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You, like many other people, are in the process of educating yourself about LEDs and that’s why you’re reading this. The #1 question we hear is: How can a 6-7 watt LED equal or exceed the light output of a 60 watt incandescent bulb? Answer? The LED translates most of the power it receives into light. Incandescent bulbs are very inefficient, translating less than 10% of the power they receive into light and the rest is output as radiant heat.
More common questions: What is an LED? The acronym stands for light-emitting diode. LEDs are solid-state, a type of semiconductor technology. How long does an LED last? Many LEDs have a rated life of up to 50,000 hours. That is 50 times longer than a typical incandescent, 20 – 25 times longer than a typical halogen, 8 – 10 times longer than a typical CFL (compact fluorescent). Where can LEDs be used? Almost anywhere you need an electric light. When used on dimmers, particularly a dimming system that supports many bulbs, we suggest you test a few bulbs first for compatibility. Is it true that incandescent bulbs are going to be outlawed? Over a period of time, Yes. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) was passed by Congress to bing about sweeping changes in energy policy in the US and move the United States toware greater energy independence and security and increase the efficiency of energy use. EISA mandates that after January 2012 100 watt A-style incandescent bulbs will no longer be produced. Forty and sixty watt incandescents will be phased out in 2014, under the current timetable. Why do LEDs cost more than other types of bulbs? Are they worth it? LED is still a new technology and the cost of designing a new product is always high. However, prices have already dropped dramatically and they will continue to drop. The key to cost is remembering that the only thing inexpensive about the incandescent is the original price of the bulb. The hidden costs of every incandescent include energy consumed, unwanted heat produced and the cost of continuous replacement. In contrast, the up-front higher cost of the LED is offset by dramatically lower electricity consumption and the long life of the LED. Will the LED really produce enough light to replace my current bulb? For most applications, yes. LED products now reliably replace incandescent equivalents of up to 100 watts and specialty lights are available to replace even higher wattages. Can LEDs be used with dimmers? Usually, yes. Many LEDs are specifically dimmable. If you’re working with a dimmer system that covers many bulbs, it’s wise to test one or two before replacing all the lamps. How green are LEDs? Very green. They use much less electricity than other lighting fixtures. Unlike CFLs, they contain no mercury. They produce very little heat and can reduce energy usage related to air-conditioning. Are there rebates/incentives/tax credits available for switching to LED? In California, Yes. As president of Aquatop I began by designing and lighting aquariums ten years ago. I developed light systems built around LED chips produced by Bridgelux, a California manufacturer and utilized a Shanghai factory to put together the fixtures inexpensively. LEDs have become a complete game-changer in the aquarium world, and public aquariums love our reef-lighting LED systems. Recently, after re-lamping my own home with LEDs, I saw a dramatic change in my PG&E bill. I found myself wondering why more homes and businesses aren’t converting to LEDs. And I put Aquatop on a new mission track to promote this wonderful technology in homes, businesses, schools and churches. Thank you for your interest in checking out/trying out our LEDs! Got questions? Call me. If I may quote a great lighting expert: ‘Let there be light!’
Dean Trinh
We currently have location from the following states: California, Texas, New York, and Florida |