More on LED Technology

 

Satco brand recently published a brochure on LED lighting I wanted to share some of the information from that book I think may be useful to consumers when looking into LED light fixtures and LED bulbs.

Most of you may be aware of the benefits of LED lighting, here are just a few:

-Directional and onmi-directional light emission

-Resistance to mechanical failure (i.e., braking)

-Instant on at full output

-Works well in cold temperatures

-Dimming and control capability

-LED bulbs are available in MANY color options

-Extended lifetime

 

LED is a very different type of light than what we are use to, incandescent lamps emit light by heating a filament until it glows. Fluorescent lamps use a gas discharge to excite phosphors and create light. High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps use an electronic arc discharge. All of these traditional technologies require a glass bulb to contain essential gasses and or coatings. LED emit light through electroluminescent. It all starts with a die or a tiny chip, made of up layers of semiconducting material, these materials determine the wavelength or radiation or the color that is emitted. These tiny chips are combined and mounted on a lens or a surface that conducts heat and wired to a circuit board and shaped to look like a bulb we are familiar with, or inserted directly into a fixture.

 

LED technology requires a driver, which is similar to a transformer, used with low-voltage halogen, or a ballast, used with fluorescent lights. LED is a current-driven device not a voltage-driven. Drivers are needed to created an environment where a LED can be used with our standard household voltage systems, built into each driver is a current-limiting resistor so the LED can operate at a very specific voltage. A driver also contains the power to limit the current going to the chip, too much current or voltage can create heat and damage the light emitting diode.

 

LED bulbs come in many shapes and sizes, many are made to take on a shape we are used to seeing, like the standard light bulb, the A19 an candelabra, or a reflector bulb, PAR 30, like the one at the top of the post. Many look very odd when you first see them, they all have some similarities, the chip or the diode that is responsible for emitting the light and some sort of thermal regulation. 

Type b/ Candelabra



A19

 

Most common concerns with LED bulbs are: cost, color, and consistency.

 

The initial cost is much higher than other types of light, is it worth the higher upfront cost? You have to calculate energy and maintenance over the products lifetime, in most cases the long-term savings for LED bulbs or fixtures outweighs the initial upfront cost.

 

For example

11 watt LED BR30 bulb vs. 65 watt BR30 Incandescent bulb

Cost of LED $39.95

Vs cost of incandescent $5.99

Electricity cost/year LED $24.09

Vs $142.35/year

Bulb lifespan LED 13 years

Vs 1 year 1 month

Total annual cost/ year $24.09

Vs $148.34

*Number of times you will have to replace an incandescent bulb during the LED’s lifetime: 120 (12 times per bulb)

 

LED is available in many color options, all the colors in the rainbow in fact. But the color concern is mostly, will the LED match the color of the light I all ready use in my home? Is the light flattering? The answer is yes, the National Electrical Manufactures Association (NEMA) has set an industry standard for LED bulbs. Because the LED is such different technology than other light sources there is more variability with the color output.

As for consistency, when you are buying LED bulbs look at 3 different items: the wattage, the color, and the lumens. As long as you get bulbs close to or the same in these 3 catagories you will have no problem.

Another thing to keep in mind with LED bulbs and LED fixtures is the dimming controls. Although some LED will work with your standard 120v incandescent light dimmers some will not. LED lights run into similar difficulties with dimming as CFL bulbs do. When drivers are connected directly to the line-voltage incandescent dimmers they may not receive enough power to operate at the lower dimming levels. Most dimmers have a minimum wattage load requirement to work and LED's using such small wattage's especially when they are dimmed do not meet the minimum loads for the dimmers to work. It is strongly recommended to use dimmers that are designed to work with the LED lights to ensure your dimming works properly.    

I hope you find this information helpful, please email me or comment below if you have any more questions or concerns.
Happy Monday!