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What is LED

Find the answer to the frequently asked LED Lights related question: What is LED?
Today's high-tech world comes with so many acronyms that it's hard to keep up. One that you need to know, though, is LED. LED stands for "light emitting diode." It's an important part of many of the electronics devices you use at home or at the office.

Makeup of the LED

LEDs are small light bulbs which fit inside an electrical circuit. However, unlike regular incandescent bulbs, there is no filament in them to burn out. They also don't get particularly hot. LEDs are illuminated as electrons move in a semiconductor material. They last a long time- they have about the life span of a standard transistor.

Two elements made of processed material comprise an LED. These elements are N-type and P-type semiconductors. These elements are positioned so that they contact one another directly, forming a "PN Junction." The primary difference between other diodes and an LED is that the LED is meant to produce photons. It has a clear package which allows visible energy or light to go straight through it.

Evolution of the LED

LEDs are tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. However, unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don't have a filament that will burn out and they don't get especially hot. They are illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material and at the same time, they last just as long as a standard transistor.

Typical Applications for LED Lights

Some of the current uses for LEDs include:

• Automotive Indicators
• Status Indicators
• Traffic Signal Industry
• Task Lighting
• Refrigeration
• Signage
• Outdoor Lighting
• TV and Monitor Screens

Benefits of LED Lights

There are numerous advantages to using LEDs. For starters, not much power is needed for them, which makes them energy-efficient. LED lights can run effectively on low-voltage DC power. Due to the low voltage required, LED lights aren't as dangerous as fluorescent lights.

LED lights also have a high efficiency level. They produce as much as 32 lumens per watt. In fact, LEDs are considerably more efficient than halogen light sources (at 22 lm/W) and incandescent light sources (at 16 lm/W). It's only a matter of time before they are more efficient than fluorescent lights (at 50-100 lm/W).

LEDs have a long life span. In theory, they can last for as much as 100,000 hours, although 30,000 or 40,000 hours is more likely. Due to this longer life span, you can save a lot of money that would otherwise be spent for replacement incandescent bulbs.

The tiny size of LED lights gives them another advantage. This small size makes them especially useful for applications and products that need lighting in tight or compact spaces. Finally, LED lights are friendly to the environment. This is because the bulbs are totally recyclable (plus the aforementioned power savings).

Although we're a long way from LED lights replacing all lighting needs, they are certainly becoming the standard for many electronics devices. As new applications develop for them, you can expect that LED lights will grow in popularity and usefulness.