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Home : Newsletters & Press Releases : January 2008
Newsletter
January 15, 2008
L.E.D.
What are LED’s? An L.E.D. is a light producing semiconductor diode inside an epoxy lens. L.E.D. lights are everywhere! Digital watches and alarm clocks use them for their number displays. Most traffic signals, digital message signs and automobile dashboards also use them.What are the Advantages of LED’s?
- Use 1/10 of the electricity of an incandescent light for the same light output
- Long life—around 100,000 hours on average (almost 11.5 years running 24 hours per day)
- Very low heat, cool to the touch
- Available in several colors
- Instant brightness—no warm up time
- No mercury content
Why isn’t LED lighting more prevalent? There are a few reasons. First, although LED lighting isn’t a new technology (commercially they have been used since the 1960’s), only recently has the technology been developed to produce white light (the most common color for general lighting). Second, LED lighting is not a good replacement for higher wattage household bulbs because they are unable to produce sufficient ambient, 360 degree light. Third, LED lights that can produce enough light to mimic larger wattage incandescent bulbs are prohibitively expensive and, as to
this point, of dubious quality. We are several years away from reliable LED light bulbs that replace higher wattage incandescents.What applications are appropriate for LED lighting? Short answer: Anywhere low wattage incandescents light bulbs are used.
- Night lights—Most night lights are on all night. An LED will use 1/10 the electricity and remain reliably functional for over a decade. Costs around $.20 per year to operate
- Emergency lights and battery operated flashlights—Led bulbs require very little energy, thus they drain very little from batteries when operated
- Book lights—white LED’s are an excellent light source for reading, along with little draw on your batteries
- Christmas lights—a 12’ foot strand uses only 1.6 watts of energy
- Wireless under cabinet and puck lights—battery operated with no wiring, they can be used inside drawers, on work benches, on bookshelves, or anywhere you need task light
- Exit signs—on 24 hours a day, these fixtures consume only 2 watts of power and don’t require bulbs for 10 years
To view our full line of LED products please Click Here.
