Light emitting diode lights are actually semiconductors that convert electricity to light. Instead of a gas-filled bulb or tube, as in incandescent or fluorescent lighting, LEDs contain a tiny piece of semiconductor material. Though Duke University reports that LEDs have been used in specialized applications since the 1960s, in the mid-2000s they began showing up in stores as strings of white or colored Christmas lights.
Brilliant Colors
Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs produce a mix of different wavelengths of light that combine to produce white light. LEDs produce very narrow spectrums of light. These spectrums can be tuned to produce different colors of lights. LED Christmas lights may be brighter and come in a wider range of colors than traditional red-blue-green-gold lights.
Cool Burning
LED Christmas lights are cool to the touch, making them safe for use on live trees. LED lights are designed to conduct heat away from the LED element. Too much heat shortens the lifespan of the element. Because of this design, LEDs stay cool no matter how long they remain on.
Long Lasting
Duke University reports that LED lights can last up to five times longer than compact fluorescent bulbs. Northwestern Arkansas Community College estimates that an LED bulb can burn up to 100,000 hours, compared to 1000 hours for an incandescent bulb.
Energy Misers
LEDs are up to 10 times more efficient than incandescent lights, according to Duke University. A strand of 60 LED Christmas lights uses 4.8 watts, compared to 5 to 10 watts for conventional mini Christmas light strands. The lower-wattage conventional strands will be less bright than the LED strands.
Member Comments