Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have only gained major popularity in the automotive industry within the past 6 years but have been for automotive lighting for over a decade. So what is an LED and how does the technology work you may ask? Well, I’ll start by saying it is NOT a light bulb. Due to the vast advancements in lighting technology, an LED is a solid state device that can convert electric energy directly into light without wasting much energy through in the form of heat. The type of light produced by LEDs can also be referred to as “cold” light.

Mounted within a reflector cup, the chip-mounted diode is at the center of the overall composition. This diode is held in place by a frame made of steel and lead which is connected by a pair of electrical wires. Epoxy is normally used to encapsulate and protect the diode arrangement and the diode is typically around 0.25mm square. When current is introduced to the arrangement, light emits from within the diode. The light beam produced can have varying shapes and is affected by multiple factors including the LED chip size, the reflector cup size, the distance between them and the shape of the epoxy lens. Colored LEDs are achieved by using different materials that determine wavelength.

Additionally, LEDs can be powered using a portable battery source and can be powered on very quickly (60 nanoseconds). LEDs have great color resolution, are small in size and present almost no shock hazard. LED technology can also be integrated into control systems and are resistant to shock and vibration. Modern LEDs have become more usable and can emit more light due to the creation of new types of diodes. Now that you know more about LEDs, upgrade and replace your existing halogen bulbs with WeissLicht LEDs today.