The future of lighting….LEDs.

If you haven’t noticed already, LED technology is taking over the traditional light bulb and fluorescent light.  But this transition isn’t because it is considered a ‘green technology’ and the politics not the solution propel it forward.  LED’s are actually a better alternative and consumers tend to agree.  Some examples:

Automobiles

LED lighting in tail lights, turn signals, and even police cruiser light bars have been used for years now.  Next time you come to a stop light, look around and you’ll see what I mean.  A super bright light bulb is simply not needed in a tail light.  It can be difficult to design a tail light in such a way to where the bulb can be easily replaced.  Bulbs are bigger than LEDs.  You can easily design a compact 3^rd LED tail light high above the back glass near the roof line for additional safety.  None of the LEDs will ever need to be replaced as their run time is measured in tens of thousands of hours versus hundreds of hours in a traditional light bulb.  However, headlights in your typical auto are using some form of incandescent bulb.  Really good headlights use Xenon or HID but while both of these technologies are very good, they still use the older technology and consume much power and are fairly inefficient.  Some of the newest generations of LEDs are bright enough to be used as head lights.  German manufacterer Audi uses LED lighting in some of their vehicles and I suspect this will trickle down to other vehicles as the technology and economics develop.

Flashlights

If you think Maglite is the best that flashlights have to offer you are certainly mistaken.  For example, a traditional 2 “D” cell Maglite will emit about 40 lumens of brightness.  A Thrunite Catapult using LED technology will emit 900 lumens of brightness.  It is also smaller and has longer run time than the Maglite.  The quality of the beam and throw of the light is night and day difference as well.  LEDs are clearly superior.  Maglite has recognized this and is starting to incorporate LEDs into their newer line of flashlights.  

Home Lighting

A couple of years ago I went to my local Home Depot to buy some spare bulbs for lamps and various lights around the house.  I noticed a few bulbs that used LEDs we’re also available for lamps.  But the pricing of these bulbs was 10 times higher and efficiency was not that much better than a traditional bulb.  However, today, these bulbs have come way down in price and efficiency is way up.  For example, for comparable brightness a 5 watt LED can give off similar brightness of a 60 watt bulb most of us have in our lamps today.  Everyone wants to lower their electric bill right?  Multiply that by 20 lights in your house and you could see a real savings on your next bill.

Display Devices 

Next time you buy a TV or computer monitor look for LED back lit technology.  For example, LCD monitors still use florescent lamps to light the display.  However, you can now find LEDs that light the same technology.  DLP as well.  Again, it is not unusual for LEDs to last 20,000 – 50,000 hours before failing.  They last longer, require less power, and have a very vivid image quality especially contrast and color definition.  It is a no brainer.  Also, if you are a theater buff like me, ceiling mount projectors for home theater are starting to use LEDs.  In the past, a projector bulb would only last 3,000 – 5,000 hours before having to be replaced.  These bulbs cost $300 - $500 to replace keeping many consumers to stick with large TVs sets instead.  Now, we’re seeing theater quality LED lit projectors above 500 lumens at affordable prices.  Check out the Optoma ML500 if you are interested.  There are several entering the market this month that are very affordable and last 20,000 hours plus for around $650.  A 100” TV set for this price is a bargain.  Never replace a projector bulb again.

Billboards

While you are at the stop light looking at who has LEDs in their auto’s tail lights, take note at billboards using LEDs.  That’s right.  Paper, Vinyl, and Trivision billboards are slowing being replaced by LED billboards that give off similar quality in the day and look terrific at night. 

In sum, LEDs are all around us today and will become even more prevalent in the future.  LEDs are good for suppliers and consumers lowering the cost to brightness ratio all at the same time consuming less energy.  It is refreshing to see a technology that is both ‘green’ and economically viable.