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Why Lighting Relays Weld Shut

Quick answer: LED drivers draw a short, large spike when they turn on. Too many on one relay can weld the contacts so the lights stay on.

Lights that will not turn off are sometimes a relay welded shut. LED drivers have capacitors on the input. At the moment power is applied they draw a short spike called inrush. It can reach dozens of amps for well under a millisecond, many times the steady running current.

Put many drivers on one relay and those spikes add up. Repeated switching pits the contacts until they weld closed, and the circuit stays on. Choose relays rated for LED or electronic-ballast loads, not only for the steady wattage. Zero-cross switching, when the gear offers it, closes near the voltage zero and softens that spike. Compare the driver's published inrush number with the relay rating, and split a large load across more than one relay.

Relay panels carry line voltage. Finding and replacing a welded relay is work for a licensed electrician.

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Safety note: Content is general education, not professional advice. Always turn off power at the breaker before working on any fixture or device. Line-voltage work should be done by a licensed electrician and must follow local codes.