Types of LED lamps. LED light sources

LED lighting lamps are a revolution in the world of lighting technology. Their development made it possible to solve a whole range of problems: increase the service life of lighting devices and the safety of their use, reduce energy consumption, improve light output, and so on. The first LED was developed back in 1962 and produced a red glow. A few more years later, yellow and green LEDs appeared; in 1971, an American engineer created the first, but expensive blue diode, and in 1993, a Japanese physicist invented a bright blue LED, but less expensive.

In order to use LEDs for lighting and set up mass production, it was necessary to achieve a white glow from them. This was done in 1995, but the illumination level of LEDs was so low that they had to be used only as decorative lighting. Only in 2005 were developers able to achieve a luminous flux of 100 lumens per watt from LEDs and launch mass production of lamps and lighting fixtures based on them. In Russia, LED lamps, according to various sources, appeared in the period from 2007 to 2010. Now this market is actively developing. The main Russian companies producing lamps are: Optogan, Warton, Optilux, Novy Svet, Long Life Light and some others.

Competitive advantages of LED light sources

The increased demand for LED lamps and luminaires arose for a reason. Let's compare LED lamps with other types of lamps and highlight the key advantages:

Extended operating time

An incandescent lamp (which has already been banned from use) must burn for at least 1000 hours. In fact, it burns out much faster due to voltage fluctuations and the low resistance of tungsten in a cold state at the time of switching on. After 750 hours of lamp operation, its light output decreases noticeably.

The halogen lamp has the best durability, burning from 2000 to 4000 hours.

A compact fluorescent lamp burns for 8000-10000 hours. After half its service life, the luminous flux decreases by 30-35 percent.

For comparison, an LED lamp burns for up to 100,000 hours! If converted into years, this is approximately 11 years. Lighting with LED lamps is the most profitable.

Comparison parameter	Incandescent lamp	Halogen lamp	Fluorescent Lamp	LED lamp
Power consumption, W	75	45	15	10
Heat	strong	strong	average	Short
Structural strength	very fragile	fragile	very fragile	durable
Service life, hours, average	1000	2000 - 2500	7000 - 10000	30000 - 50000
Easy to install, replace	Fine	will satisfy.	Great	Great
Environmental friendliness	Fine	Fine	will satisfy.	Great

High luminous efficiency and energy saving

90 percent of the power consumed by an incandescent lamp from the network is spent on heating, and only 10 percent on lighting. The luminous output of the Ilyich bulb is 7-17 lumens per watt.

Halogen lamps also get very hot, but their efficiency is 20-50 percent better than that of Ilyich lamps. The luminous efficiency of the lamp is 15-22 lumens/watt, lamps with quartz glass are 24-28 lumens/watt.

Fluorescent lamps produce a luminous flux of 40-60 lumens when consuming 1 watt of power from the network. 1 watt of compact (energy-saving) lamps is equal to 5 watts of incandescent lamps. This directly affects energy savings.

LED lamps produce a luminous flux of 50-100 lumens per watt. And this is again the best indicator among all lamps. 1 watt of LED lamp power = 3 watts of compact fluorescent lamp (energy saving). But LED lamps also belong to the energy-saving class, but in this regard they are more efficient than compact fluorescent lamps.

Basic characteristics	Incandescent lamps	Fluorescent lamps	LED lamps
Brightness	average	low	high
Service life, hours	1000	10000	50000
Infrared radiation	very high	minimum	absent
Ultraviolet radiation	acceptable	very high	absent
Luminous efficacy, lm/W	7 - 17	40 - 60	50 - 80
Initial cost	low	average	high
Power consumption, W/hour	at least 25	at least 20	from 7 to 21

Environmental friendliness

LED lamps have the best environmental performance, since they do not contain harmful components and do not emit infrared and ultraviolet radiation during operation. This is why LED home lighting is so in demand. The most harmful lamps are fluorescent lamps, including compact ones, since they contain mercury and its vapors.

Structural strength

LED lamps are the most durable. Incandescent lamps should not be shaken, as their filament will break. Their glass, like the glass of compact fluorescent lamps, is fragile and will easily break if dropped. LED lamps have plastic instead of glass, which can easily withstand the load if dropped, and there is no filament inside the structure.

Disadvantages of LED lighting sources

The main disadvantage of LED lamps and luminaires is their high price. The cost of lamps varies between 150-2000 rubles, and lamps - 5000-40000 rubles and more. As a rule, lamps and fixtures at low prices are of poor quality. They can “burn out” after a month of use and produce an uneven light output. Therefore, it is more advisable to give preference to products from leading companies in this field. Every year, the production technology of LED lighting sources is improving, so their price is gradually decreasing. But even if you spend 500-700 rubles on a lamp once or buy LED street lighting fixtures for 10,000-15,000 rubles, you will definitely recoup these costs in the future.

Operating principle of LED lighting sources

LEDs are semiconductor crystals that begin to glow when electric current passes through them. Each crystal emits rays of its own spectrum (red, yellow, green). White light is produced by mixing these spectra or by coating the brightest blue LED with a layer of yellow phosphorus. By changing the color ratio you can get either cold or warm light.

The design of standard LED lamps includes:

Plastic white or colored flask;
Board with LEDs;
Driver rectifying alternating current (electronic board);
Heat sink;
Base;
Bottom and top holder.

Bulbs of LED lamps come in different shapes: regular, like an incandescent lamp, and bulbs such as “Candle”, “Ball”, “Ellipse”. There are also “corn” lamps, they are cylindrical in shape, and LEDs are installed on the sides of their body.

The board, depending on the required luminous flux and power consumption, has a different number of LEDs. The lower and upper holders are needed to hold the board with LEDs and the driver with the elements installed on it. The heat sink removes heat from the lamp body, preventing it from overheating. The base of LED lamps varies, the main types are:

E27. The classic base is the same as incandescent lamps, so LED bulbs can be safely used in their place;
E14. Lamps of the “Candle” and “Minion” types are produced with such a base; it looks the same in appearance as the E27 base, only narrower;
GU10 - rotary pin base. To fix the lamp in the socket, it must be inserted into it and turned to the side;
GU5.3. You can distinguish this type of base by its protruding contacts, like an electrical plug. It also belongs to the “pin” type and is connected to the special cartridge using a pin method (similar to a plug and socket).

Frame;
LEDs located at a certain distance from each other;
Protective screen;
Power supply;
Driver;
Pay.

Types of LED lighting

LED lighting is divided into 2 types: indoor LED lighting and outdoor LED lighting or outdoor LED lighting. Interior lighting includes:

Apartment;
Office and administrative;
Shopping (including in entertainment centers);
Industrial;
Emergency lighting.

Apartment

In residential premises, standard LED lamps of different sizes and shapes are used, which are screwed into a classic socket of a certain diameter or “come complete” with a lamp built into furniture, a suspended or suspended ceiling, or floor. Also widely used in the interior are table lamps, which are placed in niches of furniture, in two-level plasterboard ceilings.

Office and administrative

In administrative buildings and offices, recessed or surface-mounted LED ceiling lamps of square or rectangular shape are mainly used for short and long fluorescent lamps. The diodes inside can be arranged in one, two or more rows.

Trade

For commercial lighting, downlights with directional light, LED track lights mounted on a busbar, cardan lights with directional light and dimmable adjustment, conventional modular lights, and spotlights are used. Their main task is to provide comfortable lighting for the customers' eyes and to focus on certain products (for example, exclusive jewelry).

Industrial

To illuminate industrial facilities, wall, pendant, recessed and overhead lamps are used with a certain degree of protection from moisture, high temperature, dust and mechanical damage. The shape and size of lamps come in a wide variety.

Emergency

Emergency LED lighting is needed when the main one is turned off. It should be used everywhere, from industrial facilities to shopping and entertainment centers, healthcare facilities, train stations, sports centers and so on. LED emergency lighting lamps are produced in two types - lamps with centralized power supply and autonomous models. Lamps of the first type are powered from a centralized emergency system, and lighting devices of the second type are a ready-made kit (all elements are located inside or within 0.5-1 m).

Emergency LED lamps can be used as backup or evacuation lamps. Reserve ones maintain a certain level of lighting at social and industrial facilities necessary for the continuation of processes, and evacuation ones indicate the exit routes for working personnel and are marked “Exit”.

Outdoor LED lighting can be:

Console;
Architectural;
Spotlight;
Landscape.

Console

Cantilever LED lamps are designed for lighting city and country streets, highways, pedestrian and park areas, areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, railway stations, indoor areas, etc. They provide much more uniform and extensive lighting, significantly save energy, but their price - 5000-35000 rubles. Types of console luminaires: SDKU-M-LED54, 72, 108, 144, BLD-SL40W, 60-160W, SMART ECO LED 65-200 and others.

Architectural

When it is necessary to provide external lighting for sculptures, structures and buildings, lamps for architectural lighting and LED strips are used. There are 6 types of LED architectural lighting: hidden, local, flood, graphics, illumination, media façade.

Hidden lighting is done so that the light source is not visible, and only the light from it breaks through. It is used to highlight individual forms of the facade or create new light compositions. Local LED lighting is used when it is necessary to emphasize a certain detail or structure (design of window openings, columns, cornices, etc.). Flood lighting - illumination of the entire object (uniform or uneven). To organize it, use powerful lamps with a wide dispersion angle, which are installed at a certain distance from the object on the ground or supports.

Graphics - illumination of buildings and other objects with special LED lamps with an optical system. Optical lenses and reflectors of light sources allow you to draw patterns of any beauty on facades. In addition to lamps, LED strips are used for lighting.

Illumination - illumination using garlands, luminous figures or “running” lights. It is used to decorate the appearance of shopping and entertainment centers, as well as to highlight objects on holidays.

A media facade is a screen of any size and shape made from an LED grid, which is created from individual modules with LEDs installed on them. Such screens are used to create advertising (photos, videos, slide shows), broadcast TV and simply transform the facade of a building.

Spotlight

When it is necessary to illuminate the territory of industrial enterprises, sports complexes, railway stations, parking lots and the like, they use lighting with a power of 20, 50, 100 or more watts with a number of LEDs of 15-30 or more. Lamps can be installed either on a lighting support or attached to the walls of buildings and structures. To illuminate scenes, lamps on a stand or portable are used.

Landscaping

Landscape lighting is used to illuminate pools, fountains, stairs, paths, and trees. For this purpose, special LED lamps are used: lawn lamps, for paths and alleys, reflected light lamps, spherical landscape lamps built into walls and ground, luminous stones and the like.

LED lamps and LED lamps are an ideal solution for organizing internal and external lighting. They are especially beneficial when designing street lighting, so we can safely say that the future lies with LEDs.

Understanding that an LED lamp is an innovative light source that is economical in consumption, most people do not understand the labeling of these products. It is simply necessary to know what the letters and numbers written on the lamps mean - this will help you choose the right LED lamp and select exactly the parameters that you want.

An LED lamp is not a simple light source with an incandescent filament; it is a complex device that has many modifications, depending on which the conditions for their proper operation differ. This is why they are marked so that the consumer can easily choose an LED lamp according to the parameters he needs.

How are LED lamps classified?

Labeling of LED lamps is carried out to standardize it and display the parameters of the LED lighting source for consumers, so that it is easier to understand which lamp to buy. Every day more and more people want to switch to LED lighting, the reasons for this interest are clear: the duration of continuous operation, high energy efficiency, the speed of the device’s response to a power outage, resistance to mechanical stress, low operating temperature, resistance to voltage surges.

At the same time, experts note that the issue of the impact of LED radiation on vision has not yet been well studied; the disadvantages of this light source include the loss of brightness after 80% of its temporary resource has been used up.

The classification of parameters of an LED lighting source is conveyed to the consumer by the product labeling on the packaging:

purpose of the lamp;
type of light source device;
type of base.

In addition to these basic parameters, there are other factors that influence the classification of a lamp. It is important for the consumer what marking is placed on the packaging and what it means.

How is an LED device marked?

The marking of LED lamps, the decoding of which shows the consumer of this product its technical parameters, is carried out according to the following standards:

Indication of the power of the LED light source, it can be 10 W, 25 W.
The duration of a continuous period of operation is usually written about 50,000 hours, but different manufacturers can set their own service life in accordance with the capabilities of the LED device.
The letter marking “A”, “A+” or “A++” indicates the degree of energy saving of the light source.
The letter and digital designation of the type “A55” indicates that the lamp has a standard bulb, another type of combination of letters and numbers indicates its possible variations: mirror-like, candle-shaped, frosted bulb, other shapes.

Letter designation on LED products

Type of base at the light source.
Color effect for the correct choice of lamp illumination.
Lamp brightness, .
Color quality.
Technical capabilities of the light source, for example, operating voltage range 150–240 volts, network frequency 50/60 hertz.
The packaging also indicates the limits of permissible operating temperatures of the LED lighting product, usually from –40 to +40 °C.

When the buyer correctly evaluates the capabilities of a lighting source according to its parameters indicated in the labeling, then his purchase will serve him longer.

Selection by purpose

When a lamp is selected for its intended purpose: for the home, street lamps, warehouse lighting - in all cases, pay attention to how the lamps are marked, characterizing its capabilities and technical parameters.

In apartments and private houses, LED lighting sources with an E27 or E14 base are often used. LED lighting is often used to illuminate certain areas of space in addition to the main light source. Due to their design features and luminous flux capabilities, LED sources are widely used in street lighting of private areas, in the illumination of architectural objects, as well as for the effective perception of landscape design in the dark.

Application of LED light sources

Design features

Manufacturers designate lamps according to design features and divide them into the following types:

products for general use: private houses, apartments, offices;
LED floodlight lighting sources used as street lighting, for illuminating monuments, and the landscape of a country house;
linear products that can replace fluorescent lamps due to their design, with a rotating base and a tubular bulb.

Selection by base

LED technical devices, based on their purpose, are manufactured with different types of bases. The most commonly found on sale and in demand by the population are LED lamps with a standard type of base and the letter designation “E”, which characterizes the threaded connection to the socket. The number next to the letter determines the diameter of the threaded connection; the standard is E27, which is excellent for replacing incandescent lighting sources in lamps such as chandeliers, sconces, and table lamps. For the “minion” connection, the diameter of the connections is smaller than that of the standard type - E14.

When lighting the territory of a country house, floodlight devices use LED lighting sources with an E40 base, and, accordingly, the lamp bulb itself is larger.

LED spotlights

A connection marked with the letters “G” and “U” indicates that this is a two-pin base with a thickening: “G” indicates the presence of a pin connection, and the letter “U” indicates the presence of thickenings at the tips of the pins. This type of connection for an LED source is similar to the starter connection in fluorescent lamps; the designation “GU10” stands for two-pin with a distance between the pins of 10 millimeters and having a thickening at the ends of the connection. Such lamps are often installed in ceiling lamps.

Ceiling LED lights

To replace halogen light sources, manufacturers of LED lamps produce LED lamps labeled “GU5.3”; they are perfect for spot lighting fixtures.

In linear products, a base marked “G” is used, which indicates that it is pin, and the number next to it indicates the distance between them. The tubular-type bulb and the “G13” connection make it possible to install LED lighting instead of fluorescent lamps.

In modern room design and furniture items, it is possible to use lighting with overhead LED lamps. For these purposes, as well as for illuminating the ceiling covering, the “GX53” connection is produced.

Selection based on light output and color rendering parameters

When properly organizing the lighting of a room, the complexity of the lighting of the space and the correct rendering of the color of the illuminated object are of great importance. This depends on the strength of the luminous flux and the color rendering of the product.

When choosing the desired light source, the consumer pays attention to, as well as to the designation of the color rendering of the “Ra” lamp. This indicator gives an understanding of the ability of a lighting source to correctly convey the natural color of the illuminated object. Experts accept sunlight as a reference value - 100 Ra, and LED lighting sources have parameters of 90 Ra. To be fair, filament light sources also have 90 Ra, but they are not as efficient in other respects.

By luminous flux

The luminous flux of an LED lighting source is measured in lumens, this parameter is important, it shows the power of the glow. In addition, the luminous flux is characterized by high efficiency, in other words, the ratio of the glow power (lumen) to the power consumption of the LED device (watt), this is lm/W, which shows how economical the selected lamp model is.

There are special tables to compare the luminosity of LED sources with lamps having an incandescent filament. A 40-watt light source produces a luminous flux of 400 lumens. Manufacturers indicate the luminous flux power on the packaging; for LED lamps this figure is several times higher than for a simple lamp. When choosing a lamp according to these parameters, it is necessary to take into account that the LED light source reduces its brightness when its operating time is exhausted.

Color temperature value

Unlike a simple incandescent lamp, which has a single color - yellow, LED lighting sources can transmit a wide range of colors. When a color rendering scale is constructed, the color of hot metal is taken as the basis, and kelvins are taken as the unit of measurement. Experts equate daylight to a temperature in the range of 4,000-6,000 degrees Kelvin, and heated metal to 2,700 degrees K.

Experts classify colors with a temperature of more than 6,500 degrees K as a cold glow with a bluish tint. When choosing a lamp for your home, you should always take these parameters into account, since with different lighting in the space, furnishings in the apartment can be displayed differently, which affects the sensitivity of the eyes.

Light distribution and adjustable lamps

The advantage of LEDs over conventional light sources is that they can create directional lighting, in other words, they shine in front of themselves. This ability is well used in lamps for night lights, in zonal lighting of an apartment.

In order to achieve uniform illumination of the space, LED lamps are equipped with a diffuser or LEDs are installed in the lamp at different angles. The luminous flux using these methods can spread over 60 or 120 degrees.

Similar to incandescent lamps, LED lamps can be adjusted; for this you need a dimmer, a special regulator. In comparison with fluorescent energy-saving lamps, this is an advantage, since they do not have such an opportunity. Using a regulator in the room, you achieve comfortable lighting. It should be noted that not all lamps of this type have this capability; you must pay attention to the markings on the packaging.

Selection by power and operating voltage

Every buyer of a light bulb initially pays attention to the power of the product and operating voltage. The power consumption parameter plays a significant role in the consumption of electrical energy both in the apartment and in street lighting.

The operating voltage for an LED lamp is an important indicator; it is usually 12 volts of direct voltage; it is provided by the driver by converting 220 volts and alternating current to the required parameters. Thanks to the driver, lamps of this type operate from a 220 volt network. The power supply parameter of the LED source can be different - from 12 to 24 volts, and the current can also be alternating or direct. All data is indicated on the product labeling.

Nuances when choosing an LED lighting source

Experts do not recommend installing LED lighting sources in children's rooms; even in warm light they have shades of blue, which tones up children's behavior. When choosing a lamp, always pay attention to the connection markings; it should be the same as on the socket.

Unfortunately, quite often manufacturers of LED lamps overestimate the warranty period. You can change the lamp using a receipt from the store. It is also necessary to return back a lamp that has a pulsating glow, even if it is barely noticeable, it can harm your eyesight. This is easy to check - you need to point your smartphone’s camera at the light source, if blinking appears, it means there is pulsation.

A good manufacturer of LED lamps always leaves its contacts on the packaging; if there are none, then you should refuse to purchase this product.

Conclusion

The quality of the LED lamp you choose largely depends on the parameters of your electrical network: the fewer fluctuations, the longer the light source will work. LED lamps are not a cheap purchase, for this reason you should always pay attention to the existing markings on the packaging and take into account all the parameters that the light source can provide.

The most modern light sources. Their work is based on the principle of electroluminescence. When an electric current is passed through a boundary connecting two semiconductors of different conductivity types (the so-called p-n junction), energy is released in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum, i.e. light. This phenomenon was discovered by the British scientist G. Round at the beginning of the 20th century and for a long time had no practical application. For the electroluminescence effect to occur, many conditions must be met, such as an optimally selected band gap in the contact region, quality and purity (i.e., absence of defects) of the crystals to achieve a sufficient specific number of hole-electron recombinations. To do this, the semiconductors themselves must be selected so that the output radiation falls precisely on part of the visible spectrum. Those. in simple words, when current passes through any diode, electromagnetic radiation will be emitted; another question is how to make it visible to the human eye. A detailed description of the theory of electroluminescence and the mechanism of operation of a light-emitting diode is beyond the scope of our article; detailed information can be easily obtained on the Internet.

The practical use of LEDs began only in the 60s and 70s of the 20th century. The first LEDs emitted light of very low intensity in the red part of the spectrum. At first they were used in various indicators and were very expensive. Only in the mid-1990s, after the invention of super-bright blue LEDs in the laboratory of the Nichia company, a new era began, without exaggeration, in the development of industrial and household lighting. For the required distribution of luminous flux, the LED design includes a lens. By applying a yellow phosphor to the lens, white light with different color temperatures can be output. Currently, this method is used in the vast majority of LED lamps.

How is white light produced?

When current passes through a blue LED, recombination of electrons and holes occurs in the region of the pn junction. The energy is converted into electromagnetic radiation with a frequency of 400 – 500 nm. Next, the blue light passes through a phosphor layer that is applied to the lens. The resulting output is white light. Its shade directly depends on the thickness of the phosphor.

Another way is RGB. In this case, three different LEDs are placed on one board, which produce red (Red), green (Green) and blue (Blue) light. By mixing them with a special lens, it is also possible to obtain white light. However, using this method degrades both the color rendering index (CRI) and energy efficiency.

Thus, by combining in one housing a semiconductor light source, an optical system, a radiator for removing excess heat and a power supply (driver), we get a whole class of devices under the general name - LED lamp. What parameters are used to distinguish one LED lamp from another? At the moment there is no unified classification system for LEDs and led lamps. Let's consider several options.

Classification methods:

By area of application

By type of LED used

By type of base

Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

1 area of use

Outdoor – used for illuminating buildings, public swimming pools and parks, roads, highways, pedestrian crossings, etc. The main features of this type of LED lamps are a high degree of protection (IP rating) and “vandal-proof” design. In addition, design solutions using “smart” programmable RGB lamps are widely used.

LED lamps for home and office - this type serves to completely replace previously used incandescent, halogen and fluorescent lamps. They are equipped with the same base as their predecessors and often have similar dimensions and appearance.

Spotlights are placed in a separate class for the following reason. Until recently, spotlights used predominantly linear quartz lamps. Due to their technical characteristics and parameters, spectral distribution and special photometry, it is often not possible to directly replace them with LED analogues. Therefore, there are a large number of spotlights specially designed to use LED light sources.

Industrial - used in warehouses, production facilities, factories. Their main feature is high power, high luminous flux and a good degree of protection (IP rating).

LED lamps designed for growing plants (the so-called Grow light) are a special direction. They are used in greenhouses and their main difference is a specially selected radiation spectrum for better plant growth, which includes an ultraviolet component. In addition, it is usually possible to program it.

Automotive lamps are a whole class of lamps used both in interior lighting, brake lights, car tuning, and, more recently, for low and high beams.

2. Type of LED used

There are two extremely common types of LEDs: DIP and also Superflux (Spider). They are widely used in displays, indicator lights, and various electronic devices. However, their luminous flux is too small and does not allow them to be widely used for lighting purposes. Therefore, let’s turn to those LEDs that are suitable for lighting.

SMD (Surface Mounted Device) - LEDs. Currently the most common type used in lighting. Unlike DIP and Superflux LEDs, they are mounted directly on the surface of the board, which is reflected in their name. The accepted designation is SMD****, where **** are four digits indicating the dimensions of the LED in millimeters. There are a huge number of different models with different parameters of current consumption and luminous flux values. For example, SMD3528 has dimensions of 35mm. at 28 mm., consumes a current of 20 mA, its luminous flux is usually 6-7 lumens (depending on the manufacturer). Or SMD5050 - there the indicators are 60mA and 18-20 lumens, respectively. In general, LEDs of this type have deservedly gained universal recognition. Thanks to the design features, acceptable heat dissipation is ensured, which increases service life. Which SMD LED to use in a lighting device depends on the specific situation. This topic is too broad to be discussed within the scope of this article.

High power and high power LEDs. This can include LEDs of type 5630, 5730, rated for current up to 350mA, as well as LEDs in emitter housing with current consumption of up to 1A and power of 1-3W. There are also more powerful specimens (up to 10 watts). These LEDs are specifically designed for illumination, require increased attention to cooling, and are often designed so that they do not require special lenses.

COB (Chip on Board) - LEDs. In this state-of-the-art technology, the emitting chip is mounted directly onto the board. This leads to increased reliability of the entire device and improved heat dissipation. The use of one common optical system increases the uniformity of the light flux.

3. Type of base

LED lamps are the “youngest” of all known lighting sources. Before their active introduction into our daily lives, incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, gas-discharge and some others were mainly used. Each type of lamp predominantly uses its own sockets with its own sockets. The creators of LED lamps initially took a different path. At the moment, there are LED lamps with almost all known bases. Moreover, they often completely repeat the shape and dimensions of their predecessor. The presence of a built-in driver allows you to connect them directly or to a 220V network. (AC), or to 12 V. (DC). This type of classification is extremely convenient and is used by many manufacturers and sellers of LED products. You can read more about the types of LED lamp bases on our website.

In conclusion, I would like to note that LED technology is developing at a rapid pace. This promises us new areas of application in the near future. It is likely that a generally accepted unified classification system for LED lamps will appear.

The appearance of LED elements (light-emitting diode) marked an evolutionary turn in the development of lighting products. Infrared diode technology was patented in 1961, but a practical LED did not appear until a year later. The first LED lamps cost up to $200; their prices began to fall thirty years later - in the early 90s, when a cheap blue diode was created.

Over the past decade, individuals and business owners have increasingly chosen affordable LED lighting. Serial production of LED elements, demonstrating high growth rates, reflects the brisk demand for them.

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What is LED lighting? LED operating principle

An LED is a device based on semiconductor crystals with an electron-hole junction. It produces optical radiation in a narrow range of the spectrum when an electric current is passed through it. Under the influence of the latter, each crystal begins to emit rays in the RGB spectrum, and white color is the result of their mixing. By changing the color ratio, shades of white light from warm to cool are obtained.

If we talk about modern LED lamps, they consist of the following elements:

Board with diodes
Driver for current rectification
Radiator for heat removal
Base (E27, E14, E40, GU10, GU5.3, etc.)
Flask (traditional shape, in the form of a candle, ball, ellipse, “corn”)
Holders (lower and upper)

Advantages and disadvantages of LED lighting

Like other popular lighting sources - traditional and fluorescent - they also have advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of LED lamps include the following characteristics:

Life time. They are capable of operating up to 100,000 hours. For an incandescent lamp this figure is up to 1,000 hours, for a halogen lamp - up to 4,000 hours, for a fluorescent lamp - up to 10,000 hours.
Economical energy consumption. They consume on average 7 times less electricity than an incandescent lamp, 2 times less than a fluorescent lamp and 4 times less than a halogen lamp, provided that they provide the same illumination of the room.
Light output parameters. The luminous flux power in them is 50-100 lm per 1 W. For halogen lamps this characteristic is up to 22 lm, for fluorescent lamps – up to 60 W, for incandescent lamps – up to 17 lm. In the last three, 40-90% of the power is spent on heating the case.
Environmental friendliness. The LED lamp contains no toxic components. Incandescent and halogen lamps do not claim to be environmentally friendly due to the amount of energy consumption that is wasted. Luminescent products contain mercury vapor and require compliance with strict disposal rules approved at the legislative level.
Design safety factor. Incandescent and halogen lamps easily break when dropped from a height of up to 1 m and subject to slight mechanical impact. And strong vibration will cause the filaments in them to break. Fluorescent lamp bulbs are more durable, but breaking them is undesirable due to potential harm to health. LED lamps have the most durable housing, since the bulb, the most fragile structural element, is made of plastic.
Natural light. The spectrum closest to it is produced by LEDs. Their color rendering index is 80-85 units, while natural sunlight has 100 units (absolute value). Among other solutions, only fluorescent lamps with 60-65 units come close to this characteristic.

LED light sources do not require regular maintenance and are suitable for illuminating damp and dusty areas. Their service life is not affected by frequent power switching on and off, unlike halogen, fluorescent and incandescent lamps.

Since their introduction to the market, light sources based on LEDs have continuously become cheaper, but still remain expensive compared to alternative solutions. This is their main and only drawback. But if you consider the service life and reduced energy consumption, installing LED lighting will be preferable from an economic point of view.

LED characteristics

Operating current (mA, milliamps)

LED elements operate from 10-100 mA or more. The more powerful the diode, the higher the current it requires, but the greater the likelihood of the LED burning out. Drivers are used to rectify the current characteristics. The more accurately they work, the longer the diode will last.

Voltage (V, volts)

Depends on the semiconductors and other chemical elements used in the manufacture of the LED element. Their qualitative and quantitative characteristics directly affect the color of the glow.

Power (W, watts)

Determined by current and voltage. The higher the power, the hotter the LED gets, but the faster it fails. To prevent such developments, they are forcibly cooled by installing radiators made of aluminum or other materials with similar characteristics.

Color temperature (K, Kelvin)

It depends on the materials used to make the diode. Temperature determines the hue of the LED. It can be warm yellow (1,800 – 3,500 K), neutral white (3,600 – 5,000 K) or bluish-cold (5,100 K and above).

Luminous flux (lx, lux)

Determines the light intensity. It means the number of lumens (units of luminous flux) per unit of power equal to 1 W.

Scattering Angle (°, degree)

It depends on the characteristics of the diverging lens. For a single diode, the dispersion angle ranges from 50 to 120°. If accent (spot) lighting is required, use a collective lens. If the dispersion angle needs to be increased to 270-360°, modular structures are made.

How can LED lighting help you save money?

We looked at how much more profitable LED solutions are compared to halogen, fluorescent and incandescent lamps. The main advantages of LEDs in economic terms are determined by their service life and reduced energy consumption. We suggest you verify this with an example.

Light flow	LED lamp
50 lm.	1 tu.	4 tu.	20 tu.
100 lm.	2 tu.	5 tu.	25 tu.
100-200 lm.	2.5-3 W.	6-7 tu.	30-35 tu.
300 lm.	4 tu.	8-9 tu.	40 watts
400 lm.	5 tu.	10 watts	50 watts

Let's take a popular 60 W incandescent lamp. The closest power characteristic to it will be a 9 W LED lamp. Here you can see a sevenfold saving in energy consumption, which will be reflected in the bills for consumed electricity. We add to this the advantage in light output (78 lm/W versus 13 lm/W) and service life, which differs by 50-100 times (up to 100,000 hours of continuous operation versus 1,000 hours). We take away the need for special disposal (this is not a free service for enterprises) and the need to replace lamps as a result of damage - and the result is an economically sound solution.