The "light bulb Ilyich" was replaced by a light bulb

The most promising source of light these days, no doubt, are LED lamps. Being a high-tech modern product, the LED light bulb is gradually replacing the traditional incandescent bulb, as well as various types of energy-saving devices that have appeared relatively recently in the domestic lighting market.

A bit of history

The emission of light as the electric current passed through the electron-hole junction of a semiconductor device was known at the beginning of the 20th century. So, Henry Joseph Round, the inventor from the UK, in 1907 described the effect of electroluminescence when an electric current passed through a metal-silicon carbide pair, accompanied by a yellow, green and orange glow at the cathode. Similar experiments were carried out in 1923 by Soviet scientist Oleg Losev (incidentally, right up to the early 1970s, American scientists labeled the LED light bulb as "Losev Light", later this name was forgotten). But then this discovery was not given much significance, and therefore they were not investigated for several decades.

In 1961 the invention of infrared was patented, and in 1962 - working in the light (red) LED range. Subsequently, the invention was constantly improved. Accordingly, its cost also decreased. So, in 1968, the LED price for light bulbs was about $ 200, and therefore their practical use was very limited.

Today, these lamps are used almost everywhere. For this, LEDs with all popular types of socles are produced: E27, E14, GU5.3, G53, GU10, G13.

Is the LED bulb better than usual?

LED lamps have the following advantages:

• High luminous efficiency. Modern samples of these lighting devices in this parameter are quite comparable with metal-halogen and sodium gas-discharge lamps.
• Low power consumption. It is several times lower than conventional lighting sources.
• Long service life. Depending on the manufacturer and the technology of production, the LED light bulb can last from thirty to one hundred thousand hours. In this case, the number of on-off cycles does not have a significant effect on the life of the LED.
• High strength and vibration resistance. This is achieved due to the fact that there are no components sensitive to mechanical influences.
• Low inertia. Unlike other lamps, LED almost immediately begins to shine at full brightness. In addition, she is not afraid of voltage surges.
• High ecological compatibility. Unlike energy-saving lamps, LEDs do not have mercury and other harmful substances in their composition.

It is impossible not to note the fact that every year more and more motorists began to use LED light bulbs for the car. Possessing the same qualities as LEDs for household lighting, they are available with different versions of socles (h1, h3, h7, h8, h10, etc.). They are installed in the headlights of the car, not only as fog lamps, but also as a near And driving beam.

Perhaps the only drawback that LED bulbs have is high cost. The cheapest LEDs (LL) cost about 500 rubles, and the cost of the most expensive (SPOT) can reach 5 thousand. Although everything, as they say, is relative. A significant period of operation of LED lamps, multiplied by the amount of electricity expended, may even be more profitable than the use of a conventional light bulb.