Quick answer
If a new bulb doesn't help, check the bulb type, the switch and the DB box for a tripped MCB. Integrated LED downlights and panels have no bulb to change; when one dies, its LED driver has usually failed. Singapore law reserves wiring work for licensed electrical workers. SG QuickFix's LED driver replacement is from $80, plus the driver.
SG QuickFix pricesTap to WhatsApp
| LED driver replacement+ driver | From $80 |
| Additional light (same visit) | From $40 |
| Downlight replacement | From $60 |
| Replace simple existing light | From $60 |
| LED light fitting installation | From $60 |
Current SG QuickFix starting prices. Final price confirmed before work begins.
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Why is my light still not working after I changed the bulb?
Usually the new bulb is wrong or faulty, the switch or circuit is off, or, in integrated LED lights, the LED driver has failed.
A normal screw-in (E27) or bayonet (B22) LED bulb has its own small driver built in. So if a new bulb that works in another lamp stays dead here, the fault is outside the bulb: the lampholder, the switch, a loose connection or the circuit.
Integrated LED downlights and panels have no bulb to change. Their LEDs are soldered to a board powered by a separate driver, usually a small box on a cable above the false ceiling. When one dies, the driver is the usual suspect, and LED light repair and replacement starts there.
| What you see | Light type | Likely cause |
|---|---|---|
| New bulb fitted, still dead | Bulb fitting | Wrong base or dud bulb, worn lampholder contact, faulty switch, loose connection, or a 12 V MR16 LED on an old halogen transformer |
| Several lights or a whole room dead | Any | Tripped miniature circuit breaker (MCB), or a loose connection those lights share |
| One downlight dead, same-batch ones working | Integrated LED | Failed LED driver |
| Won't light, flickers or buzzes on a dimmer | Any LED | Non-dimmable LED on a dimmer, or a failing driver |
For a light that works but flickers, see why LED lights flicker.
What can I safely check myself?
You can check the bulb, the switch and the DB box. Anything beyond the bulb, such as wiring in the fitting, ceiling rose or switch, is a job for a licensed electrical worker.
Singapore's Electricity Act says it is "not unlawful" to replace any lamp in your own electrical installation (Electricity Act 2001, s82). Changing a bulb is yours to do, and switching a tripped MCB back on once is a routine check.
- Switch the light off at the wall and at its MCB in the DB box, and let the old bulb cool before removing it.
- Check the new bulb has the right base (E27, B22, GU10 or MR16) and is fully seated.
- Test the new bulb in a lamp you know works.
- Switch the MCB back on and check whether other lights or sockets in that room are also dead.
- Look in the DB box for a tripped MCB and switch it back on once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- If a dimmer controls the light, try a bulb marked dimmable.
- Stop there if it's still dead. Beyond removing a bulb cover, don't open the fitting, ceiling rose or switch.
How do I know if the LED driver has failed?
If one integrated downlight or panel stays dark while identical lights on the same switch work, its driver is the most likely fault.
Other signs of a failing driver:
- The light blinks, flickers or takes a few seconds to start.
- It is noticeably dimmer than the others.
- It buzzes, or cuts out once it has warmed up.
Drivers usually fail before the LEDs. Philips' LED driver reliability white paper names the electrolytic capacitor as the part most likely to fail, especially at high temperatures. Drivers in hot, cramped ceiling voids or sealed shades tend to fail sooner.
A licensed electrical worker confirms it by testing the driver's input and output, or by trying a known-good driver of the same rating.
Can any LED driver replace the old one?
No. The replacement must match the old driver's type, output current and output voltage range. Matching the watts alone isn't enough.
The details are on the old driver's label. If it's already visible, photograph it; otherwise leave it to the licensed electrical worker. Don't pull the downlight down to find it.
| Label item | What it means | Replacement rule |
|---|---|---|
| Constant current (CC) or constant voltage (CV) | Most downlights and panels use CC; 12 V or 24 V CV suits LED strips | Same type. Never swap CC for CV |
| Output current, e.g. 300 mA | The current fed to the LEDs | Same current. Too much or too little shortens LED life |
| Output voltage range, e.g. 25–42 V DC | The LED board's voltage must sit inside it | A range that includes the LED board's voltage |
| Power (W) | Total output | Same or slightly higher |
| Dimmable, isolated or SELV | Dimmer support; separation from mains | Match both. Don't downgrade to non-isolated |
The new driver must also fit through the ceiling cut-out and use the same connector.
The Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) lists LED drivers as "lamp control gears", Controlled Goods that need the SAFETY Mark before sale in Singapore (CPSO: List of Controlled Goods).
How much does LED driver replacement cost in Singapore?
SG QuickFix does LED driver replacement from $80, plus the cost of the driver. Sometimes a whole new downlight is the better buy.
| Replace just the driver if… | Replace the whole light if… |
|---|---|
| The fitting is good quality and the LEDs look healthy | It is a cheap one-piece unit |
| It matches the other lights in the room | LED segments are dead, dark or scorched |
| The fitting is hard to remove or replace | No matching driver is available |
| Only one light has failed | Several from the same batch are failing |
| Job | When you need it | SG QuickFix price |
|---|---|---|
| LED driver replacement | One integrated downlight or panel is dead | From $80 plus driver |
| Downlight replacement | The downlight isn't worth a new driver | From $60 |
| Replace simple existing light | A new fitting in place of the dead one | From $60 |
| Additional light (same visit) | Replacing more downlights from the same batch | From $40 |
| Lighting circuit diagnosis | A room is dark or the cause is unclear | From $80 |
| Faulty switch diagnosis | The switch seems to be the problem | From $80 |
The driver's cost depends on its rating and whether it is dimmable. High ceilings, cramped ceiling access, a hard-to-match driver and several fittings raise the price. Each job is priced separately, so a faulty switch or wiring found on the visit is a separate job. Replacing one accessible driver typically takes under an hour, including a test.
For an accurate price, send a photo of the dead light and, if already visible, its driver label. See light installation cost in Singapore and the full electrician price list for Singapore.
When is it the switch or wiring, not the driver?
Suspect the switch or wiring when several lights go dark together, or the light works only when you press the switch a certain way.
HDB notes that a single-pole MCB protects a single electrical circuit (HDB: Electrical accessories and wiring). If a whole room is dark and its MCB is up, the fault is likely a loose connection on that circuit. Lighting is often wired from one light point to the next, so one loose terminal can kill every light after it.
A worn switch clicks but does nothing, feels loose, crackles or feels warm. A no-neutral smart switch can also struggle with small LED loads; see smart switches for HDB flats. Light switch repair and lighting circuit diagnosis cover these faults.
| Safe to DIY if… | Call a professional if… |
|---|---|
| You are changing a bulb for one with the right base | The right new bulb is fitted and it's still dead |
| One MCB tripped once and stays up | The MCB trips again, or a whole room stays dark |
| A dimmable bulb fixes a light on a dimmer | An integrated downlight or panel has died, or you smell burning or see scorch marks |
| You photograph a driver label that is already visible | Anything past the bulb: wiring, driver, ceiling rose or switch plate (licensed electrical worker) |
What happens when you WhatsApp us?
- 1WhatsApp us a photo or short video of the problem.
- 2We confirm the price before we come.
- 3A technician arrives at the agreed time.
- 4The job is done and you pay only the confirmed price.
Lighting Installation & Repair
From $80
- Downlights, pendants & tracks
- LED upgrades
Lighting Installation & Repair FAQs
Singapore's Electricity Act lets you replace any lamp in your own electrical installation, but changing an LED driver means disconnecting and reconnecting wires at the light point. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) says repair and replacement works must be carried out by licensed electrical workers, so have one swap the driver and test the fitting.
A power surge when supply returns can damage an LED driver. If one downlight stays dark while the others come back, its driver is the likely fault. If a whole room or the flat stays dark, check the DB box for a tripped MCB or residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) first.
Usually not. In most downlights the LED driver sits on a short cable above the ceiling and is reached through the downlight's own cut-out after the fitting is eased down on its spring clips. A cut or access panel is typically needed only when the driver or junction is out of reach.
An LED driver is a type of power supply that converts mains electricity to the low-voltage DC that LEDs need, while holding the current or voltage steady. An old halogen transformer, which outputs low-voltage AC, or a spare phone or laptop adapter is not a substitute. Use an LED driver with the same type, output current and voltage range.
An LED driver's life depends mostly on heat and build quality. The electrolytic capacitors inside wear out faster when hot, so drivers in cramped, warm false-ceiling voids often fail years before the LEDs themselves. A good-quality driver with room to shed heat usually lasts much longer.
LED downlights installed at the same time usually share the same driver model, heat and age, so they tend to fail within a similar period. If several have already gone, replacing the rest of the batch in one visit saves arranging a separate call-out each time another one fails.
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Sources & updates
- Singapore Statutes Online: Electricity Act 2001, section 82, checked 1 Oct 2026
- EMA on Ask.gov.sg: Electrical works must be carried out by licensed electrical workers, checked 1 Oct 2026
- MTI (now METI): Written reply to PQ on Electrical Installations Regulations (4 Apr 2022), checked 1 Oct 2026
- Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO): List of Controlled Goods, checked 1 Oct 2026
- Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO): Look for the SAFETY Mark, checked 1 Oct 2026
- HDB: Home care guide, electrical accessories and wiring, checked 1 Oct 2026
- HDB: Renovation guidelines, electrical works, checked 1 Oct 2026
- Updated 1 Oct 2026: First published
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This guide is general information for homes in Singapore. It is not professional, legal or safety advice for your specific situation. Electrical, gas and some plumbing work can be dangerous, and Singapore law requires certain jobs to be done by licensed workers. Any work you carry out yourself is at your own risk, and SG QuickFix accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage or injury arising from the use of this information. Prices shown are current starting prices, may change, and the final price is confirmed before any work begins. Rules and figures from HDB, PUB, EMA, SP Group and town councils were correct when last checked; please confirm with the relevant authority before acting.