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"The Future of LED
Lighting: Industrial, Commercial, Domestic"
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Turning the spotlight on to
the LED. By:
Jeff King
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There can be no question about it
the light bulb is one of the greatest inventions that man has
made. Since it’s first appearance it has been improved in many
ways, first by the introduction of fluorescent light bulbs, then
by the appearance of halogen bulbs and next by the arrival of
energy saving bulbs.
The latest incarnation to arrive on the
scene is the LED light bulb. These bulbs are approximately 35
time more efficient than an incandescent bulb and about 10 times
more energy efficient than a fluorescent lamp. They come in many
different colours as standard and can easily create a completely
different mood in your home, depending on the color chosen.
An LED (Light Emitting Diode) is a form of semiconductor device
that emits light when an electrical charge is placed across it.
The type of light that emanates from the semiconductor depends
upon the composition of the encapsulating material and can vary
from ultra violet to infrared. \
There are many advantages of
using LED bulbs over the standard incandescent bulbs. The main
advantage is the energy efficiency aspect. An LED bulb is
brighter than a standard bulb and generates much less heat for
the amount of light output. They use only about 10% of the
energy used by a standard bulb and come in many colours as
standard.
The most widely used application of LED bulbs is in the
automotive industry. A cluster of LEDs in place of a bulb are
brighter and more reliable than a single bulb whilst using much
less electricity. The other advantage is that if one led fails
in the cluster the rest continue to work, thus giving and
obvious health and safety benefit.
Another application for led bulbs is within the Christmas
decoration industry. Because LED bulbs use so much less power
than traditional Christmas lights they can be powered from a
simple battery pack rather than have the need for a transformer
and electricity supply to light your exterior Christmas lights.
Another advantage is seen with interior Christmas tree lights.
Because LED bulbs run much cooler that incandescent lamps they
are a much safer option when lighting your indoor tree, far less
chance of a fire with less heat.
A less obvious application for LED bulbs is in the vintage
automobile industry. If the original bulbs are replaced with
super efficient LED equivalents there is much less drain on the
vintage car’s electrical system.
This reduces the strain on an
already over tired charging system and there is much less chance
of a catastrophic failure of the antique electrical system.
There is an added advantage that headlights do not go dim when
stationary and not revving the engine as they need much less
power to remain bright.
All in all LED bulbs are a fantastic replacement for more
traditional forms of light bulb and they will continue to gain
popularity over the coming years. Who knows, one day Edison’s
original incandescent invention may be a dim memory.
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About The
Author... |
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Jeff King is a technologist with a
background in consumer electrical devices |
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LED Flashlights: Let
There Be Light By:
Ben Anton
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The new generation of LED lights
resolves many of the ‘inconveniences’ of typical camping lights.
In the past five years, there have been huge leaps forward in
the development of usable LED lighting.
Just a few short years
ago, LED lights were considered almost too dim for regular use,
their manufacturing process was too expensive for everyday
purposes.
These days, LEDs can emit the full spectrum of light,
mimicking daylight through twilight.
Combined with the
decreasing size and ease of use of computer chips, developers of
LED lights have created lights that remain bright far beyond the
lifespan of either incandescent or fluorescent lights, can be
set to dim for use as a nightlight, or bright to illuminate your
entire campsite at night.
Why Should You Choose LED Lights for Camping?
LED lights have numerous advantages over nearly every other type
of camping lantern manufactured. In a nutshell, LED lights are:
Durable
LED lights are designed for harsh environments. In experiments
using LED flashlights (torches) for instance, every single one
of the LED models tested survived a drop from four feet – about
the average drop if you knock it off the edge of a table –
without even going dim.
They withstand temperatures from -40 to
82 degrees Celsius (that’s 175 degrees Fahrenheit, for those
keeping track). Bump them around, toss them in the trunk, knock
them off the table, drop them down the canyon – they’ll still
work. Try that with a typical torch or halogen lantern.
Long-lasting
If you’ve been on the wrong end of a flashlight with dying
batteries, you’ll really appreciate the fact that LED lights can
run for up to 60 hours continuously on one set of batteries.
Even better, many models are solar powered – they’ll run all
night on a charge from a few hours worth of sunlight.
And a the
newest white LED bulbs have a standard life of about 500 hours –
which means that you’ll still get 90% of the original light
output after 500 hours. Unlike traditional bulbs, they don’t
just burn out – they just gradually get a little dimmer, but
continue working.
Safer
LED lights burn ‘cool’, making them safe for use in a tent or
other enclosed space. Unlike fuel lanterns, they don’t present a
safety hazard, and don’t depend on your carrying flammable fuel
along with you.
Brighter
The traditional argument against LED lights was that they were
too dim for everyday or even emergency use. That’s no longer
true. The newest white LED lights are 60 times brighter than
standard LED lights, and many lamps are capable of producing
near daylight intensity and spectrum light.
Variety
LED lights can be used in a wide variety of types of lights and
lanterns. From a tiny emergency light small enough to be carried
on your keychain to full-size lanterns that can illuminate your
entire campsite, you’ll find LED lights that fit any need.
Weigh Less
LED lights can offer maximum brightness at weights
under a pound.
Among
the best picks for LED lights to take with you on a camping trip
are:
LED lantern for night time lighting. Choose one that can sit on
a table OR hang from a branch or wire for maximum flexibility.
Most are dimmable to serve as a nightlight.
LED flashlight, either solar or battery operated to light your
way when you’re out in the woods looking for the outhouse.
LED emergency flashers or flares are an excellent idea for
safety.
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About
The Author...
Ben Anton writes for DLK.
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