The Future of Lighting: LEDs

Light emitting diode technology is making large strides in terms of efficiency and affordability, and therefor are finding wider adoption by many people. An old style incandescent can use up to ten times as much energy as an LED. LEDs will also outlast traditional bulbs, as they’re solid state and very durable.

Small flashlights and headlamps are a very common use of LEDs. Battery LED lights come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny models that fit on a key chain, up to 12v rechargeable spotlights. Small LED flashlights can last thousands of hours, and are powered far longer on a set of batteries than a traditional flashlight.

Small headlamps are also very common, particularly among campers and backpackers, as they’re very small and light weight, and quite convenient for hands-free use. If you’re looking for small and handy light for your car or toolbox, think about an inexpensive headlamp with a light emitting diode.

In automobiles, LEDs are very popular for tail lights, dashboard lights and other decorative uses. Obviously, since LEDs are so efficient and durable, they’re nearly perfect for use as tail lights. One set of auto LED lights can easily last the life of the car and avoid replacement entirely. It’s more difficult to use LEDs for headlights because they only produce light in one direction, as opposed to lighting in all directions where it can be focussed by a reflector. With advances in technology, however, they’re becoming more commonly used as headlights.

Cars, motorcycles and boats are a popular application of LEDs for purely decorative purposes. They’re easy to install, particularly in tight spaces since they’re so small. They also come in a wide variety of colors, and are commonly used for under car lighting, dashboard lights, and even door handles.

LED lights can be quite useful for boats, for obvious reasons. They’re solid state and very durable, their easily installed, and very energy efficient. As we know, LEDs typically use about ten percent as much energy as a comparable incandescent bulb. One of the best uses of boat led lights is for navigation lights. For instance, you can replace your bow running lights, port and starboard, with LEDs and use a total of two watts for the same two nautical mile range that’s standard on boats under 65 feet.