Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
These Costco outdoor LED lights (by Altair) started flashing after only a few years of operation. I don't expect a bulb by itself to last years, but these are sold as 1 unit with non-replaceable bulbs! We tried a well-documented fix: replace the LED driver circuit. However, a better fix is to remove the complicated LED circuit and put in a simple incandescent bulb socket. This way the fixture should last much longer.
These two model AL-1250 coach lights had been running since 2014. When one started flashing, I ordered a new circuit (Mean Well APC-16-350) to fix it. While the new power supply was being shipped the other fixture started flashing too! Unfortunately, after repairing both fixtures, the L.E.D. lights looked inconsistent and dimmer than before.
We replaced all that over-engineered stuff with a Harbor Breeze fan bulb socket. Now we can use any bulb we want. Not to mention, it's probably better for the environment, since most people would discard the entire fixture with all of the parts every time it breaks.
Financially, the socket upgrade is better-
Cost of 2 new coach light fixtures: $80
Cost of 2 LED power supplies: $32
Cost of sockets and washers: $10
At the end of the video you can see my LEDs might have had problems too. So, if you have only one of these lights, the power supply fix has a greater chance of being a solution. But having the bulbs "built in" to the fixture so limiting I would recommend using the socket fix....
0:00 Intro
1:00 Common failure
1:50 Disassembly
3:00 Fix Attempt New Power Supply
4:00 Bad Results
4:24 A More Permanent Fix
5:25 Good Results
6:42 Conclusion
Thanks for watching! If you like this video, please like it and subscribe. We mostly do videos about vintage technology but occasionally repairs like this or new product reviews.
These Costco outdoor LED lights (by Altair) started flashing after only a few years of operation. I don't expect a bulb by itself to last years, but these are sold as 1 unit with non-replaceable bulbs! We tried a well-documented fix: replace the LED driver circuit. However, a better fix is to remove the complicated LED circuit and put in a simple incandescent bulb socket. This way the fixture should last much longer.
These two model AL-1250 coach lights had been running since 2014. When one started flashing, I ordered a new circuit (Mean Well APC-16-350) to fix it. While the new power supply was being shipped the other fixture started flashing too! Unfortunately, after repairing both fixtures, the L.E.D. lights looked inconsistent and dimmer than before.
We replaced all that over-engineered stuff with a Harbor Breeze fan bulb socket. Now we can use any bulb we want. Not to mention, it's probably better for the environment, since most people would discard the entire fixture with all of the parts every time it breaks.
Financially, the socket upgrade is better-
Cost of 2 new coach light fixtures: $80
Cost of 2 LED power supplies: $32
Cost of sockets and washers: $10
At the end of the video you can see my LEDs might have had problems too. So, if you have only one of these lights, the power supply fix has a greater chance of being a solution. But having the bulbs "built in" to the fixture so limiting I would recommend using the socket fix....
0:00 Intro
1:00 Common failure
1:50 Disassembly
3:00 Fix Attempt New Power Supply
4:00 Bad Results
4:24 A More Permanent Fix
5:25 Good Results
6:42 Conclusion
Thanks for watching! If you like this video, please like it and subscribe. We mostly do videos about vintage technology but occasionally repairs like this or new product reviews.
