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SOLAR POWERED LEDs - STREET LIGHTS
For comparison purposes, an incandescent bulb has an efficiency of 10 lumens per watt. A LED has an output of nearly 80 lumens per watt and is expected to reach 150 lumens per watt in the very near future. It appears Incandescent is the past, CFL is the present and LEDs is the future? With Australia and now Canada banning incandescent bulbs, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL’s) are becoming an important topic considering hazardous materials like Mercury, normally associated with fluorescent technology. Technology leaders will also have to deal with (1) potential government legislation to tax carbon emissions and (2) incentive-based schemes to conserve energy, improve efficiency, no-emissions etc. to control pollution. Legislation means LEDs will become an even more significant issue to reduce local pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases. And in additions to evaluating various technologies, the incentive programs may need to be evaluated at the same time to make good financial sense for LEDs.
SOLAR POWERED LED
Ideal for Pathways - Walkways – Trails – Fence and Security BENEFITS
CONTACT: LEDs Technology: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) differ from other light sources, such as incandescent and fluorescent lamps, in the way they generate white light. Unlike incandescent, fluorescent and HID sources, LEDs are near-monochromatic light sources. An individual LED chip emits light in a specific wavelength. This is why LEDs are comparatively so efficient for colored light applications. In traffic lights, for example, LEDs are rapidly replacing the old incandescent + colored filter systems. Using colored filters or lenses is actually a very inefficient way to achieve colored light. For example, a red filter on an incandescent lamp can block 90 percent of the visible light from the lamp. Red LEDs provide the same amount of light for about one-tenth the power (12 watts compared to 120+ watts) and last many times longer. However, to be used as a general light source, "white" light is needed. LEDs are not inherently white light sources.
COMMON LED TYPES & PACKAGES
Low power LEDs commonly come in 5 mm size, although they are also available in 3 mm and 8 mm sizes. These are fractional wattage devices, typically 0.1 watt, operate at low current (~20 milliamps) and low voltage (3.2 volts DC), and produce a small amount of light, perhaps 2 to 4 lumens. High power LEDs come in 1-3 watt packages. They are driven at much higher current, typically 350, 700, or 1000 mA, and—with current technology—can produce 40-80 lumens per 1-watt package. High power LEDs come in many different shapes and sizes. Some current products from the leading LED manufacturers are shown below.
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