The Main Differences Between CFL and LED
Providing optimal light for work, home, and leisurely settings often boils down to a choice between Compact Fluorescent (CFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures. Because CFL is the more established lighting system, many consumers are reluctant to invest in change even if the benefits of LED lighting are superior. Let's consider the pros and cons of both bulbs below:
Compact Fluorescent (CFL) lighting was long considered a major improvement in light bulbs. CFL tubes became popular because they reduced the energy consumption of using standard incandescent bulbs by 75 percent.
Incandescent bulbs were inefficient because they converted 90 percent of the electricity into heat. It is no surprise that the Easy Bake Oven toy that kids played with to bake actual cakes from liquid batter was powered by a simple incandescent light bulb.
Incandescent bulbs are less of a problem in colder climates because they double as space heaters and are inexpensive to produce compared to the complex engineering of CFL tubes.
CFL bulbs work by using an electric filament to charge argon gas and mercury vapor sealed in a tube that is internally coated with fluorescent compound called phosphor. The phosphor is excited by the reaction and emits visible light.
Aside from the energy savings they provide over incandescent bulbs, CFL lighting is also reliable. The tubes typically last a long time before the filaments burn out, about ten times longer than incandescent bulbs.
The color of CFL lighting illuminates a room well even if it lacks the warmth and color of incandescent bulbs. Only older CFL lights have a bad reputation for inducing headaches and eyestrain in a small percentage of people due to the hum and flicker of the CFL lights.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting works by using electricity to emit photons of light from the molecular reaction between two slightly distinguishable semiconductor materials. The first semiconductor material has extra electrons that fill the gap in the outer valence of the second material which is missing electrons. Photons are shed as a result of the reaction.
The inside of the LED may also be coated with phosphor to produce different colors. By contrast, incandescent and CFL bulbs work by heating up a filament by using the principle of electrical resistance. That is why LED lighting is more efficient than its rivals, using 75 percent less energy than CFL tubes and bulbs.
Aside from the energy savings, LED lights come in a variety of colors. They are cool to the touch and emit bright light. In addition, the lifespan of LEDs can reach 50,000 hours. And it doesn't just burn out suddenly but, instead, begins to fade, providing plenty of time to buy replacements.
Another advantage of LED lights is that they can be retrofitted into standard incandescent light bulb fixtures.
LED bulbs don't contain mercury or any toxic vapors. CFL bulbs won't work with a dimmer and may take a few minutes to warm up and reach their full brightness, especially in cold climates. In addition, CFL bulbs can flicker and do not emit a warm color index that many consumers find desirable.
LED bulbs typically last three times longer than their CFL counterparts. LED bulbs produce the same brightness with one-sixth the wattage of a standard incandescent bulb. CFL lights waste energy because they convert 80 percent of their power into heat energy by heating an internal filament.
LED bulbs are more expensive per bulb than CFL bulbs but have to be replaced less frequently and save energy, thereby reducing the overall costs. LED bulbs come in a larger variety of shapes and sizes to retrofit into just about any fixture. CFL's are outmoded and are being banned in some states due to their mercury toxicity and inefficiency.
In the Compact Fluorescent vs LED competition, LED lighting is the hands-down winner in energy efficiency. They are also eco-friendly, long-lasting, and the more adaptable to standard lighting fixtures when compared to CFL.
Whether the LEDs are used for business or personal use, the engineering of LEDs is far superior. When used for home, they offer warmer color ranges that can reduce stress. When used at the office, they reduce the frequency of maintenance and can emit brighter illumination with less wattage, an important consideration.
CFLs have the slightest advantage in providing standardized full-spectrum lighting without the need to purchase any special CFL bulbs. But CFL lighting is only suitable for growing plants indoors that require low levels of light.
And CFLs need to be placed within inches of the leaves to be absorbed and are very limited in application. Many growers have used them for hatching seedlings and little else.
LEDs can also be used to grow plants, but you have to purchase special, full-spectrum grow lights. The variety of LED lights available can help to stimulate the growth of an indoor plant that gets too little sunlight or provide artificial sunlight intense enough to grow tomatoes.
You can simply purchase plug-and-play LED tubes that directly fit in existing CFL ballasts. It is, however, more energy efficient to replace the ballast completely with a direct rewiring to a modern LED lighting system.
It is better to measure brightness by lumens rather than wattage. LED lights that are 1800 lumens or less are ideal for most applications. A few places that may require more than 2000 lumens are warehouses, parking garages, and hospitals.
Light bulbs range anywhere from $1 a piece to $15 or more. LED tubes are generally more expensive and anywhere from $100 to $300 or more. Full-spectrum LED grow lights can cost anywhere from $6 to $600 or more. LED stadium lights can cost $1,000 or more each.
Most LED bulbs and tubes will last 50,000 to 10,000 hours. That's 6 to 11 years of normal use.
However, research shows that the LED drivers can fail prematurely when the LED lights run on A/C power. This is because LED lights operate at low voltage using D/C current. The LED drivers are either or internal or external and can overheat and shorten the life of LED bulbs when they convert A/C to D/C current. See https://www.1000bulbs.com/pdf/understanding-led-drivers.pdf
You can purchase popular LED light bulbs at just about any department, grocery, or home supply store. For more specialized purchases, the internet offers access to a wide variety of LED bulbs and tubes for just about any application.
Maybe, CFL tubes contain a small amount of mercury vapor that is toxic to humans and the environment in high quantities. Broken CFL tubes are considered hazardous waste. However, health experts believe that the amount of vapor contained in a single tube is too insignificant to cause illness in the average person.
No, the UV radiation emitted from a fluorescent tube operating for eight hours is about equal to standing in ordinary sunlight for one minute. However, people should still stay at least 12 inches away from UV lighting to eliminate any chance of retinal and skin damage.
LED black lights are often found in bug zappers, flood lights, party lights, and handheld lights used for various purposes. Looking directly at black lights without eye protection can cause damage over time. And they do release UVA radiation that is not, however, harmful at the low levels that most black lights emit.
