Blog – Ask a LED Tech Articles

Ask a LED Tech Articles – Why do LEDs cost more than other types of lights? I want to learn more about LED lighting. I don’t understand why LED light bulbs cost more We all know that we can expect high energy savings with LEDs, but why do LEDs cost more? What used to be called conventional lighting technology wasn’t always. In the early part of the 20th century, the introduction wasn’t that easy to accept. The early incandescent bulb was very much a new technology. It required electrical power lines to be brought to the building. Then there had to be skilled and knowledgeable workers to safely wire the building. Only then could an electric light be installed. With those challenges and expenses, this ‘new’ technology was not that quickly or widely welcomed. Now, of course, the incandescent light is facing its own decline in favour of more efficient lighting. When a customer is accustomed to purchasing light bulbs that typically cost no more than $3 they may experience a bit of a “sticker shock” to find a LED light bulb might run as low as $10 or as high as $23. Besides the obvious advantages of energy savings and extremely long lifespan, the casual consumer may not quickly recognise what goes into a LED light bulb. An incandescent bulb, which essentially has a base through which it received its power, and a filament inside a glass enclosure that has a partial vacuum. The basic truth is that the filament is a small wire, that when enough power is sent through it, it gets so hot that it glows. As a technological advancement, it was what allowed the industrial revolution to surge ahead. Now, roughly 100 years later we have LED light bulbs which use around 75% less power for the same light and is far cooler to the touch and measures its lifespan not in 1-4 years but in at least 8-12 years. What is takes to allow the many components inside the LED bulb or fixture to function is what contributes to it cost. There are typically several LEDs mounted inside of what are called in the industry, Surface Mount Devices (SMDs). Most of the time we just call those chips. They require very carefully controlled DC voltage. All of this control and manufacturing precision is built into the stem or base so that the resulting driver can accept the 120 volts and convert it into what the chips can accept. Even though a modestly priced LED bulb appears to cost double or more of the cost of an incandescent bulb, it ends up replacing several incandescent bulbs due to its lifespan alone. That also means less expended bulbs in the landfill as well. Then there are the power savings. In the end of 10-12 years, that “costly” LED has ended up as a great bargain. The light bulb is used as the symbol of a bright idea. Imagine that!

By: John Cody