Light Emitting Diode, LED, is a devised used as a source of light. Due to the inherent advantages of the LED lights, they are gaining popularity and are in vogue.
The major advantages of LED lights are:
a. Efficiency: Scientific studies tell that LED consumes around 90% less power as compared to regular incandescent bulbs. The use of LED’s therefore result in dramatic power saving and decrease in power costs. Due to the high efficiency, LED’s are becoming popular source of lighting in remote areas specially those operated by Solar panels.
b. Longevity: As compared to incandescent bulb that lasts for an average 1500 hours, average lifespan of a LED light is 100,000 hours i.e. approximately 11 years with constant use. LED lights have the longest life in the commercially available lighting options. They can last 10 times longer than Compact Fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and 134 times longer than incandescent lamps. LED lights can last up to 68 years with a usage of 4 hours a day or 34 years with a usage of 8 hours a day. This reduces the maintenance cost and replacement cost of light.
c. Durability: As compared to other lighting options that use either filament (incandescent lamps) or gas (CFL), LED is a solid state device that uses semiconductor material that makes it is studier and increases its durability. Due to their constitution, LED lights can withstand vibrations, shocks and extreme temperatures. LED lights are also not susceptible to frequent on/off power cycle
d. Safety: LED lights emit no heat therefore even after hours of lighting, they can be touched without getting burned. This reduces the risk of fire. Other lighting options, especially incandescent lamps can get very hot even if operated for small durations.
e. Environment friendly: LEDs are considered “Earth friendly” as they do not contain toxic substances that are considered detrimental to the environment. LEDs can be recycled and reused. CFLs on the other hand contains mercury vapor that is used to generate ultraviolet radiation is very harmful to environment.
f. Variety: LED lights are available in a variety of colors like blue, green, red, yellow and white etc. The traditional lighting options use color filters to generate colored light by blocking frequency of other colors and allowing only one color to pass. LEDs on the other hand can produce narrow spectrum of light which can be blended together to get the desired color. Though slightly expensive, this method of generating colored light can be used effectively to generate special effects by changing the power supplied to base LEDs thereby changing the intensity of different colors to generate multiple shades using the same combination. LEDs using cheaper coloring techniques like phosphor converted LEDs are also available in market.
The high efficiency coupled with long life compensates for the high initial cost of LED lights. Small LED light bulbs can be arranged in different shapes to give the desired effect to the area being lighted. Series of LED lights are available that can be bent into any shape and can be used for enhancing the beauty of lighting.
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