Nowadays, LED lighting is the leading type of lighting on the market. In an average DIY store or lighting shop, most lamps are LED lights, and at Qub we also sell only LED lamps. Sometimes you could almost forget that LED lighting is a relatively new technological development. But what exactly is LED lighting, and how does it work?

How does LED lighting work?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. This type of lighting works very differently from conventional lighting. In an incandescent bulb, electricity is simply sent through a wire, causing it to heat up and emit light. The disadvantage is that a great deal of electricity is naturally lost as heat. LED lighting works using charged and uncharged particles. As soon as a negatively charged particle (an electron) comes into contact with a positive particle, the electron loses energy. This energy is released in the form of a photon, and these photons form the light beam.

How long does LED lighting last?

Incandescent bulbs generally need to be replaced when the wire burns out. This is not the case with LED lamps, because LED lamps do not contain such a wire. How long an LED lamp lasts depends on various factors. Different types of LED lamps have different lifespans. As an indication, LED lamps last approximately 15,000 to 100,000 hours. This is a significant improvement compared with conventional lighting: the best energy-saving lamps last around 20,000 hours, halogen lamps only 4,000 hours, and incandescent bulbs just 1,000 hours! This means you need to replace LED lamps much less often, making them a good investment in the long term.

What are the benefits of LED lighting?

Besides the fact that LED lighting lasts a very long time, switching to LED lamps offers even more benefits. For example, LED lamps contain no toxic substances, unlike fluorescent tubes and energy-saving lamps. LED lighting is also much more sustainable than conventional lighting, allowing you to save a great deal of electricity in the long term. An average LED lamp is up to 90% more efficient than conventional lighting! Because an LED lamp saves so much electricity, it is also much better for the environment. LED lamps can always be recycled as well. So never throw LED lamps away with your general waste; instead, take them to a recycling point near you.

Can I dim LED lighting?

Absolutely! Dimming LED lighting works slightly differently from dimming conventional lighting. You need a special LED dimmer. While conventional lighting is generally dimmed using leading-edge phase control, most dimmable LED lamps use trailing-edge phase control. If you use the wrong dimmer, your LED lamp will flicker and will also stop working in no time. So make sure you check which dimmer you need beforehand! Are you not completely sure whether your lamp is compatible with the dimmer in your home? Feel free to contact us for advice!