LED FAQs

LED FAQs - Learn the basics of LED lighting

LED lights offer incredible energy efficiency and a much longer lifespan than traditional lighting. With so much talk about the benefits of LED lighting, take a step back to learn why LEDs are so popular and how you can benefit from them.

What are LEDs?

LEDs are light emitting diodes and are quickly becoming the light source of choice over traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting options. Why? LEDs are efficient and low on energy consumption, and have begun to replace conventional light source in residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Why is LED technology classified as solid state lighting?

Solid state lighting means that the electronics produce light directly from the solid materials in which the electrons are embedded. Other technology, like incandescent lighting, uses thermal radiation to create light; and fluorescent technology, uses a gaseous discharge to mercury vapours in the lamp to create shortwave ultraviolet light that causes the phosphor coating in the lamp to glow. The small mass of a solid-state electronic lighting device provides greater resistance to shock and vibration compared to brittle glass tubes/bulbs and long, thin filament wires. They also eliminate filament evaporation, which increases the lifespan of the lighting device.

What makes LEDs more robust than other light sources?

LEDs have no gases, filaments or moving parts to fatigue. They produce light through a one-step process that takes place within the diode, and here is no glass to break or screwed contacts to loosen.

Image Source: Lighting Research Center

How is light produced in an LED?

Light emitting diodes produce light when electrons move between the two terminals of diode, which happens in a process called electroluminescence. When a light emitting diode is electrically connected, electrons start moving at the junction of the N-type and P-type semiconductors within the diode. When there is a jump over of electrons at the p-n junction, the electron loses a portion of its energy. In regular diodes this energy loss is in the form of heat. However, in LEDs the specific type of N and P conductors produce photons - or light - instead of heat. The amount of energy lost will determine the color of light produced.

How are LEDs different from other light sources in the way they produce light?

LEDs produce light through the direct conversion of electrical energy to light energy. On the other hand, incandescent light sources produce light by heating a filament until it grows red hot. Fluorescent lamps use a UV discharge plus a phosphor to produce the light. HID lamps create light through the ionization of gases in a discharge tube that produces photons.

Do LEDs need time to reach their maximum brightness?

No, LEDs directly convert electrical energy into photons in a one-step process of electroluminescence that does not require time to reach maximum output. Other sources such as fluorescents or HID, work on discharge technology. This requires an arc to warm up and may take a few minutes to reach full output.

Why do LEDs have a higher up front cost than conventional light sources?

The high initial cost is because of the sourcing of rare and expensive material and manufacturing of the electronics that go into the LED. LED chips are made of sapphire and gallium in the semiconductor; so this, as well as the inclusion of rare phosphors, silicone and gold wire makes the overall cost go up.

What are the cost savings involved with using LEDs instead of conventional light sources?

It’s no mystery that LEDs have a higher initial cost than conventional lighting options, but in fact, the operational and overall energy savings make LEDs the smarter long-term solution to reducing your overall lighting costs.

When you buy LEDs, your cost saving benefits will include:

• Long operational life (LEDs generally last a minimum of 50,000 hours).
• Low or no maintenance and lamp replacement cost. Due to the long life of LEDs, you’ll replace lamps less frequently and reduce your labour costs.
• LEDs need less energy to power.
• Many LEDs offer a payback period as short as three to four years.