Screw the Bulb is a place that I've created to publish bits of information I've gathered with a primary the focus on LEDs and LED-based lighting. Solid State Lighting is positioned to fundamentally change the way we interact with light. The use of LEDs in lighting has been around for quite some time now, but the majority of the activity has been in the color and accent lighting space. LED cost and performance has now reached a position to enable this technology to be economically used in the general illumination space.So what does this mean to me?
LEDs are not simply a piece of metal that gives off light when electric current runs through it. Nor is it a gas that emits light when excited by electromagnetic energy. It's not a big clunky glass ball that emits light in all directions, even the ones you don't want. It's not a fragile little wire that breaks when vibrated or bumped.
LEDs are tiny little semiconductor devices. They convert electrons to photons in a highly efficient manner. They are extremely sensitive to heat. They can run the full gamut from high to low quality. They can be the next victim of a fad or bubble.
Why Screw the Bulb?The standard incandescent light bulb is phasing out. Some states in the US and some countries have already enacted legislature to ban the sale of these products in coming years. It's inefficient, has a short life, and throws light in all directions with no control. "But hey, it's cheap and it gives out a nice warm glow!" There will be, for many years to come, a place for this type of light source. But not in the majority of applications where it's used today. The compact fluorescent lamp was a failure, in large part due to the marketing flops of the manufacturers that produced them as well as the onslaught of cheap knockoffs from less-than-reputable firms. We cannot allow this to happen with LEDs.
Stay tuned as we explore all sorts of interesting topics that may be completely obvious, or less so. Comment on my postings, correct me when I'm wrong. I appreciate the input.
