Let’s Talk LED Bulbs

When purchasing a Night Light Designs night light, you have the option of selecting either a 4-watt bulb or an LED bulb. We see LED bulbs all over the place now, but what exactly make them different, and what are the benefits of an LED bulb over the standard 4-watt bulb?

    ·       First, what exactly are LED bulbs? Where an incandescent bulb uses a filament to create the light, LED’s use solid-state components to create light. Both fit the standard screw-in connections found in our night lights, but LED bulbs use the light emitting diodes instead of the filament. Not to overwhelm you with science, but LED’s are semiconductor devices that emits visible light when an electric current passes through them. This is also known as electroluminescence. It’s also important to note that unlike incandescent bulbs that “burn out”, LED’s normally don’t do that. They typically start to fade long before that. So, if you see your bulb start to fade, or if you start feeling increased heat (which is caused by a failing heat sink), then it is about time to consider replacing your LED bulb.

Now that we know how they create light, the real question is whether or not they are worth the extra cost of the upgraded bulb. So, what exactly are the benefits of using these? To keep things simple, let’s bullet point the top benefits.

        ·       Cool to the touch. Any heat that the LED’s produce is absorbed into a heat sink. Since many consumers are very cautious about devices with excessive heat, LED’s are a great lighting option.

        ·       Extremely energy efficient. LED’s are up to 90% more energy efficient than their incandescent bulb counterparts. Remember, heat = energy. By producing so little heat, far less energy is used.

        ·       LED’s have a long useful life. While incandescent light bulbs were built to last around 1,000 hours or so, the most LED’s in use today have been tested to last as long as 100,000 hours. If you want to “turn in on and leave it”, LED’s are a perfect option.

        ·       Soft-white in color. LED’s come in various colors. What we want to avoid is that super-white, almost blue light that many LED bulbs have. The LED bulbs used in our Night Light Designs night lights are more on the soft-white side which gives it a more pleasant look and feel.

·       LED’s are safe. There is no mercury and minimal toxic materials used in the manufacturing of LED bulbs.

This bring us to the final question, should I select and 4-watt or LED bulb for your Night Light Designs night light? Well, that’s completely up to you. If you want to leave your light on 24/7 and you prefer a brighter look to your light, we strongly suggest you go with the LED bulb. If you prefer a very soft look to your light, you may want to consider the 4-watt incandescent bulb. Either way, you’ll love your night light!