White LED Turning Purple: Analyzing a Phosphor Failure
1 min read
Summary
A YouTube video from the electronupdate channel features a Philips MR16 LED spot that has developed a distinct purple light output.
After popping off the front, it was evident that the phosphor on one of the four LEDs had flaked off, exposing the individual UV LEDs underneath.
Whether due to heat or age, over time these white LED packages can become just UV LEDs, with the only fix to replace the LED packages every few years.
In another instance, an LED streetlight in Connecticut had a similar issue, with the phosphor coating on the LEDs shedding and causing the streetlights to appear blue.
This issue is not uncommon and has been witnessed by several people in different cities, but the reasons for the phosphor shedding are still unclear.
Some believe it is due to temperature changes, while others blame it on poor manufacturing processes.
