You’d probably be shocked to find out that the first incandescent light bulb Thomas Edison ever created lasted for 13 hours and 30 minutes and cost $40,000 (equivalent to $850,000 in modern times) to make. In the 140 years since Edison’s bright idea, we’ve seen scientists and inventors improving upon the light bulb with the best outcome by far being the LED light bulb. However, a lot of people believe that LED lights are still outshined by other types of light sources. Some people are still of the mind that LEDs are just used for backlighting for your TV or wrapping around your Christmas tree and not capable of illuminating the home, garage, or office. In truth, the LED light bulbs of today have such an unbelievably versatile application that it’s genuinely surprising that other light sources haven’t been made obsolete yet. Curious to know what all the buzz is about for LED light bulbs? Let me enlighten you with an explanation, some recommendations for LED lighting products, and some answers to the most frequently asked questions people have about LED lights.
Light Emitting Diode lights, or LED lights, are special in that they require less energy, use energy more efficiently, have a longer lifespan, and have a wider variety of uses than other kinds of light sources. LED lights work by having an electrical current pass through a microchip which lights up small light-emitting diodes resulting in visible light. Unlike their incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent counterparts, LED light bulbs don’t let off much heat as they possess a heat sink system which absorbs around 90% of the heat created by the LEDs.
LED light bulbs also differ from incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent light sources in that the light they produce is emitted in only one direction, whereas the light that other types of light bulbs produce is cast in all directions. This is one of the factors that make LED lights more energy-efficient, as the light is concentrated in only one direction and the energy taken to create this light is not wasted.
Another special characteristic LED light bulbs have is that they never completely burn out; rather, their brightness depreciates over time. Once the LED starts only being able to produce around 70% of its original luminosity, it's time to change the light bulb. In this way, the LEDs basically give you a “warning” before its time to change, unlike other types of light bulbs that just spontaneously burn out.
Given these special traits of LED light bulbs, it’s no wonder why they are so widely used. LEDs are used for the backlighting of your phone, TV, tablet, or computer, as well as for lights for your car; and since the 2010s, we’ve seen them take over homes, schools, and offices as the primary type of light source.
On the whole, LED lights are much better than incandescent, halogen, or fluorescent lights because they require less energy, give off more light, last much longer and cost way less. According to a study conducted by the Consumer Federation of America, using LED light bulbs can save over $100 per year on your electricity bill. So, it should be no surprise that we’re also starting to see municipalities around the world start to replace the light bulbs of street lights with LEDs because of their efficiency, longevity, cost effectiveness, and low maintenance.
Additionally, the light of LEDs is much better suited to the home and work place as it has a more natural character compared with other kinds of lights like fluorescent lights, which are notorious for that dull and dim quality that makes your eyes tired. This is thanks to their high CRI (Color Rating Index) value –CRI is the measurement that determines how light affects colours. The higher the CRI value, the closer the light source is to natural sunlight. LED lights typically have a CRI measurement of about 80-98, while fluorescent lights only get around 50.
Halogen and incandescent lights also have a high CRI value, but they produce the most amount of heat out of any type of light bulb. By comparison, LED lights have a high CRI score but emit a very small amount of heat which makes them less hazardous and better for special uses like growing plants.
The last thing that makes LED light bulbs better is that they are more versatile and multifunctional than the alternatives. Here’s a quick breakdown of what LED light bulbs can do.
Create a better atmosphere – Given their soft yet bright light, LED light bulbs can really add to the atmosphere of your home. You can use them with your light fixtures, strategically set up lamps to optimize ambience, or you can even use LED light strips to add a bit more character. You can even go a step further by purchasing Smart LED light bulbs that allow you to control their brightness and colour so you have complete control over the mood of your space.
Improve home security – Anyone who has had their house or garage broken into knows that thieves tend to target houses that pose the least amount of risk for them to get caught. This usually means that they will pick homes that have poorly lit exteriors. Given that LED light bulbs are significantly brighter (around 60 lumens per watt more than halogen lights) and have a greater CRI value, they can provide better illumination for your front step, garage light, or back yard, helping to deter thieves away from your home and also providing better lighting for your security camera.
Grow plants – LED grow lamps make it possible to grow healthy plants indoors, regardless of the season. Actually, you can grow plants with any kind of non-natural light source but LED lights are ideal because they do not emit much heat which greatly reduces the chance of your plants getting “sun burnt”. They also have a broader light spectrum which helps tremendously with plant growth, especially for more exotic varieties of plants. Lastly, depending on what plants you grow, you may need to provide them with light for up to 18 hours per day which will be much less costly with LED lights, thanks to their spectacular energy efficiency.
Now that we’ve uncovered the diverse functionality of LED lights, let’s have a closer look at the most popular types of LED lights in 2022 and introduce some of our top selling LED products.
Our LED lights strips go above and beyond your typical LED light strips in that their color and brightness can be adjusted with a controller. They can also connect to your TV or computer via USB and sync up with music, changing their color and brightness along with the rhythm and creating a really cool and easy to set up ambiance.
Tasmor’s G9 LED light bulbs are a high quality, long lasting option to install in your home or work space as they provide 360 degree lighting, are flicker-proof, are longer lasting than most LED light bulbs, and have a 90% higher energy efficiency rating than typical 60W halogen light bulbs. They are highly versatile and can be installed onto chandelier light fixtures, ceiling fans lights, lamps, and so on.
LED plant lamps come in various sizes and configurations, but we recommend trying out our LED plant lamps because of their versatility and efficacy in growing flora. They have a full spectrum ranging from 380 to 800 nm which is almost exactly the same as sunlight; this can be adjusted depending on what stage of life your plants are in or the variety of plants you are growing. You can also change the height and angle of the lamp heads thanks to their adjustable gooseneck design, allowing you to provide light to your plants regardless of what your setup is.
Tasmor’s Smart LED ceiling light allows you to set the brightness automatically based on the time of day, for example, 80% brightness when you wake up, 20% brightness when you go to bed, etc. This light is very easy to install and can be used anywhere, from your living room, office, attic, you name it. No need for an integrated smart home system or HUB.
So far, we’ve explained how LED lights work, their benefits, and some of the trending types of LED lighting systems, but there are still a lot of questions and concerns regarding LEDs. This is to be expected considering how greatly they improve upon other conventional light sources, one would think that there must be some kind of a catch, right? Below you will find the answers to some of the most common questions and concerns regarding LED lighting systems.
Are LED light bulbs cheaper? LED light bulbs are typically a little bit more expensive than other types of light bulbs, but are by far the most cost effective in the long run. Currently, for an average set of 6 light bulbs, it’ll cost you about $30 for 7 Watt (60 Watt equivalent) LED light bulbs, $25 for 60 Watt incandescent light bulbs, $24 for 13 Watt (60 Watt equivalent) fluorescent light bulbs, and $25 for 60 Watt halogen light bulbs. It should be kept in mind that LED light bulbs will save you much more money in the long term as they require far less energy and last far longer than any of the other conventional types of light bulbs.
Can you use LED light bulbs in any fixture? Yes, you can -just as long as the size and type of the socket are the same as the light bulb. For example, if you have a standard E26 light bulb base (the most common in America) but you purchased a G9 LED light bulb, the light bulb will not be able to fit into the socket. Make sure you know what type of light bulb sockets you have and buy light bulbs with the according size. Also, you don’t need to worry about the wattage of your light bulb sockets when it comes to LED lights because they function at such a low wattage (around 7 watts) that it’s basically impossible to melt your standard 60 watt light sockets.
How long do LED light bulbs last? LED light bulbs can last from 50,000 to 100,000 hours. Yes, you read that right, it’s not a typo. On average, you only need to change an LED light bulb every 20 years or so.
Are LED lights bad for your eyes? If you regularly look directly into LED light for extended periods of time you can irreversibly damage your retinas and worsen your eyesight. Considering that virtually all of the screens of our electronic devices, from cellphones to digital cameras use LED light, it’s really difficult to avoid this damage. Make sure you take frequent breaks from your devices and spend more time outdoors and in well-lit areas. When it comes to rooms lit by LED light bulbs, as long as you don’t stare directly into the light bulb like some weirdo, you’re fine.
Do LED lights get hot? No, LED lights do not get hot. As previously mentioned, LED light bulbs are designed with a heat sink that absorbs any heat produced by the electrical current. The amount of light a light bulb can give off is linked to how much energy they pull from the fixture, and in the case of LED lights, that amount is very, very low; so even without the heat sink, they wouldn’t be able to produce much heat. On average, LED light bulbs give off approximately 15 times less heat than incandescent light bulbs.
Do LED lights attract bugs? Yes, LED lights can attract insects but not nearly as much as other types of light sources. Bugs are typically attracted to heat, and as we just mentioned, LED lights don’t give off much heat at all. Furthermore, insects tend to be more attracted to ultraviolet light, which LED light bulbs produce very little of.
Do LED lights help plants grow? Absolutely. Any kind of light source can help plants grow, but LED lights are best for growing plants because they will not alter the ambient temperature of your grow space, attract less pests, and won’t burn the leaves of your plants.
And there you have it. Hopefully this LED light bulb shopping guide helps you to understand the world of LED lights so you’re better equipped to choose the right light for your needs. You truly can’t go wrong with using LEDs (unless you buy the wrong size for your fixtures) and you’ll be saving on your electricity bill in no time. If you’re not sure where to start looking, feel free to check out our high quality LED lighting options.
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