| LED Lighting |
So what is LED lighting, exactly? LED stands for Light Emitting Diode, which is an electronic term for a semiconductor that emits visible light when a electrical current is applied to it.
These amazing little lights have been used in electronic devices for decades (remember those old Texas Instruments pocket calculators with the bright red LED displays?) but are now being used more and more in home and commercial lighting applications. They’re also widely used in computer displays, cell phone displays, Ipods and more.
Another example are the inexpensive LED flashlights hitting the market these days. These flashlights use less battery power, they're brighter than conventional units, and you don't have to replace the bulbs as is required with conventional flashlights.
A second common question is what exactly determines the color of an LED. Basically, it's directly related to the composition of the semi-conductor material used in the LED. For example, an LED will glow yellow if it's given a phosphor coating on the die that absorbs some of the blue light, converting the remaining light to yellow.
Advantages of LED lighting fixtures:
One of the biggest advantages of LEDs are the fact that they use much less energy and are more eco friendly then conventional bulbs - up to 90% less energy in fact. They even use 50% less energy than compact flourescent bulbs, or CFLs. This results in a big savings on your electric bill over the course of a year.
LEDs have the ability to emit a variety of colors without having to resort to filters over the bulbs, which results in considerable cost savings during manufacture.
Because they can be made very small, LED lamps can be used almost anywhere. They also power up to near full brightness in mere microseconds.
LED light bulbs generate much less heat than incandescent bulbs, keeping the area around them cooler. This could save energy costs in the summer, as you won't have to run the air conditioning as much to keep your house at a comfortable temperature.
LED lighting have a much longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs - up to 10 times longer. Many can burn for 50,000 hours or more. And these amazing long lasting bulbs don't go out all at once like a conventional bulb - they just get dimmer over time. So you're not suddenly left in the dark.
And finally, LEDs don’t contain mercury like CFLs, so they’re more environmentally friendly once they’re disposed of.
Some disadvantages to LED lighting:
There are a couple of disadvantages with LEDs, however. Chief among them is the initial cost, which can be quite a bit higher than conventional lighting. But these costs are expected to drop as this technology is improved and goes into mass production in the near future.
The other drawback is the fact that LEDs tend to be voltage sensitive, and can be damaged by electrical spikes if not powered by current-regulated power supplies in order to avoid damaging them. But these disadvantages are minor compared to the many benefits of LED lighting, and you can expect to see more and more of these innovative lighting products being used in the future.
LED Lighting Products
Outdoor Lighting
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Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting has a variety of uses, from security to entertainment, and making the right choice in tools and hardware can make that outdoor lighting project a snap.... Read more |
Lighting Fixtures
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Lighting Fixtures
There's a wide variety of lighting fixtures to choose from depending on your needs and budget. When going over your overall lighting design, make sure you have the right fixtures for every room and every lighting application.... Read more |
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