How does frequent switching on and off affect LEDs?

Unlike traditional lighting technologies (such as fluorescents or energy-efficient light bulbs), frequent switching on and off does not negatively affect how long LEDs last.

According to the sources, this behavior is due to the following technical factors and recommendations for use:

• Absence of thermal stress: LEDs emit very little heat and do not undergo sudden changes in temperature when turned on or off. This prevents component wear that does occur in other bulbs that rely on filaments or gases that need to be heated.
• Instant On: LED technology produces 100% of its brightness immediately. It does not require start-up phases or flicker when activated, which allows the action of switching the light to be completely harmless to the device.
• Benefit of shutdown: Sources point out that it is preferable to turn off the light whenever it is not necessary. By doing so, in addition to saving energy, it helps the lamps to cool down, which can even help to extend their useful life.
• Automation support: Because they are not affected by the number of switch-ons, LEDs are the ideal technology for use with motion or presence sensors, which constantly turn the light on and off based on the occupancy of a room.

Although LEDs are extremely durable, with lifespans reaching between 35,000 and 150,000 hours, their ultimate failure is usually due to the exhaustion of the internal electronic device (driver) and not to the frequency with which they are operated.

Metaphor to understand the concept: Turning an LED on and off is like opening and closing a file on a modern computer: the system is designed for instant access, and the action is not physically draining. On the other hand, the old bulbs were like an old combustion engine that suffers a lot of wear and tear every time it has to start cold.