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The Different Features Of LED Light Bulbs

As the compact florescent light bulb has started to rapidly replace the aging incandescent light bulb lately, a different kind of bulb is emerging which will replace them both. The light emitting diode (LED) bulb has features that make it a superior technology.

Whereas the incandescent bulb generates light in a vacuum and the compact florescent bulb does so inside a tube, the LED is referred to as solid-state lighting. It is solid state as it uses solid matter, a semiconductor, to produce light.

The semiconductor is made with both a positively and negatively charged element. The positive layer has little openings for the free electrons coming from the negative part to go through. When an electrical charge is applied to the semiconductor, a stream of excited electrons moving through the holes emits a light.

The two great advantages of LED light bulbs are their really long life and energy efficiency. They just utilize almost one tenth as much electrical energy as usual bulbs and thus offer big savings in energy costs and a decreased carbon footprint. This actually makes them both cost efficient and environmentally friendly.

Their solid state structure and really low heat emissions give them a longer lifespan. LED light bulbs greatly outlive even compact florescent bulbs and could easily last for a decade or much longer in normal use. This not just saves on the cost of the bulb, but it additionally saves time and replacement costs. Much better suited to survive rough handling and outside conditions, a LED light bulb can be relied on to work when needed most.

Since they attain their full brightness almost instantly and are actually mercury free, LEDs clear up 2 main problems that compact fluorescent bulbs have (mercury content and lag time in reaching full brightness).

LED light bulbs are designed to emit an extremely directional light so the light can be aimed exactly where it is required. Also, their light is closer to the color of daylight, which research indicate helps people stay alert.

Until recent changes in the technology, the structure of the LED induced much of the light to be trapped inside. This plus the bluish light they often emitted brought about a dimmer light that made LEDs unsightly for home usage.

LEDs are now a lot brighter though and can emit the same soft, white light regular bulbs do.

One downside with LEDs that has not been rectified yet is cost. While their power savings and really long life mean LEDs are cost-effective and save money in the long term, they're not likely to achieve mass consumer acceptance until their prices come more in line with other kinds of bulbs. Although their costs are coming down, LED light bulbs are still comparatively costly.

As soon as their costs come down more, LEDs are likely to become the standard and dominate lighting until a better technology appears.