Why is LED used in solar lights?
The technology of LED has opened up the gates toward better energy efficiency and a considerable reduction of electricity cost. LED lighting has not only become a frequent sight in terms of decoration and nightlights but also a part of the most popular, renewable light source, solar lights. Before we get to know the role of LED in solar lights, we need to understand what and how an LED light functions. So here is a brief-up on it.
ABOUT LED AND HOW IT WORKS
The term LED stands for ‘light-emitting diode’. It is a popular semiconductor device that produces light through the process of electroluminescence. Electroluminescence is a phenomenon where visible light is emitted when an electric current passes through a semiconducting material. The heat produced, when an electrical current passes through a microchip, is absorbed into a heat sink(a device or substance used to absorb excessive heat). This process of thermal management prevents LEDs from overheating. When the amount of light output diminishes, the brightness of the light tends to get dimmer and does not burn out like regular incandescent bulbs. So, an LED requires very little energy to produce a high amount of light than conventional lights and works in direct contrast to a PV or photovoltaic cell which converts sunlight directly into electricity.
HOW ARE LED LIGHTS DIFFERENT FROM CFL BULBS?
Initially, Compact Fluorescent Lights or Lamps was first introduced to the lighting market as an energy-efficient alternative that performs better than an incandescent light bulb. Since linear fluorescent tubes did not fit into the same socket as the incandescent ones, manufacturers started producing its compact version i.e, the CFL bulbs. Whereas the first LEDs were developed in the early 60s and were used as indicator lights for circuit boards. Later on, as they became known for their durability and energy efficiency, LEDs started serving as replacements for the traditional incandescent bulb in streetlights.
LEDs can emit light only in a single or specific direction but on the other hand, CFL can emit light and heat in all directions.CFL bulbs are available in warm to cool shades of white such as white, warm, natural, daylight and cool whereas LEDs are available in red, blue, green and amber. LED lights produce white light when they are covered with a phosphor material which transforms the colour of visible light to the required shade of white.
HOMEHOP SOLAR LED LIGHTS FOR GARDEN HOME OUTDOOR DECORATION LAMP WATERPROOF
Now that we have attained basic knowledge on how an LED works, we can move on to the main topic of how and why LEDs are used in solar lighting. We have seen LEDs being incorporated into general lighting applications such as bulbs and other lighting fixtures. In the case of solar lighting, previously lights such as CFLs, LPS, HPS would be used. But these types of lights had limitations and work only to an extent with the help of a converter, which in turn causes power loss and has to be made up by investing in a bigger solar panel and battery storage system.
However, when it comes to LEDs there is no need for any converter as it runs efficiently on direct current or DC power, which makes it highly compatible with solar lighting. The solar lights are able to emit better light and operate efficiently at a considerably lower cost and wattage, which in turn creates ease in the installation of more solar-powered lights. Since the time for solar energy, absorption is limited to a specific time and with respect to the location, the usage of LEDs give a boost to solar panels for energy absorption. There are more reasons for the usage of LEDs in solar lighting, which are mentioned in further detail in the points given below:
1. Long Life Span
The maximum life expectancy of a well-built solar panel is more than 25 years(with only a 20% power generation loss) and on the other hand, LEDs have a lifespan up to 50,000 hours, up to 22 years, with a 12 hour per night operation on an average. Depending on the quality of usage the lifespan can go up to 100,000 hours which is forty times more than an incandescent bulb. The almost equivalent life span of the panel and LED means there would be less maintenance required, as in only periodic maintenance and also brings down the costs of the overall system maintenance as well. At the same time, you need to bear in mind the factors that can or may affect the performance of LEDs such as poor quality of electronics or fixtures used, extreme forces of nature etc.
2. Eco-friendly
As, people lean more towards adopting eco-friendly measures, companies and manufacturers are also opting for the same. CFL bulbs internally contain mercury and require special care at the time of disposal. Whereas LEDs do not face such problems as they are being manufactured without any toxic or hazardous materials and eliminate the need for inefficient light sources as they last a long time.
3. High Durability
Since LEDs are not made of glass and are hollow on the inside, it makes them more durable than any other type of lighting. LED lights are also resistant to external impacts and shock. So they are highly compatible with different kinds of solar lighting.
4. Better Light Output & Visibility
As mentioned above, LEDs give a much better light performance and are available in a wider range of colors which makes them applicable for decorative, public, commercial as well domestic purposes. Most applications use a light output of around 3K to 5K in color. So, LEDs help in providing much better lighting and visibility at night. The visibility of the area illuminated by LEDs is similar to what you would see in daylight which puts less strain on the eyes, especially for drivers at night. This also helps lower the number of road accidents mostly caused due to low visibility. LED lighting is especially useful in remote areas, through the form of solar streetlights. So fighting the darkness with the help of LEDs pertain to more than one benefit per area.
5. Low Power Consumption
LEDs require less power consumption but produce more light. Lumens is the unit of measurement for LED Lights and not in Watts. The reason is that they burn brighter and for a longer duration without burning any heat. An incandescent bulb of 100 watts can be easily substituted with an LED bulb that uses only 30watt range which is 1600lumens of light. This allows the installation of more solar power poles, lighting up the streets at a lower cost. This feature makes LED fixtures more recyclable after they are no longer workable for lighting.
6. Cold Resistant
Under cold temperatures, conventional light sources do not perform well as it requires a high voltage of current to get it operational and gradually the light output diminishes. In the case of LED lights, they perform comparatively better in cold climates and that is the reason for being chosen as lighting for freezers, meat lockers, cold storage and outdoor signage.
7. Zero Heat or UV Emissions
Incandescent light bulbs produce a lot of heat while in use and almost 90 per cent of the energy is converted to heat energy. So, hardly 10 per cent of the energy is actually used for emitting visible light. Whereas, LED lights emit almost zero heat. For this reason in museums and galleries, expensive paintings or artworks are illuminated using LED as their quality won’t be affected over time, unlike the exposure to incandescent lights.
8. Ability to Dim
In normal cases, bulbs flicker out on low voltage or when it is at its final lifeline but LEDs can give a bright performance starting at a power percentage as low as 5 per cent. When less-than-full power is used on an LED light, it operates more efficiently and this particular feature increases the lifespan of the bulb as it is using a very little amount of energy
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