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LED Lamps – What Are They? LED lamps are light bulbs that use light-emitting diode technology. These lamps are far superior to incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen lamps in terms of lifespan and energy efficiency, which makes them a perfect retrofit. LED lamps are at full brightness the moment you switch them on, and do not flicker. LEDs produce directional light and not distributed light, so lamps are designed with specific beam angles, from which customers can select depending on application. High temperature has an effect on LED durability, so these lamps have heat dissipation elements like heat sinks and cooling fins - the more efficient the heat dissipation, the longer the lamp life.
LEDs produce light in a narrow wavelength band, which has a color characteristic based on the energy band of the semiconductor from which the LED is made. Tor produce white light from LEDs, a blend of green, red, and blue LEDs may be needed, or a phosphor can be used to convert light into other colours.
RGB or trichromatic white LEDs use multiple LED chips to produce varied wavelengths that are closest to emitting white light. Thus, each LED can be modulated to adjust and change the overall colour. The colour rendering index or ‘CRI’ value for LED lamps ranges from less than 70 to more than 90, with higher index lamps displaying colour more accurately. High CRI lamps are often used in art galleries, retail, or food stores to display paintings and products at their best. LED lamps also come in a variety of colour temperatures, from very warm white (~2400K) up to very cool white or daylight (~7000K). Warm white LEDs tend to be used in hospitality and domestic applications where a warmer ambience is required. Cooler LEDs tend to be used in more functional applications, such as offices, or hospitals where a crisper, whiter light is required for utility.
LED lamps can be used for general or special accent lighting. A diffuser or multiple LED lamps with wider beam angles are used in applications that do not require directional light and need distribution of light in different directions. Narrow beam angle lamps are used where particular spaces or objects require accent lighting, in art galleries for instance. The use of white LED lamps is widespread in applications where high efficiency is required, due to their very low energy consumption (up to 90% less than traditional lighting). This includes general lighting, or specific applications like flashlights, solar lighting, or marine lighting. Coloured or monochromatic LED lamps are also used for traffic signals and in the strings of holiday lights. An example of commercial and industrial use of LED lamps includes Sentry Equipment Corporation in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, USA, which used LEDs to light its factory interiors and exteriors in 2008. The upfront cost for switch to LED was 3 times that of incandescent and fluorescent lamps. However, the extra cost was recovered in two years through energy savings, and there is no need of replacement for 20 years. Another example is iGate, an IT company in Manapakkam, Chennai, India which made an investment of US$80,000 in LEDs in 2009 for its 57,000 sqft office space. Return on investment was made within 3 years, as total cost of ownership reduced. By 2010, LED lighting went mainstream in commercial and public applications. It has also proven itself effective in outdoor lighting and street lighting.
In contrast to LED lamps, incandescent lamps produce light by passing an electric current through a resistive filament that heats the filament to a high temperature that emits visible light on a broad range of wavelengths. The light source produces warm yellow or white light depending on the temperature of the filament. 98% of the energy put into these types of lamps is output as heat, so they are very inefficient compared with LEDs. Though inexpensive, the lifespan of these lamps is 750-1,000 hours. In further contrast to LEDs lamps, fluorescent lamps are lit by electricity passing through mercury-vapour which produces ultraviolet light that is absorbed by a phosphor coating in the lamp. These lamps in conventional form have lifespans of about 6,000 to 30,000 hours. However, its life depends on the on/off cycles. Fluorescent lamps can take a while to warm up to full brightness, and when close to failure can flicker a lot. Furthermore they contain hazardous chemicals such as mercury which is bad for the environment, and requires special recycling measures upon disposal. LED lighting can be controlled using a variety of devices such as dimmers, passive infrared sensors, photocells, DMX controllers etc. This allows LEDs to deliver a very flexible, customisable light that can be tailored to a space and create specific ambience. LED lamps are available in a variety of different bases to match traditional lighting, such as E14, E27, GU10, GU5.3, G4, G53 etc.
The table below compares various different lighting technologies, including LED to illustrate overall cost of ownership to take into account energy consumption, maintenance costs, re-lamping costs etc. It is clear from this analysis that LED lighting leads the way in terms of cost saving and environmental friendliness.
Novel Energy Lightingsells quality LED lamps from reputable manufacturers like Philips and Megaman which last longer and produce more efficient light than incandescent or fluorescent lamps. These energy-savers are great replacements for those who are looking for cost savings and fit-and-forget lighting solutions.
