The most promising light source today, without a doubt, has become LED lamps. Being a high-tech modern product, the LED light bulb is gradually replacing the traditional incandescent bulb, as well as various types of energy-saving devices that also appeared relatively recently on the domestic lighting market.
A bit of history
Emission of light during the passage of an electric current through an electron-hole junction of a semiconductor device was known as early as the beginning of the 20th century. So, Henry Joseph Round, an inventor from Great Britain, in 1907 described the effect of electroluminescence when an electric current passes through a pair of metal - silicon carbide, accompanied by a yellow, green and orange glow on the cathode. Similar experiments were carried out in 1923 by the Soviet scientist Oleg Losev (by the way, until the beginning of the 70s, American scientists called the LED light bulb “Losev Light”, later this name was forgotten). But of special importancethen this discovery was not given, and therefore was not investigated for several decades.
In 1961, the invention of the infrared was patented, and in 1962, the LED operating in the light (red) range. Subsequently, the invention was constantly improved. Accordingly, its cost also decreased. So, in 1968, the price of LED light bulbs was about $200, and therefore their practical use was very limited.
Today, these lamps are used almost everywhere. To do this, LEDs are produced with all popular types of socles: E27, E14, GU5.3, G53, GU10, G13.
Why is an LED bulb better than a regular one?
LED lamps have the following advantages:
- High light output. Modern samples of these lighting devices in this parameter are quite comparable with metal halide and sodium gas discharge lamps.
- Low power consumption. It is many times lower than conventional light sources.
- Long service life. Depending on the manufacturer and production technology, an LED light bulb can last from thirty to one hundred thousand hours. At the same time, the number of on-off cycles does not greatly affect the life of the LED.
- High strength and vibration resistance. This is achieved due to the fact that it does not contain components sensitive to mechanical stress.
- Low inertia. Unlike other lamps, the LED almost immediately begins to shine at fullbrightness. In addition, she is not afraid of power surges.
- High environmental friendliness. Unlike energy-saving lamps, LEDs do not contain mercury and other harmful substances.
It is impossible not to note the fact that every year more and more motorists began to use LED bulbs for the car. Possessing the same qualities as LEDs for household lighting, they are available with various base options (h1, h3, h7, h8, h10, etc.) They are installed in car headlights, not only as fog lights, but also as a low and high beam.
Perhaps the only drawback that LED light bulbs have is the high cost. The cheapest LEDs (LL) cost about 500 rubles, and the cost of the most expensive (SPOT) can reach 5 thousand. Although everything, as they say, is relative. The significant life of LED lamps, multiplied by the amount of electricity consumed, may well even be more profitable than using a conventional electric light bulb.
