Brightness and Lifespan
Once we have decided that we are ready to invest into our LED light bulbs and not settle with eventually more expensive products (both for ourselves and the environment) there is still a lot to decide on. What are the main issues in LED lighting techniques, and what are the problems that are still to be solved? There are many slogans of the opponents of this lighting technique, here we intend to take a close look at these issues and clear the picture in the naturally blurred areas about LED light bulbs, since this technique develops so fast we don’t stand a chance to judge how much of these slogans are valid or as a matter of fact, outdated.
What are the most frequent questions about LEDs?
1. Do they produce significant light to replace my current light bulb?
2. How long can they be used during the day?
3. Do I need any extra gadgets or methods for application?
4. Can LEDs replace my dimmable lights ?
None of these questions are trivial if you are a user and you are looking to replace let’s say several of your light bulbs . Also, one of the main reasons we use LEDs is their long lifespan, so you are choosing these products for more than ten years. Not applied properly, they can lose most of it, and your money just goes down the drain. So, let’s examine these issues one by one.
Which LED light can replace my current light bulbs?
The brightness of LEDs depend highly on its type and the size of the diodes. There are three types of LEDs with different performances: low power diodes, power and high power ones. Low power LEDs are mainly suitable for decorative or mood lighting purposes. These LEDs produce very little light individually, so to get a decent amount of light, you have to use a lot of them together. Also to keep their lifespan, you simply cannot use them for longer than a few hours a day. So if you are looking for LED lights adding a touch of special atmosphere to your home in the evenings, these are the perfect solution -especially coloured bulb and spots. They are also good solutions at places where you use a light fulb for only a few hours a day, like in a garage during parking, or by the door while you search for your keys. Mind that these low power LED lights are the ones mainly available in DIY stores at a very low price with somewhat misleading advertisements for those who are not into the topic. Always check what you buy:the distributors usually indicate the Wattage of the traditional light bulb the LED is supposed to replace.
SMD power and high power technologies are both adequate to replace traditional light bulbs. High power LEDs are suitable for constant lighting, so they are suitable for commercial use as well.
The size of the diode and the chip driving it in the fixture of the light bulb also determine the performance of the LED light. Quality chips increase the lifespan of LED lights radically from 30 000 hours even to 50 000. That almost means that these power LED light bulbs will only be replaced by the next generation in your family.
When you want to decide what LED light bulb can replace your current incandescent bulb, at most distributors you can check the replacing wattage of it. Another detail indicating the brightness of the LED is the luminous flux. Normally, a 60W incandescent light bulb has the luminous flux of 600-800 lumens, but it refers to its 360° beam angle. If you find the luminous flux of the LED low, check for the lights beam angle. If it is 120° for instance,you can multiply the lumens in rate to their angle. That will give you a comparative factor.