LED Evolution Could Replace Light Bulbs

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

Evolution of Versatile LEDs Could One Day Make Thomas Edison's Light Bulb a Thing of the Past

NEW YORK (AP) -- If a time traveler from a hundred years ago were to visit a home today, much of the technology would be completely alien. The television, cordless phone and computer would probably leave him flabbergasted. But on seeing a light bulb, he might say, "Ah! Here's something I recognize. A few of those grace my home, too."

If the visitor comes back in 15 years, the fruit of Thomas Edison's bright idea may be gone. The likely replacement: light-emitting diodes, or LEDs.

LED lamps were unthinkable until the technology cleared a major hurdle just a dozen years ago. Since then, LEDs have evolved quickly and are being adapted for many uses, including pool illumination and reading lights, as evidenced at the Lightfair trade show here this week.

Read entire story here (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050417/led_lighting.html?.v=1).

[transduction]

LED technology is interesting. If it can allow us to lower the stupid power bill, its a godsend.

[Auggie2k]

Yeah I noticed them coming through with car rear lights. They look really cool! And undercar neons of course, or can you call them neons? No, undercar lights... thats it!

[the great one]

LED technology is interesting. If it can allow us to lower the stupid power bill, its a godsend.

I agree 100%

[Sparky9]

they have them in street lights and flash lights now where i live
on a side note... i'm working on a "dark emiting diode" in my lab as we speak

[muffenme]

Currently they are at less $69 and up for one light at http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/BBL513/
for a light that has the same light output as a 15W light would cost you $74 at http://www.theledlight.com/120-VAC-LEDbulbs.html
There still new so you need to wait until the prices comes down a little more before getting because I know myself this is about equal to the power consume by myself in the winter for one month when converted to CAD

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

The main light source of the future will almost surely not be a bulb. It might be a table, a wall, or even a fork.

An accidental discovery announced this week has taken LED lighting to a new level, suggesting it could soon offer a cheaper, longer-lasting alternative to the traditional light bulb. The miniature breakthrough adds to a growing trend that is likely to eventually make Thomas Edison's bright invention obsolete.

LEDs are already used in traffic lights, flashlights, and architectural lighting. They are flexible and operate less expensively than traditional lighting.

Read entire story here (http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20051021/sc_space/accidentalinventionpointstoendoflightbulbs).

[CRLocky]

NEW YORK (AP) -- If a time traveler from a hundred years ago were to visit a home today, much of the technology would be completely alien. The television, cordless phone and computer would probably leave him flabbergasted. But on seeing a light bulb, he might say, "Ah! Here's something I recognize. A few of those grace my home, too."

If the visitor comes back in 15 years, the fruit of Thomas Edison's bright idea may be gone. The likely replacement: light-emitting diodes, or LEDs.

They'd recognize toilets too...can we do something about those as well? I'm sick of these shitty ass small toilets. We're better than this, c'mon.

[Sparky9]

They'd recognize toilets too...can we do something about those as well? I'm sick of these shitty ass small toilets. We're better than this, c'mon.
well they have LED bathtubs and toilets
http://www.gnr8.biz/images/lttmain3.jpg
http://www.gnr8.biz/images/ltbmain.jpg
http://www.gnr8.biz/ltt.html

[Pathtek24]

In my day job, i'm a Dialysis Equipment Technician and i work with LED lights alot...They actually have "Traffic Lights" on top of the IV poles of the machines that we repair to survey how a patient is getting a dialysis treatment...Green = Good, Yellow = Fair, Red = Poor...Anyway, What most people don't know about LED lights is they DO burn out as well as light bulbs if they are on ALOT and inside an enclosed area(Like a traffic light). They do heat up just like a light bulb with continueous power to them but the difference being a light bulbs works across 1 connection to complete the circuit,but a LED works across 4 and once 2 out 4 go it does not work...Kind of like a square but connected in a "X" pattern...just some food for thought

[crackerjacker]

I read about this recently and imho I think its awesome about the led light because in a hurricane season etc where there is no power this can illuminate light.

hmm
thanks for your time
on side note lotd profile me i posted something interesting in our wanna be science section that krell created.
;)

[Dingo Xavier]

LED's are awesome

incandescents are a thing of the past.

[Afn]

Any LCD display (basically a LED array) is an excellent light source. I use my color palm at night as a flashlight (a flashlight is the same as a torch in the uk)

There is some speculation that alternative energy technology will create meterless energy, so called "free" energy. That we will generate more energy than we need, and energy will become to cheap to meter.

[wonderboy2005]

I read about this recently and imho I think its awesome about the led light because in a hurricane season etc where there is no power this can illuminate light.



LEDs still require power, just not as much. The reason is that the majority of the energy they use is converted directly into light. With incandescents, not a lot of the energy used is actually producing light, rather it's producing infrared radiation (heat). LEDs are good becuase the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that they emit can be very small, which is not the case for incandescents. For example, when was the last time that you saw a light bulb that only produced one color without using a filter? They just don't exist. LEDs on the other hand can do that.

LEDs do burn out, but it takes forever and a half for it to happen. I'm sure many of you here use LCD displays. The majority of LCDs are backlit by LEDs. When was the last time you had to change the backlight in your LCD?

[mfgbypooter]

I would like to build a grow box using LED's.

*

[mountain_rage]

Lots of folks today are looking for warm white PAR38 LED bulbs that are dimmable. As you may know, most LED light bulbs will not work with a standard dimmer or with those fixtures with electric eyes that come on automatically at dusk or when a motion is detected. This is because LEDs require constant current to operate.

Yes but if the special dimmers drop in price due to all lights being led, that will be a non issue. There have also been bulbs designed to dim by shutting off some of the lights in the array, Either way, there are ways around this dilemma.

[mountain_rage]

Why are my posts not showing up?


Edit: nevermind, board is being wonky.