Why LEDs are the preferred Lighting technology now-a-days?

Incandescent light bulbs were developed more than a hundred years ago by Thomas Edison (patent filed in 1878) and were one of the most common sources of lighting until present. Consumers were seduced by the cheap price of an incandescent light bulb and almost forgot its expensive maintenance, waste of energy (because 90% of its energy is transformed into heat and only 10% in light) and the high temperature of operation.

The energy crisis of the 90’s, forced government officials and corporations to look for different source of energy and energy saving technologies such as LEDs. LED technologies (or Light-emitting diode) were discovered in 1962 without much fuss. LEDs are capable of emitting light by using low quantity of energy due to its low voltage nature. LEDs are also called SSL (solid state lighting) and became very popular due to their flexibility and multiple applications.

A few of LED’s benefits are:

1. LEDs are described as the Lighting Technology of the digital era. This new technology is an inflexion point, dividing before and after, such DVDs replacing VHSs or Digital signal replacing analog one.

2.  LEDs are able to converge with most of the digital switches, controllers and processors. This technology is ideal for building automation along with some other lighting controllers. Nowadays, it is very common to control rooms with PDAs or iPhone interfaces able to light fixtures, roll curtains up and down, activate video cameras, sound or turn off selecting appliances.

3. LED lighting just created a new industry with complementary products. New fixtures are designed, new drivers or power sources are developed, new heating sinks are set in place, new optics, etc. Also, new breed of professionals are being trained in Lighting and Energy Saving institution and Universities.

4.  LEDs are very important components in events and stage lighting. Today a show without LEDs, lighting or screens, doesn’t have the same impact as the ones with all the bells and whistles. LEDs are a very important part of the shows, displaying  images than can be appreciated in large screens with all the level of details the video camera wants.

5. LEDs are ideal for displaying RGB or full color effects, being able to reproduce any Pantene color or spectrum, ideal for photography and videos. By using DMX or controllers, technicians are able to handle any undesirable lighting effect, reducing “Moiré” effects and matching color temperature and brightness (measured in Kelvin and NITs respectively)

5. Benefits are numberless but I don’t want to leave aside the total integration between LEDs and solar panels. Both are low voltage and CC, perfect match.

Conclusions

LEDs provide a vast of benefits to be used in lighting, stage, transportation, signaling, video, etc. This technology is easily integrated with existing controllers and processors and able to assist us to do our business. The only remaining point is accessibility at a moderate price.