Features and Benefits of LEDs: 1. Save money and energy. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are solid-state semiconductor devices that can convert electrical energy directly into light. Generally, a LED consumes less than 0.1 watts to operate. This low power consumption means you save on your energy costs. 2. Low heat output. LEDs can convert almost all the energy used into light creating a highly efficient light source. In contrast, today incandescent bulbs emit a lot of energy in the infrared spectrum which can not be seen. We know this wasted energy as the heat today bulbs give off. 3. Long life time. A LED can last up to 100,000 hours. In comparison an incandescent lifetime is about 1,000 hours and a halogen is about 2,000 hours. 4. Environmentally safe. LEDs are made from non-toxic materials unlike fluorescents which contain Mercury. Can also be recycled. Durable. No loose or moving parts.
heinbloed
14 Nov 2009, 9:40 PM
Oh Irine!! What makes the LED creating the different colours? C'mon, wise Lady.....you know it, don't you?
eSaver
22 Feb 2010, 1:29 AM
Hi heinbloed,
An LED light can contain a number of colours, usually red, green and blue (RGB), within a single bulb. By adjusting the intensity of each individual colour, with the use of an LED specific driver, different colour variations can be achieved. RGB uses the same principal as mixing paint colours, only using light as a medium.
I hope this was helpful,
eSaver
heinbloed
22 Feb 2010, 10:00 AM
@ eSaver: Facts count, words can fill pages. The question is if there are harmfull substances contained in LEDs and what these are.
Arsenic is contained in LEDs, Gallium as well.
And no recycling scheme whatsoever.... There are rcycling facilities taking and recycling CFLs, but recycling of LEDs is virtually unheard off in GB.
Why so?
Is it true that the "polluter must pay " principle would hinder the sale of LEDs ?
First setting up a recovery/recycling scheme and then getting the permission to sell theses dangerous substances would harm business?
Socialising the damages to society but privatising the profits - what sort of sustainability do we see here?
Fenella
5 Jul 2010, 4:33 PM
Interesting points.....
LEDs for general lighting contain Gallium Nitride - not Gallium Arsnide. Most mainstream products are compliant with RoHS so are free of mercury, free of lead and all of the other nasties.
All LED lighting has to comply with the WEEE directive - meaning that the importer or manufacturer has to put a recylcing program in place - so YES there are recyling facilities. It is a legal requirement. Providers of recyling are companies such as "Weecare".
LEDs can offer colour changing by using a combination of red, green and blue (and some other colours occasionally) - however there are issues with the colour quality of the light using this method. It is however ideal for decorative projects.
Visit the CREE website for their list of approved fixture manufacturers.
RobL
20 Jul 2010, 1:57 PM
Most white LED light sources actually have a blue led, with a phosphor coating which converts some of the narrow spectrum blue light to a smear of lower frequency colours. The phosphor controls how "warm" or "cold" the light is.
Currently, production bare power led's are about 60 to 160 Lumens per Watt. The theoretical maximum is about 250-680 lumens per watt, depending on the colour spectrum. So they can still get better !
I have 4 different types of mains (240V) GU10 fitting lamps at home, costing from £5(ebay 40off 3mm led) to £25 (3 off CREE white leds). They are all directional, whilst the CFL GU10's I have are much broader. The single led ones are better point sources, better at making cutlery sparkle (like halogen).
The very cheapest ones don't have any capacitance in them, so give out 100Hz (2*mains) flicker (just like old style flourescents). You can see the flicker easily on a camcorder - some people find it tiring/annoying eventually, tho it's tricky to see at first. Even the £5 ebay one of mine didn't flicker luckily though.
