Differences Between LEDs & Light Bulbs

• A typical LED bulb uses far less electricity than a typical light bulb.led image by sasha from Fotolia.com
  
  The differences between LED bulbs and incandescent light bulbs are considerable, from the technology each uses to the amount of electricity they use to generate light. The shapes can be different, although a few LED light bulbs are designed to fit inside the sockets manufactured for incandescent bulbs.
  
  

Shape

• Incandescent light bulbs screw into sockets, whose sizes vary depending on the kind of bulb used. Appliance light bulbs normally have smaller sockets than light bulbs used in lamps for lighting rooms. Most of the time, the incandescent light bulbs are considerably larger than LED bulbs.
  
  Standard LED light bulbs use a standard two-pronged connection that fits into a connector that delivers electricity to the bulb for lighting. Sometimes LED light bulbs are made to fit specific receptacles, and may use more prongs for larger bulbs.
  
  Some LED bulbs are manufactured to fit into standard sockets for incandescent bulbs. These bulbs have many smaller LED bulbs placed inside them. According to CNET, Sylvania announced in May 2010 that they would be producing an LED bulb that resembles a typical incandescent bulb that will fit in standard light bulb sockets.
  
  

Energy Use

• According to the EPA, LED bulbs use 90 percent less electricity than incandescent light bulbs use. Incandescent light bulbs create light when the tungsten wire inside them heats up and glows. A standard light bulb uses between 60 and 100 watts of power, and a standard LED bulb uses 9 watts.
  
  LED bulbs last much longer than incandescent bulbs. The standard light bulbs may last 900 hours, while an LED bulb can last for 45,000 hours. If standard bulbs are dropped, the brittle filament may break, shortening its life considerably. LED bulbs are much sturdier since they have few parts, none of which move.
  
  

Technology

• While incandescent bulbs use electricity to heat a filament to produce light, the LED technology is entirely different. Creating heat uses far more electricity than creating light from semiconductors, which is the principal behind the LED lights. The LED bulbs send electricity through the semiconductor in one direction and photons are created as a reaction. Photons are tiny packets of light.