Source:wonderopolis.org

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using LED Lights

The LED (Light Emitting Diodes) have been used for many years now, but only recently did they become popular among people. This is because of many benefits, which we are going to discuss in the following text. Not only can they be used in your home, but they are also the most popular choice for street lighting, and even for illuminating buildings and stadiums.

Let’s be honest, no one likes to sit and work on a laptop or read a book in a dark room. Besides being uncomfortable, it can also be quite harmful to your eyes. As already mentioned, more and more people opt for LED lights for their home, instead of regular light bulbs. Besides some major benefits, there are also some disadvantages that these have.

Benefits

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The first benefit that we are going to discuss is efficiency. These consume less energy when compared to mercury, incandescent and other types of lamps. When we talk about these, only 5% to 10% of the energy they use is converted into light, while the rest is lost and usually converted into heat. When it comes to the LED, this ratio is 80/20 percent.

Secondly, they last longer. This is important for numerous reasons. First of all, you will not have to buy new ones often. Even though they might be pricey when compared to the regular lights, since they will last longer, when you think about it, you are going to save some money in the long run. Secondly, you can rest assured that you will not have to change them often. This is usually not a problem when you can easily reach for it, but on other multiple occasions, you might need a ladder or you even might have to create a plan on how to approach it.

Furthermore, they are durable. You know how light bulbs can make a small explosion from time to time, right? Well, this is not going to happen with the LED. Unlike traditional lighting which is made of glass and filaments, these are constructed of high-quality plastic and aluminum which makes them resistant to heat and low temperatures.

As already mentioned, since only 20% of energy is converted into heat, it means that LEDs can never get too hot. We believe this to be important especially if you have small children that are fascinated with lamps and light and usually want to touch it. Unlike regular bulbs which can cause burns, these cannot. Due to this, they are also great for items and equipment that are sensitive to heat.

In addition, another great thing about this is that they come in multiple colors. This is great if you want to add an LED sign to your shop or even create some small decorative one for your home. You can go with basic colors such as white, red, blue, and green, but you can also opt for some additional ones or a mixture of them. If you are looking for this type of advertisement, visit nordiksign.dk and learn more about their offer.

Lastly, one of, by far, the greatest benefits of this is that they are eco-friendly. They are not made of harmful and toxic materials such as mercury which means that they are 100% recyclable. Not only does this mean the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, since there will not be necessary to manufacture new ones from scratch, but it also means that they are not going to end up in a landfill and pollute the soil and water.

Disadvantages

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We have discussed some advantages of using these, but we also have to mention a few downsides. The first one that probably comes to your mind is the fee of installing these. Yes, in the long run, they are cost-effective, but the price of purchasing them is fairly high. Think about it this way. The cost of one LED is equal to the cost of 5 regular light bulbs. But, that one is going to last for the same amount of time as those other five combined would. Often, this is the reason why people leave the idea of switching to LEDs. If the price goes over your budget, our advice is to change one or two bulbs at the time.

Also, these are temperature sensitive which means that they should not be used in cars or other types of equipment that have to deal with sudden changes in temperature. If they are overused, there is a risk of damaging the items that use them. If you really want to change your car light to LEDs, then you should go with the ones that are specifically designed for this purpose.

What’s more, it is considered that cool-white LEDs produce more blue light than conventional lighting which can be hazardous. Simply put, they can be too bright. This is something that can put a strain on your eyes and also cause a headache. You should not install too many of these in a small area, because you will end up not using them anyway.

Another thing that you have to consider before investing in these is the color temperature. This is something that depends on personal preference, but some people just feel more comfortable in the area that is illuminated with warmer lighting, instead of the white one.

They are also sensitive to voltage. This means that they require voltage that is above the threshold, and also current that is below their rating. Because of this, they have to be supplied with power in a really specific manner.

Source:cnsourcelink.com

If you want to install these above your front door or on the porch, there is something that you should. As already explained, these do not produce a lot of heat which is why they remain cool. However, during winter months, this can pose a problem, since they are going to be covered with snow or frost.

To sum up, in this article we have discussed some major advantages and downsides of using these. As you can see, there are many pros and cons, so it is all up to you to decide whether these are going to be useful for you or not. Just make sure to read the label and inquire about the quality before purchasing them.


Peter is a freelance writer with more than eight years of experience covering topics in politics. He was one of the guys that were here when the foreignpolicyi.org started.