LED means Light-Emitting Diode. Basically, it is a more direct form of lighting. Whereas fluorescent and incandescent lights emit lighting in every direction, LEDs are more direct. This means you don’t need aluminum foil behind your light fixture!
LED Efficiency
The main advantage to using LEDs is efficiency. They use about 10% the electricity that an incandescent light uses.
Heat
LEDs produce a small amount of noticeable heat. However, in their circuitry, they actually produce a lot for what they’re doing. Therefore, LEDs have heatsinks to dispel the heat. That protects the circuitry.
Uses
Anywhere you have lighting, someone has found a way to use LEDs. Since they produce such a small amount of radiating heat, you won’t find them in easy bake ovens.
Because of their low profile, you’ll be able to put LEDs in places other lighting sources won’t fit. LEDs even come in tiny strips. You can use these inside cabinet doors, for stair lighting, accent lighting, and much more.
They’re commonly used in outdoor lighting situations.
LED Lifespan
LEDs last longer than other types of lighting. However, if you buy cheap knockoffs, you might not get the lifespan you’re expecting.
These lightbulbs should last you 10-30 years depending on use. Different LEDs have different lifespans because it depends a lot on their quality and if they have a mechanism to compensate for diminishing function.
LED Disadvantages
Because it sends light in one direction, the lighting can be more harsh. Often times, looking directly at an LED feels like looking into a laser. I’m sure I’m not the only one who hates when cars have LED headlights.
Fortunately, this is one of the things that has improved greatly over the past decade. The use of clouded covers and a wider array of dimmer LEDs has lead to less penetrating light.
Dimmable
LEDs are now dimmable, but check to make sure the ones you’re working with are. Not all of them are dimmable just yet.
Color Temperature
For the longest time, one of the biggest complains about LEDs was the color temperature being too harsh. Now, you can get ones where you get to choose the temperature. That’s very convenient.
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