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Capacitive droppers are the most reliable for LED bulbs in my experience, because they are very simple and there's not much to go wrong. It's usually the IC-based ones that die first.



Just to add a data point, I have the opposite experience based on just a few bulbs of different brands I disassembled over the years.


What has failed in them?


In my experience, it's usually the capacitor that pops, but my experience is mostly with GU10 form factor bulbs, which have the downside of being very compact and fitted in fittings that don't have good heat reduction properties resulting in everything running hot, even in a LED bulb that should be cool. Even the cheapest LEDs last longer than standard halogen GU10 bulbs though, so there's that.


Capacitor usually blows - they don't like operating really hot and heat removal inside those small form factors is a serious challenge. Also, many times, the whole power converter is encased in a semi-insulative rubber, so that just compounds the problem.




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