LED Lights Versus Incandescent Lights

LEDs are the latest craze when compared to incandescent lights. For one thing, they are much more energy efficient. LEDs have a much longer life span. As a result, incandescent bulbs are quickly becoming a thing of the past when it comes to performance and output. So let's shed some light on this issue - no pun intended.

LED lights originated in the 1960s and are basically a semiconductor light source or diode. When a diode is turned on, electrons recombine and thus release energy in the form of photons. In an incandescent bulb, on the other hand, a filament is heated to produce the light. The filament will eventually burn out and the bulb does get hot. LEDs can last as long as a standard transistor and they produce light through electrical activity instead of heat. The average lifespan of an incandescent bulb with continuous use is six hundred hours, while the lifespan of LED lights is approximately ten thousand hours.

Today, LED lights do a variety of jobs and can be found in all kinds of devices. Unlike fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, LEDs are able to place light in a single direction much better and smart designs can be achieved with their directional output. Strips of LED lights can be placed in staircases, hallways, on the outside of wall units, etc.

Special designs have been made specifically for outdoor use where waterproofing is a concern and outdoor applications include lighting for walkways, gardens, buildings, and even bridges. The diversity of applications can be seen in the automotive industry as replacements for traditional indicator lights and daytime running daylights. LEDs are even replacing the incandescent traffic lights.

LEDs are brighter, longer lasting, and much more energy efficient when compared to incandescent bulbs. It's no wonder they are the latest craze.

by Mark T Twain

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