Top ten questions about LED lights answered

How do LED lights work?

LEDs lights have different working principles than traditional incandescent bulbs. The old incandescent light bulbs work by heating a filament at the middle of the light bulb that burns out eventually. For LEDs, the light energy is generated by electrons moving within a semiconductor material. Electrons are triggered to generate light energy when voltage is applied.

Are LED lights safe?

As installing LED lights involve electric fitting work, you should take the necessary precautions to stay safe. In case you are re-wiring to the mains, it is suggested to hire a professional electrician. Similar to any other light source, you should not directly stare at them as it can damage your eyes. 
However, if installed correctly, LED lights are safer as compared to halogen and incandescent light bulbs. It is because LED lights have heat sinks to drive away heat. So, the chances for your finger to burn will be less in case you touch it.

Are LED lights dimmable?

Yes, LED light bulbs are dimmable but you have to ensure that you’re using a compatible LED dimmer and LED lights are labeled as dimmable. If the LED dimmer is not used, you will hear buzzing or humming sounds from the light bulb. Remember that LED light bulbs don’t have the same dimming range as incandescent bulbs so they can’t be dimmed as low as incandescent light bulbs.

Are LED lights cheaper to run?

LED lights consume significantly less energy, so they are cheaper to run. The up-front cost for LED lights is more than traditional lighting sources but the initial investment will be compensated in months due to consuming far less energy than incandescent light bulbs. So, the true cost of LED lights is cheaper than traditional light sources.

How do LED lights save you money?

Even though the price of LED lights is falling continuously, they are still more costly than other kinds of light bulbs. But, in long term, LED lights will certainly save money in contrast to incandescent lights for two reasons. 
The first reason is energy efficiency meaning that LED lights utilize 90 percent less energy as compared to incandescent lights to produce the same amount of light. It reduces your energy bills and saves money in the long run. 
The other reason is the longer lifespan than other kinds of light sources. While incandescent bulbs have a life span of 1,000 hours, a corresponding LED bulb can have a long life span of 20,000 hours. It means for each 1 LED bulb you purchase, you would require 20 incandescent bulbs to run for the same period. Keeping this in mind, the unit price of LED bulbs is not high.

What causes LED lights to flicker?

Similar to other light sources, LED lights can flicker especially if they are not properly installed. Generally, flickering is caused by problems in electric current such as faulty wiring, driver issues, or dimmer incompatibility. 
The power supply is the main reason for LED flickering. LED lights need a DC power supply whereas traditional light sources work with an AC power supply. So, it is essential to use an LED driver that converts the AC power supply to DC. 
The driver will ensure that there is a continual power supply to the LED light to prevent flickering. In case your LED lights are flickering, ensure that you are using the right dimmer and there is no issue with the driver you are using for the light.

How do LED lights help the environment?

LED light bulbs utilize a minute amount of energy, especially in contrast to incandescent and halogen equivalents. Replacing a 100 W incandescent lamp with a 10 W LED light can provide the same output light while lowering the emission of greenhouse gas.
Moreover, LED lights are free of harmful chemicals, for instance, mercury that is found in fluorescent lights and when disposed of, contaminates the environment. Further, LED light bulbs last 20 times longer than traditional lights and reduce the need for replacing light bulbs that further lowering your impact on the environment.

Do LED lights get hot?

LED lights do get warm but not as much as old incandescent or fluorescent lights. Traditional incandescent lights produce light by heating a fragile filament to extremely high temperatures. This phenomenon leads to the heating of the outer glass surface of light bulbs. However, the working of LED lights is different and they don’t use heat to produce light, so they don’t get as hot as incandescent lights.
However, they produce some amount of heat just like any other electrical gear but the heat is not too much that is dangerous to touch. Mostly, LED lights have a heat sink to move any heat away from delicate electrical parts.

Are LED lights good for growing plants?

LED lights are good for growing plants. Today, special LED hydroponic bulbs are available in the market that helps improve plant growth by offering the right amount of intensity and wavelength of light needed by plants. 
LED lights are more efficient than incandescent and CFL grow lamps. If you want to buy LED lights to grow plants, you should get special LED grow lights. These lights will provide a particular kind of light required by plants to grow.

Are LED lights bad for your eyes?

In contrast to other kinds of lighting, LED lights produce more amount of blue light and it is said that blue light is damaging for the eyes. However, there is limited research on this subject so the effects of LED lights on human health are not clearly understood. 
A study by European Commission found out that the exposure level of LED lights should be higher than the usual LED lighting exposure to pose harmful effects on human health. It implies that there is no significant effect of normal residential and commercial use of LED lighting on the eyes.