One of the questions that people moving into a new home ask a lot is which is better between LED lights and fluorescent lights. It is understandably so because families are looking for more efficient ways of lighting up their homes without causing a bump in their energy bill. We could just tell you that LED lights are better, but guess that is not why you are here. You probably want to know the difference between the two and their likely pros and cons so that you will be able to make a better decision, right? We will provide you all you need to know while sparing you the annoying technical jargon.
What Is A Fluorescent Light?
Fluorescent lights are high-intensity discharge (HID) lights produced through the conversion of ultraviolet (UV) emissions coated with fluorescent within a tube. The electrical charge running to the bulb through the internal inert mercury glass generates the UV. As the gas gets excited by the electric charge, they release the UV. Fluorescent lights cannot function without an ignition. As fluorescent lights heat up, they will require more voltage to operate. This gets worse as the light ages.
The Pros Of Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent lights have a few advantages, which made them a treasure not too long ago. They are also one of the oldest lighting technologies that are still with us. Some of the pros of fluorescent lights include:
· More efficient than incandescent bulbs
· Has good durability
The Cons Of Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent lights fail in several ways, which made it easy for them to be phased out by LED lights. Some of the drawbacks of fluorescent lights include:
· Contain mercury which is toxic to man and the environment
· Age faster with frequent turning on and off
· Light is omnidirectional and cannot easily be focused on a direction
What Is An LED Light?
Light emitting diode (LED) is a device with two electrodes (cathode and anode) that allow the flow of electricity. Electricity flow in a LED is one-directional, namely from the anode to the cathode. Selenium and silicon are the two semi-conductors usually employed in the construction of diodes.
The Pros Of LED Lights
There are lots of pros that will make you choose LED lights over fluorescent lights. Some of them are as follows:
· Unlike fluorescent lights that can last at best 10,000 hours, LED lights can last up to 100,000 hours.
· They are highly energy efficient
· The maintenance cost of LED lights is low
· They produce high-quality light
· Require smaller accessory parts
· Light is directional, and color can be altered
The Cons Of LED lights
While LED has lots of advantages over fluorescent lights, it also has its downside. The most apparent disadvantage is:
· High cost. However, this is plunging with advancing technology and more substantial use
More Reasons Why LED Light Is Better Than Fluorescent Light
The pros mentioned above are not the only edge LED lights have over fluorescent lamps. If you are an advocate for the environment, you should be worried about using fluorescent lights. This is because they present a waste disposal issue because of their mercury content. Also, the glass tubes can cause bodily harm when they break accidentally.
Fluorescent lights make use of ballast to create stability in the internal current. When this ballast is damaged or has a minor defect, fluorescent lights up with a disturbing buzzing sound. Also, the fact that fluorescent lights are not directional means that their rays don’t travel far. Thus, they make inferior security lights compared to LEDs.
Innovative Installation
Perhaps, fluorescent lights have lived out their innovative lifecycle. However, manufacturers continue to produce creative LED lights that come in various shapes and sizes. For example, there are now LED tubes designed to fit into your current fluorescent fixture. The only difference is that you no longer need ballasts to get them working.
With this, you have a fluorescent setup with unidirectional lights that can be used anywhere. However, you will get rid of the additional wattage that fluorescent requires to work as they get old. Fluorescents take the shape of the tube, but LED lights can be designed into different shapes.
Maintenance
While LED lights may seem expensive at first, it pays for that high cost over time. It lasts longer and requires fewer maintenance or replacements compared to fluorescent lights. When using fluorescent lights, you may need to change the ballasts or some of the components now and then.
Conclusion
Fluorescent lights give off UV, which has several adverse effects on humans and objects. For example, it can cause signage and fabrics to fade faster. In humans, it can cause eye fatigue or strain. LED lights have no emissions, and you never have to worry about any of that. Lastly, LED fixtures contribute almost no heat to the room, allowing you to maintain your calm.
