so that their LED Lighting
can be “Unconditionally Guaranteed” by a reputable U.S.A. company
for at least, 10 years of normal, uninterrupted use?
Furthermore, take notice of how a fading and/or
partially lit* “LED”** lamp … that’s wet inside … and has Lenses
and Reflectors internally coated with grime appears to the public.
Their obvious high failure rate, non compliancy record and Non-Serviceable
Designs degrades any Vehicle! *Looks
like “missing teeth” **or even Incandescent Lamps for that matter!
On any given day, anyone can easily find, anywhere in the USA and Canada, already
in public use … all kinds of “LED” CHMSLs and other
Brake/Turn LED Lamps that are partially or totally disabled from
water infiltration, which was, most likely, “sucked
in” when the Lamp Assembly was “super heated” from extended use
… in hot outdoor temperatures … while gaining even
more heat from the Sun’s Ultraviolet Rays … and, most probably … from
a “combination of all three”* … and then, imagine! … all of
a sudden … this entire “Hot” Lamp Assembly is totally inundated with cold
water … from a sudden rain storm … a garden hose … from a Car
Wash nozzle … or by being totally submerged at a Boat Launch Ramp.
*Such as can be caused by a common Traffic Jam on a hot, sunny day
Under real life, accumulated “Hot” outdoor conditions … which will sooner or
later be applied to all Trailer and RV Lighting … the typical “Sealed”
Multi-Function LED or Incandescent Lamp will be drastically “thermally
shocked” and thereby, instantly collapse the trapped air inside,
resulting in water being literally “sucked in” through any
tiny factory crack or later acquired imperfection in the Factory Seal.
Realize that no matter how good the “hermetic factory seal” is designed
… it will most likely succumb to the heat generated, instantly changing
negative and positive pressures that unprotected outdoor vehicle lights are
subjected to regularly.
Under these conditions, “Water Suck-In” can take place thru any tiny
flaw in any temporary or permanent Seal used because the cold water
that … from time to time … will be engulfing and “chilling” the entire
Lamp will also … sooner or later … be flowing across any flaws in the
Seals or across “stress cracks”, which are generated in most all
Hermetic Seals from repetitive, thermal lens flexing* forces.
*expansion/contractions
Factory Imperfections and vulnerabilities are
inherent in any inexpensive (or even expensive) Hermetic* Sealing**
method
and can easily appear after just one (or a few) drastic thermal
expansion and contraction cycles … which, in reality … is nearly
an impossible problem to avoid when trying to design “Serviceable,
inexpensive, 100% Waterproof” Multi-Function Lamps that are
fully exposed to all the outdoor Elements while also experiencing
instantaneous, 100+°F thermal changes from submersion or
inundation.
*Hermetic means “Air
Tight” **Remember the “Challenger’s” O-Ring problem?
Bottom line - you can bet that nearly all
Hermetic Seals will … sooner or later … allow some resultant water to
leak inside the Lamp or into the LED Circuitry Chamber so you must
consider, what will be the effect of this water and resultant 100% humidity*
… on the insides of the Lenses/Reflectors and on the very water-sensitive
“LED” Circuitry, while also considering the unavoidable “Disabling Rusting”
of inside Steel parts.
*and deposited “grime”
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