Switching to LED Lighting…..know more!!!

Background

I wanted to share this post to highlight two key aspects regarding LED lighting

• Switch to them immediately as they are more efficient than other alternatives 
• Buying any LED product from the market is not sufficient

Basics

LED’s are optoelectronic devices i.e. they use electricity to bias the device and allowing recombination to happen within the device leading to release of a photon (fundamental particle of visible light).

Fig 1. Light Emission from LED due to forward bias[2][3]

This photon is in the visible spectrum for household lighting and in UV/IR  spectrum.

This concept of light emission is used for illumination in commercial and industrial applications. LED p-n junction is manufactured/grown on a substrate like sapphire or SiC using MOCVD. This is then diced to form “LED Chips” which may consist of one or multiple p-n junctions.

Depending on the number of junctions, material growth quality, and post-growth processing, these chips can give a very high light output.

Now, these “LED Chips” post Quality Control(QC) checks are mounted with associated electronic circuitry in different patterns & combinations. The application can be possible for an LED lamp or LED Baton.

Fig 2. LED chips mounted to give a rated output[6][7]

Replacement(Lighting)

We are very familiar with the T8 or Tube Light. Its components are a starter, choke & tube – all inductive, resistive by nature leading to energy inefficiency.

Fig 3. Typical T8 Lamp[10]

With the advent of LED’s, fluorescent T8/Tube Light’s are under threat of being extinct like the incandescent lamps. LED’s normally are more power efficient even if we use one or 100’s of them.

In comparison, The T5/LED Batten(successor) consists of LED chips and electronics.

The important criteria now are: Can the electronic circuitry associated with them be also as efficient as LED’s??

The Answer: YES

So, evidently, the verdict is T5(LED Lighting) is indeed energy efficient as there are fewer components which are lossy in nature as compared to T8(Tube Light).

They might be expensive at the start but savings/cost recovery starts from the moment installation is made.

Buying LED products

This may sound a bit trivial…but I would like to elaborate.

Whenever we are in search of something good, associated bad also tags along. It becomes hard to differentiate & dissociate without knowledge and experience.

The sentence might have sounded like philosophy but with an explanation, it will start making sense.

With the theme of energy efficiency & resolve to save the planet, many hard-working citizens are putting their money and switching over these lighting systems for their entire homes. Now comes the critical question,

• The market is flooded with products, how to choose?
• Why something over the other?
• Is price the deciding factor?
• Quality v/s Quantity? (sounds cliche)
• ……………….????

I can help with my experience. First, there are some QC(Quality Control) checks which are done in every country. There is a lab which certifies a product based on some standards. A customer can check whether the lab has cleared the product prior to installation.

Fig 4. BIS certified LED Lamp(sign of authenticity & quality)[11]

(Disclaimer: Image is just to highlight BIS Hallmark & not to endorse the product)

This QC takes a number of factors like LED chip reliability, CCT, LEE, WPE etc into account. Many of the products being sold from China(not Taiwan) do not meet these standards.

In India, especially,  many vendors considering the margins (lack of knowledge & also cash payment) try to sell these substandard products for the full price the unsuspecting customers.

Be Aware!!!!

Always opt for something that is QC certified by the lab in your country.

Switch to LED lights…….

Fig 5. LED Lamps/Bulbs are environment-friendly[8]

If you want to share your opinion kindly do so in the comments section or email me at u2d2tech@gmail.com. 

References:

1. https://www.npr.org/2014/01/28/267185097/in-the-dark-about-picking-a-light-bulb-this-faq-can-help
2. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PnJunction-LED-E.svg
3. https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/Inorganic_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Map%3A_Inorganic_Chemistry_(Wikibook)/Chapter_10%3A_Electronic_Properties_of_Materials%3A_Superconductors_and_Semiconductors/10.6_Diodes%2C_LEDs_and_solar_cells
4. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1110/1110.0537.pdf
5. http://www.ledsmagazine.com/articles/2004/01/terminology-led-efficiency.html
6. http://www.eneltec-led.com/LED-Lighting-Blog/how-to-protect-led-lighting-circuits/
7. http://ennebielettronica.com/en/led-lighting/
8. http://ledlife.ca/benefits/
9. https://www.digikey.in/en/articles/techzone/2016/aug/the-basics-of-chip-on-board-cob-leds
10. https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/1065/F-10T8CW.html
11. http://www.imagelighting.in/