Final Edit: The problem was NOT fixed by exhausting every reasonable suggestion in this thread. I have found new information and created a new thread as the question needs to evolve from this discussion in order for an answer to be found. The new question is here: Microwave on A leg causes B leg voltage to increase, neutral issue, but how to diagnose?
I have a very troubling issue with my LED lights that so far two qualified electricians AND the power utility have not been able to uncover. I have been working on this for 1 month (hours of research) and we're no closer than when we started.
The issue is this: All LEDs in my brand new house (built April 2021) that contain circuit boards, or are run off a LED driver (does not affect simple LED bulbs plugged into conventional light sockets) begin to strobe at a regular interval after they are switched on. 44-55 seconds from flicking the switch the light will strobe for 5 seconds and then go back to normal.
The lights do not strobe at the same time, the countdown to strobing begins when each light circuit is switched on. This is stumping us as it would be much easier to identify the issue if all the lights strobed at the same time (suggesting a central supply issue). But that's not the case.
Edit: I was wrong, the lights did strobe all at the same time. It was very hard to tell this was the case, but if you have this issue, this is the biggest hint as to what the issue is. So try to have a friend help you by yelling out across the house when they see the lights flicker while you're in another room with flickering lights.
Morever, this is NOT your typical dimmer switch issue, I've spent 20 hours on this so far and eliminated the following COMMON causes:
- Dimmer switches - zero in my house
- Appliances - issue occured before appliances were installed
- Outlet connections - issue occured before any devices were connected to any outlets
- Switches - switches are basic on/off and have ALL been tightened
- Light bulbs - this issue is occuring in 4 completely different brands and styles of integrated LED lights
- Voltage - power utility AND electricians both confirmed 118 volts at the source and panel
- Panel - the panel has been checked and is perfect, all connections checked by two electricians
- Breakers - this is affecting 4 different circuits, all breakers checked and are correct for the panel
And finally: turning off all breakers, except for a strobing light circuit, does not change the behaviour, the lights will strobe even if they are the only circuit on in the entire panel. :(
The ONLY tell I have right now, which hopefully means something to someone, is if I flick off two breakers for my wall outlets (which contain GCFIs if that matters) and then flick them back on, two circuits will stop strobing completely for at least 4 hours. No electrician can explain this, but the behaviour has been observed true 3 times now.
TL;DR - 4 different types of LEDs with integrated circuitry strobe at regular intervals on 4 different circuits. Common culprits have all been checked. When two breakers are turned off, strobing on two circuits ceases for at least 4 hours. What is this indicitave of?
Update: this affects 19 model: LPDL4 Stanpro Drivers/Standard 4" LED downlights, 2 bathroom lights with integrated LEDs, 5 under cupboard mini-LED downlights, and a chandelier with integrated LEDs. The bathroom lights and chandelier are completely different than the Stanpro drivers. The Stanpro lights are very high quality pieces.
Update 2: Electrician combined the 4 light circuits into 2, this caused the strobing to cease for 13 hours, the strobing has returned exactly like before. We can eliminate the lights as an issue, they worked fine for 13 hours. As well, central power delivery can't be the issue given the same finding.. I wonder if it's the panel itself.