What are the advantages and disadvantages of LED lights?

In recent years, LEDs have become the best go-to in the lighting industry, slowly replacing halogen and CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) with more energy-efficient technology. Being more energy-efficient is just one of their many advantages; in this guide, we will list all the advantages and disadvantages of LED lights and hopefully convince you that these are the only bulbs you will ever need to buy from now on.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website BITASO.

Table of contents:

What are LED lights and how do LED lights work?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode, a semiconductor (part conductor, part insulator) device that converts low levels of electricity into light. Unlike traditional filament bulbs, which generate light by creating heat, an LED light bulb charges atoms in a conductive material, releasing energy in the form of electrons and producing light.

You can now use LEDs in most light fittings, but why is it better to have LED lights? Read on to discover the pros and cons of LED lights.

What are the pros of LED lights?

When it comes to LED lighting, the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages. Here are the 10 top advantages they offer:

1. What is the biggest advantage of LED lights?: Energy-Efficiency

If you absorb anything from this guide, the most important point is this: energy efficiency is the biggest advantage LED lights provide.

LED lights have become the world&#;s most efficient form of lighting, using around 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and approximately 60% less than fluorescent lighting. As a result, this means that LED lights consume less electricity, reducing your energy costs.

LEDs produce more light per watt, producing the same light or brightness level while consuming less energy.

How much do LED lights cost to run?

It&#;s widely known that LED will save you money on energy bills, but how much?

Working out how much LED lights cost to run depends on several factors:

1. The LED light bulb wattage
2. Number of hours the lights are used
3. Your electricity rate: cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
4. Number of LED bulbs

The formula to work out how much LED lights cost to run is:

Power (kW) = / watts

Cost = Power (kW) × Time (hours) × Electricity Rate (per kWh)

So, for example, if you have a 10-watt LED bulb that you run for five hours a day and your electricity rate is £0.30 per kWh. You can work out how much it will cost you per day using the formula above:

/ 10 &#;= 0.01kW

0.01kW × 5 hours × £0.30/kWh = £0.015 cost per day.

You can then multiply this cost per day by the number of LED bulbs you have.

You can apply this formula to work out the cost of any bulb and compare it with its LED equivalent. But, LEDs will always cost less because they create the same light level (lumens) with fewer watts.

2. More environmentally friendly: Why are LED lights better for the environment?

As LED lights use much less energy, less carbon emissions are released to power them, making them the most environmentally friendly bulb option. Eco-friendly bulbs are essential in today&#;s energy landscape, which demands better energy-saving solutions to preserve our planet&#;s resources.

Furthermore, unlike CFLs, LEDs don&#;t contain hazardous materials like mercury, making them safer to dispose of and better for the environment.

3. A longer lifespan: how long do LED lights last?

Nobody likes having to change light bulbs all the time. LED light bulbs are ideal for keeping this inconvenient chore to a minimum. LEDs last 2-3 times longer (approx. 25,000-50,000 hours) than fluorescent bulbs and 50 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. So, this means a lot less bulb-changing and significant savings on replacement costs.

4. Lower heat output

Unlike traditional filament bulbs, LED bulbs have a low heat emission output. As a result, they do not waste energy emitting heat, making them more efficient, environmentally friendly and safer.

Older-style incandescent and halogen bulbs can be a fire risk due to their high heat outputs; LEDs mitigate this risk. LEDs also help reduce cooling costs, where the heat from traditional bulbs affects the temperature of a room.

5. More durable

Because LEDs emit solid-state light, as opposed to the less stable incandescent filaments, they can withstand temperature fluctuations, vibrations, and shock much better than traditional bulbs, making them suitable for a broader range of applications and environments requiring more durable lighting solutions.

6. Instant on

LEDs provide full brightness immediately upon switching on, with no warm-up time required, unlike CFLs.

7. Versatility in design

LEDs are compact, allowing for innovative design options. They can be integrated into thin, flexible designs, used for directional lighting, or even embedded into decorative elements, made to look like traditional bulbs. The choices are endless!

8. Versatility in colours

LEDs can produce various colours and colour temperatures without filters, enabling better and more versatile mood and ambient lighting.

9. Directionality

LEDs emit light in a specific direction, which reduces the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap light in traditional bulbs. As a result, this makes them highly efficient for focused lighting applications like task lighting.

10. Most common bulbs

With modern technology, it is much easier to access LED lighting. The wide variety of advantages means they&#;ve become even more popular in shops, making them more accessible and easier to buy. In contrast, halogen bulbs are being phased out of production.

What are the cons of LED lighting?

Regarding cons, LED lights have far fewer disadvantages than other bulb types, and their disadvantages are less consequential than those of other bulbs. Here are the 5 most common disadvantages of LED lights.

1. Higher initial cost

Good LED bulbs are generally more expensive to buy and replace than traditional incandescent bulbs, and the fittings required to install them might be more costly to manufacture. This cost is, however, largely offset by energy savings and a longer lifespan, saving you money on energy bills and replacement costs.

2. Blue light exposure and sleep disruption

LED lights emitting a cool or bright white colour temperature emit more blue light, contributing to eye strain, headaches and sleep disruption. Whenever buying LED lights, always make sure you purchase the bulbs with the right colour temperature for the corresponding rooms.

3. Dimming compatibility and flickering

Not all LEDs are compatible with all dimmers, especially older dimming systems designed for filament bulbs. You will need special dimmable LED models or compatible dimmer switches to ensure LED dimmers work properly and don&#;t flicker.

Why do LED lights flicker?

One of the main reasons LED lights can flicker is because of incompatible dimmer switches, particularly at lower brightness settings.

However, the reason could also be voltage fluctuations due to wiring issues, insufficient power supply, overloading the circuit or other faulty electrical appliances on the same circuit, as LEDs require a stable voltage.

If the drivers that convert AC to DC power are of poor quality or are damaged, this can also lead to flickering. LED bulbs coming to the end of their lifespan may also flicker.

Although LED bulbs are more durable to the elements, they may flicker when exposed to extreme temperatures without a sufficient IP rating.

4. Directional lighting

LED lights only emit light in a specific direction, making them great for spotlights but less ideal for applications requiring omnidirectional light.

5. Light quality and colour rendering

While LEDs can produce bright light, they sometimes struggle to render colours as accurately as other lighting technologies, particularly with lower-quality products, affecting the appearance of objects in certain settings. Light colour rendering measures how well a light source can reproduce the colours of objects in comparison to a natural light source and is measured along the colour rendering index (CRI) chart.

Want more information on Underground LED Light Manufacturer? Feel free to contact us.

Although the pros of LED lights vastly outweigh the cons, you should still consider these factors when purchasing LED bulbs.

Where can I use LED lights?

Due to their durability and efficiency, LED lights can be installed practically anywhere, inside and out. They are especially well-suited for directional lighting, such as kitchen and bathroom spotlights, floodlighting, and outdoor deck lighting.

LED lights are also ideal for applications left on for long periods, such as display, cabinet, and porch lighting. The bulbs&#; characteristic long life spans make them perfect for use when maintenance access is restricted. Also, LED bulbs are among the most popular choices for modern Christmas tree lights due to their durability and lower heat output.

Here are just a few of the main applications LED bulbs can be used for:

• Ceiling downlights/ spotlights for all indoor rooms
• Under-unit kitchen lighting
• Stair insets and uplighting
• Cabinet and shelf lighting
• Multi-coloured games room lighting
• Christmas tree and decorative lighting
• Mood lighting and accent lighting
• Driveway lighting
• Pond, pool and underwater lighting
• Floodlighting

Can I replace my traditional household bulbs with LED light bulbs?

Yes! One of the great pros of LED lighting is that you can easily replace your traditional household bulbs with LED ones. &#;Retrofit&#; LED bulbs are available, which can be installed in the same fittings as traditional bulbs so you can do a straight swap. However, factors like heat dissipation need to be considered with certain enclosed fittings, so check the instructions and seek expert help if you&#;re unsure.

LED Light bulbs at Moonlight Design

We&#;ve weighed the pros and cons of LED light bulbs, so you don&#;t have to; we hope you can see the advantages of switching to LED bulbs.

With the multitude of indoor and outdoor LED light bulbs available from our website, you can illuminate your home inside and out, from top to bottom, with energy-efficient lighting. Check out the full range of LED lighting today and start reaping the benefits of an LED light design.

Related blogs:

• Facebook

• Twitter

One of our fellow member of the EE Community is willing to do a several-parts series of articles about underground cables. Let&#;s begin with the basics: type, benefits and drawbacks&#;

Underground cables are used for power applications where it is impractical, difficult, or dangerous to use the overhead lines. They are widely used in densely populated urban areas, in factories, and even to supply power from the overhead posts to the consumer premises.

The underground cables have several advantages over the overhead lines; they have smaller voltage drops, low chances of developing faults and have low maintenance costs. However, they are more expensive to manufacture, and their cost may vary depending on the construction as well as the voltage rating.

Types of underground cables

The underground cables are classified in two ways; by the voltage capacity, or by the construction.

By Voltage

• LT cables: Low-tension cables with a maximum capacity of V
• HT Cables: High-tension cables with a maximum of 11KV
• ST cables: Super-tension cables with a rating of between 22 KV and 33 KV
• EHT cables: Extra high-tension cables with a rating of between 33 KV and 66 KV
• Extra super voltage cables: with maximum voltage ratings beyond 132 KV

By Construction

• Belted cables: Maximum voltage of 11KVA
• Screened cables: Maximum voltage of 66 KVA
• Pressure cables: Maximum voltage of more than 66KVA

Low and medium voltage cables

Belted cables

The cores in the belted underground cables are not circular and are insulated by impregnated paper. The cores are generally stranded and may be of non-circular shape to make better use of available space. In a 3 phase cable, the three cores are grouped together and then belted with the paper belt.

The gaps between the conductors and the paper insulation are filled with fibrous material such as the jute. This makes the cable to have a circular cross-sectional shape. A lead sheath is used to cover the belt hence protect it from moisture and provide mechanical strength. The lead sheath is then covered with a single or multiple layers of an armoring material and finally an outer cover.

Disadvantages:

• • Since the electrical field in the three core cables is tangential, the paper insulation and the fibrous materials are subjected to the tangential electrical stresses. This stresses weakens the fibrous material as well as the resistance and dielectric strength for the insulation along the tangential path.

• • The weakening of the insulation may lead to the formation of air spaces in the insulation. Under high voltages the air may be ionized and cause deterioration and breakdown of insulation. For this reason, the belted cables are only suitable for voltages up to 11KVa and not higher.

• Due to the large diameter of the paper belt, bending the cable may lead to the formation of wrinkles and gaps.

The screened cables

There are two types of screened cables; the H type and the S.L type.

H-type cables

In a typical 3-core cable, each of the three cores is insulated by impregnated paper and covered by perforated aluminium foil or other metallic screen. The arrangement of the cores is designed to allow each of the three metallic screens to make contact with each other. The three cores are then wrapped around using a conduction belt made of copper woven fabric tape.

The H-type screened cable does not have an insulating belt; however, it has the lead sheath, followed by bedding, armoring and a then a serving. The core screens in the cable are all electrically connected to both the conducting belt and the lead sheath. This ensures that they are at the earth potential and all the electrical stresses are therefore purely radial, hence reduced dielectric losses.

Advantages of H-type cables

• Metallic screens improve the heat dissipation of the cable
• No formation of air pockets and voids in the dielectric, hence a high breakdown strength and less dielectric losses

Disadvantages H-type cables : the cables are only suitable for low and medium voltages of up to 33KV, but can reach 66KVA at times.

S.L Type screened cable

The S.L type cables construction is almost like that of the H-type, however, each of the insulated cores is covered separately with its own lead sheath. Unlike the H-type, the S.L screened cable does not have an overall sheath, however it has the armoring and serving.

Advantages of S.L type Screened cables:

• The use of separate sheaths reduces chances of core-to-core breakdown
• Easy to bend the cable

Disadvantages of S.L type Screened cables

• Thinner lead sheaths are used hence need for greater care in manufacturing and handling
• Only suitable for low and medium voltages of up to 33KV

Pressures cables

These are high power cables used for voltages above 66KV. The cable construction is different from the above two and majority uses a cooling gas or oil.

Benefits of using underground cables:

• Suitable for congested urban areas where overhead lines may be difficult or impossible to install
• Low maintenance
• Small voltage drops
• Fewer faults
• Not susceptible to shaking and shorting due to vibrations, wind, accidents, etc.
• Not easy to steal, make illegal connections or sabotage
• Poses no danger to wildlife or low flying aircraft.

Disadvantages of underground cables

• More expensive
• Difficult in identifying and repairing broken cables
• Damage to cables or electrocution may occur to people digging the ground and if they are unaware of the cable&#;s existence

Summary

Underground cables are suited for places where it is difficult to use overhead lines due to obstructions and dangers presented by the overhead lines. There are different types of cables mostly constructed to handle a certain range of voltages. Each of the cable type has its advantages as well as disadvantages. However, the overall advantages of underground cables outweigh their disadvantages.

Thanks for reading,
A.N

Do you have anything to add to this information? Tell us in the comments below!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website LED Wall Washer Light manufacturer.