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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Will LED Light Bulbs Work for Conventional Lights? | DoItYourself.com

Will LED Light Bulbs Work for Conventional Lights? |

LED light bulbs function as a semiconductor light source. LED (light emitting diode) bulbs are often used as indicator lamps in different devices. However, due to their properties, they are increasingly being used for lighting.

About LED Lights

LEDs were first introduced in 1962. At the time, they emitted a low-intensity red colored light. The modern versions of these are available as ultraviolet, infrared and visible spectrum wavelengths. LED light bulbs have a very high brightness. When the semiconductor diode is switched on, the electrons continue to recombine with the holes present inside the device. The energy is released in the form of photons, and the color of the light varies depending on the energy gap within the semiconductor.

Advantages and Disadvantages

It is extremely convenient to use LEDs because they occupy very small spaces. They also have many advantages over other sources of lights. In terms of efficiency, the LED light bulbs can surpass the functionality of conventional bulbs. Since LED bulbs are durable, they can last up to 50,000 times longer than the conventional bulbs. Also, due to environmental and conservational reasons, the conventional filament bulbs are slowly being phased out and LED and CFL bulbs are becoming increasing popular.

That said; LED lights are still not the conventional form of lighting because they are extremely expensive to buy as compared to other conventional lights and bulbs of the same output. Nevertheless, despite being expensive, cost effectiveness is the primary selling point for LED lighting. Right now, the LED lighting functions on a fraction of the power used by conventional bulbs. With advancement in technology and newer methods of mass production, the cost of LED lighting will also reduce.

LED vs. CFL

Presently, LED lights and energy saving CFL bulbs are the 2 main eco-friendly and cost-effective lighting options. While CFL bulbs are much cheaper than the LED lighting options, in the long run, LED lighting is considered better and more cost effective of the two. LED lamps also score over CFL lamps in that they do not require any start time unlike CFL lamps.

LED Bulbs for Conventional Lighting

The current and voltage characteristic of LED lights is very similar to any other diode. The current in LED lights is also dependent exponentially on the voltage. Today, LED lights can be used in any kind of lighting. In fact, there is an increasing trend of using LED lights for conventional lighting uses. Where earlier LED lights were only used in automotive lighting, crystal displays, aviation lighting and traffic signals, at present, they are swiftly replacing other incandescent lighting options.

The mechanism of working of LED lights bulbs is different from that of conventional lights, and therefore, in order to use LED lights for general lighting needs, special sockets and LED chips are required to be installed. LED products are manufactured differently from the conventional lighting products, and hence, LED light bulbs cannot be used interchangeably with the conventional bulbs.

It is believed that over time, LED lighting options will become the conventional form of lighting, replacing both filament and CFL bulbs.



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