In this paper we investigate what kind of failures are likely to happen in LED based
streetlighting luminaires and what are the requirements for being able to detect these
by means of thermal transient testing. Based on preliminary results of long term stability
studies of LEDs done in cooeparation with the Pannon University in Veszprém, Hungary
one should expect degradation of different thermal interfaces. Except the die attach,
the relevant thermal interfaces are likely to be detectable by relatively low resolution
thermal transient measurements. The measurement hardware can be realized as an add-on
to the LED driver circuitry present in the luminaire. Problems related to lack of
K-factor calibration are also dealt with.
