LED lights provide up to 90 percent energy savings compared to conventional incandescent or halogen bulbs. They are used in various settings such in households, offices, campsites and even in vehicles. Also, they have a long lifespan (up to 10,000 hours). Even if you compare LED bulbs with CFL low energy lighting, advantages are clear. Flicking on the light switch allows the LED light to instantly provide full illumination while the CFL bulb is expected to warming up first. Also, LED lighting can be made to produce a range of various color temperatures and light quality.
Although the benefits of LED lighting are well recognized, many consumers still do not understand the quality of LED bulbs. Most LED lighting manufacturers promise unmatched performance when it comes to lifespan and the light quality of the bulb. Whether you need LED lights for trucks, for your office or home, here are some considerations to keep in mind.
Heat Dissipation
In terms of quality, one of the aspects of a LED bulb is the bulb’s ability to dissipate heat. Many people thought that LED bulbs do not get warm but this is not really the case. LED bulbs tend not to get as nearly as hot as incandescent bulbs; however, as power goes into the LEDs, heat is produced and must be taken away from the LEDs.
Unluckily, LEDs are not capable of radiating away such heat in the same way as incandescent bulbs. Rather, a heat sink draws away the heat by absorbing the produced heat and dissipating it into the surrounding environment. In case the heat sink fails to perform its job properly, the LED is expected to overheat and may burn out.
Heat sinks are available in various designs. That is why the look of LED bulbs will change between brands. Are you familiar with the metal fins on a number of LEDs? LEDs with higher end tend to have ceramic or aluminum fins heat sinks.
Chip Set
Although the dissipation of heat is necessary, the chip utilized in converting electricity to light also matters a lot. A poor chip is expected to generate more heat and won’t last as long. But better LED bulbs will make use of chips from better makers that generate less heat and transform more energy to light.
Power Driver
The power that enters the LEDs is regulated by the driver to make sure that the operation of the bulb is optimal with no overheating to take place.
Color Temperature
Unlike conventional incandescent and halogen bulbs which produce a warm white light, a LED light comes in various colors, the bulb’s color temperature. For the replication of the color temperature a halogen GU10 produces, you should choose daylight colored bulb. In case you want a cooler light usually related with office spaces, choose the coo light bulbs.
Lumens
LED bulbs are also available in different brightness. Before, people compared the bulbs’ wattages to distinguish the brighter ones but today you think Lumens. This is because it is possible to replace a 50w halogen GU10 spotlight with a 5w LED GU10 spotlight. The newer bulb’s lower wattage is the reason why households can achieve massive energy savings. It is just imperative to ensure the lumens are the same between these bulb types to ensure you get the same light intensity.