Tagged with 'led lifetime'

Ensuring LED Longevity and Performance: Understanding the Impact of Temperature

By Ledrise Led Professional
Jul 29, 2020

LED lamps, modules and fixtures can be damaged by high operating temperature, with mechanical failure or significant drop of performance being the most common.

How a LED behaves when functioning at higher operating temperatures is directly related to its quality. High quality LEDs, like Nichia or Cree, will function within parameters at high temperatures too, while low quality LEDs will break down, change their color, loose brightness or a combination of these.

For LED technology, it is a must to avoid operating at temperatures beyond those specified by the manufacturer. Failure to do so while lead to at least one of the following:

complete failure of the LED
light output is decreased permanently (Lumen Degradation) even if the issue with high temperature is solved
light output is decreased temporally while the LED functions at high temperature
the color temperature of the white LED changes

Posted in LED 101: Understanding the Fundamentals of LED Lighting

Demystifying LED Lifetimes: From Light Bulb to LED

By Ledrise Led Professional
Jul 23, 2020

Product lifetime, Light Bulb vs LED

The typical product lifetime of an incandescent light bulb is 1000 hours. When the bulb reaches the end of its product lifetime, it cannot emit light anymore. Typically, just before, there is spark or pop, as the filament inside breaks down.

LEDs use a different meaning for product life. They are the only light sources that over time lose brightness, even up to 90% of initial flux. Eventually, LEDs will also fail completely. However, some emit visible light even after decades.

For example, a Nichia LED with 60,000 hours typical product lifetime will continue to light well beyond the 60,000 hours rated life. Under normal operating conditions, it will even after 200,000 hours.

LED lifetime is the time interval the product can still serve its intended purpose. The time passed until a LED has 70% of the initial brightness is equal with the product lifetime.

This definition, known as L70 lifetime, endorsed by all well-known luminaire manufacturers and sellers.

Posted in LED 101: Understanding the Fundamentals of LED Lighting