The term “LED” stands for Light Emitting Diode. A diode is a semiconductor device that allows current to flow in only one direction. 

LEDs produce the longest-lasting, most energy-efficient lighting available today. Unlike traditional incandescent bulbs that work by heating a filament, LEDs utilize diodes. When a voltage is applied to the diode, electrons and electron holes combine within the semiconductor material. This recombination process releases energy in the form of photons and produces visible light. There are a wide variety of LED lights on the market spanning the automotive, commercial, residential, and landscape industries.  

LEDs were invented in 1962 by Nick Holonyak Jr. While originally available only in colors like green, red, or yellow, advances in technology have now made LEDs available across a wide spectrum of colors, including white and blue light.

There are a few things to keep in mind when replacing outdated incandescent, metal-halide, or halogen lights with LEDs. Since LEDs consume less power, the wattage of your LEDs will be lower than that of your current lighting. Therefore, when comparing different types of lighting, use the lumen output, not wattage, to ensure a similar brightness. Equivalent wattage compares the wattage needed for an LED light to emit the same lumens as an incandescent or metal-halide bulb. For example, an LED bulb with an equivalent wattage of 40W would produce the same amount of light as a 40W incandescent bulb but at a much lower wattage point. If you install an LED light fixture with the same wattage as your current lights, the lumen output may be significantly brighter than what you want. 

SMD stands for SMD Surface-Mounted Device. SMD LEDs are mounted directly onto the surface of printed circuit boards. You might commonly hear this term when referring to SMD LED strip lights, which feature LED chips soldered onto the strip light circuit board and with space in between each chip. SMD LEDs are available in a variety of sizes and colors. The small size of SMD LEDs allows for high-density LED clusters with a brighter light output. They are used in a broad array of applications including screen backlighting, automotive indicator lights, and decorative lighting. 

No, not all LED lights are dimmable. Consumers should look for LEDs labeled as dimmable if that is a feature that they want to have. In addition to looking for dimmable LEDs, you must also have a dimmable driver that is designed for use with LEDs. There are several different types of dimming, including 0-10V dimming, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming, and TRIAC (Triode for Alternating Current) dimming. Your dimmer must use the same type of dimming as your external or built-in driver.

LEDs do generate heat, but much less than incandescent bulbs. LEDs convert around 90% of the energy they use into light, whereas incandescent lights convert about 10% of the energy used into light (the other 90% being heat). LED lights also efficiently dissipate heat through heat sinks, thereby reducing the chance of overheating. Heat sinks are designed to take heat from the individual LEDs and transfer it to the surface it is attached to. Additionally, many high-quality high-powered LEDs feature integrated cooling systems to efficiently lower the internal temperature of the light fixtures.

Since LEDs do not produce as much heat as incandescent or halogen bulbs, it is highly unlikely that LEDs will start a fire. This is because LEDs are extremely energy-efficient and have integrated heat sinks and cooling systems to prevent this risk. However, no matter what type of light you use, damaged wiring or overloaded circuits can cause a variety of electrical problems including fires.

Since LEDs do not contain mercury, harmful gasses, or toxins, they can be recycled or thrown away. To recycle your LED lights, search for local recycling facilities that take LEDs. Some hardware stores such as Home Depot, Lowes, and Ikea may offer recycling services for LED bulbs. To throw away your LED lights, simply place them in the trash. LEDs are shatterproof, so you won’t have to worry about them breaking.

The advantages of switching to LED are numerous. Here are just some of the benefits: LEDs use much less electricity than other bulbs, have extremely long rated lives, produce very little heat, do not emit UV or infrared, contain no mercury, are resistant to shock and vibration, and can operate effectively in extremely cold environments. For more information the advantages of LED.

LEDs are notable for being extremely long-lasting products. Many LEDs have a rated life of up to 50,000 hours. This is approximately 50 times longer than a typical incandescent, 20-25 times longer than a typical halogen, and 8-10 times longer than a typical CFL. Used 12 hours a day, a 50,000 bulb will last more than 11 years. Used 8 hours a day, it will last 17 years!