Technological advancements have changed our perception of buying electrical lighting products. In the past, our focus was on Wattage to measure the power or quality of lighting instruments. However, today we see the same in terms of Lumens. We, as the environmentally aware and health-conscious citizens, now think of Green products matching with global health standards.
LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting products are beating almost all previous technologies by getting an edge over cost-efficiency, operation optimization, health & safety enhancements, and improved sustainability like measurable aspects.
Whenever you are going to buy LED lights, you may face ambiguity over appropriate choices. The current post is an honest effort to assist you in the selection of the right LED lights for indoor & outdoor applications.
Technically, LED lights have a vast diversity in applications. However, all those are hardly relevant to our day-to-day lighting needs in our buildings, be it houses, offices, shops, or industrial units. For instance,
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Miniature LEDs
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Standard
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Low-current
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Ultra-high output
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AS (Application-Specific)-LEDs
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Alphanumeric
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RGB-LEDs
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Bi & Tri-color
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Flashing
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Lighting LEDs
LEDs come as Surface Mounted Devices (SMD) or non-surface mounted devices like Chip on Board (COB) or multi-COB.
Therefore, I have avoided those in our discussion. So, we will cover only indoor LED lights & outdoor LED lights in the current post.
Let’s see 15 different types of LED lights and their benefits.
General Purpose Bulbs
We are accustomed to Edison (Tungsten) Bulbs, thanks to our recent past. It inspired LED-light designers to adopt the same size, shape, and fixtures to bring easy adoption in the market. At present, four types of LED bulbs are in use in the market.
Let’s know them.
#1 - Standard LED Light Bulbs
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CharacteristicsStandard LED light bulbs are akin to traditional Tungsten Bulbs in functionality. These bulbs emit light at a wide-angle throughout space/room. It is almost six to ten times efficient in energy saving than traditional bulbs. Application AreasStandard LED light bulbs are ideal for small rooms, reading rooms, hallways, and semi-flush & flush-mount fixtures. |
#2 - Can/Recessed LED Light Bulbs
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CharacteristicsCan LED light bulbs are also known as recessed LEDs. It has reflectors around the light source. So, it emits light in the only front or given direction/s. light source placed inside the reflector cone. It means it recessed/sunken. Application AreasCan/Recessed LED light bulbs are ideal as downlight. It is mostly fitting into the ceilings of a room or outside like a porch to light up the front area of a façade of a building. |
#3 – Flood LED Light Bulbs
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CharacteristicsFlood LED Light Bulb is akin to Can/Recessed Bulb in design, but its top is bulging out instead of recessing inside of the reflector cone. Thus, it can illuminate a broad area. Application AreasFlood LED light bulbs are ideal for most exterior applications where coverage of a wide area is mandatory. Most outdoor events at night time need a Flood type of lighting. |
#4 - Globe LED Light Bulbs
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Globe LED light Bulb |
CharacteristicsGlobe LED Light Bulb is akin to Standard LED light Bulb in functionality but differs in shape and size. It is a spherical or globe-like shape. Globe LED bulbs emit light in every direction. Application AreasGlobe LED light bulbs are ideal for small spaces like bathrooms, vanity spaces, and pleasant as pendant lights. |
Accent or Specialty Bulbs
We love décor our interior as well as exterior spaces at various events or celebrations. LEDs can meet our small to large scale decoration requirements by offering accent or specialty types of bulbs. Let’s check what kind of LED can work for us according to our needs.
#5 - Candle LED Light Bulbs
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Candle/Candelabra LED |
CharacteristicsCandle LED light bulbs simulate the appearance & experience of wax candles in real life, but without emitting gas or smell at all, and never ends until you switch-off it. Application AreasStandard LED light bulbs have a place in small to large chandeliers at the entrance or in the garden or patio. It has primarily decorative purposes and available in a range of colors & styles. |
#6 - Track LED Light Bulbs
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Track LED Light Bulb |
CharacteristicsTrack LED light bulbs or Reflector LED bulbs are belonging to the directional lighting category. It sheds light beams in a uniform pattern, and in a particular direction to enlighten intended areas. Application AreasTrack LED light bulbs to have many commercial, decorative, and personal usages. Industrial applications consist of the lighting of the work area. Commercial use includes highlighting products or samples in shops, malls, and exhibitions. Art & craft galleries use it to highlight craftwork, artwork, or paints. |
#7 - Vintage LED Light Bulbs
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Vintage/Edison LED Light Bulb |
CharacteristicsVintage LED light bulbs or Edison LED bulbs are gorgeous looking and principally mean to decorative purposes. The use of vintage LEDs improves overall aesthetics and ambiance. Application AreasVintage LED light bulbs mostly used in various indoor and outdoor events. Besides these, they are instrumental in enhancing the ambiance of small spaces like bedroom, bath, and sitting rooms in indoor applications. It can create or match a theme at the entrance. |
LED Tubes
Fluorescent tubes have carved a specific niche in the lighting industry. LEDs has enough potential to meet and mimic the traditional fluorescent tubes.
#8 - Linear LED Lights
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CharacteristicsLinear LED light or LED Tube Lights are akin to fluorescent tube lights but superior in each aspect. It is a functional design to address personal and professional applications. Application AreasLinear LED lights have almost similar fluorescent tube application areas, including high activity and high traffic spaces like a living room, kitchen, offices, and industrial workspaces where high lamination is a need. |
#9 - LED Flat Tube
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CharacteristicsLED Flat Tube is almost similar in design and functionality to Linear LED tubes. However, it is made up of miniature LEDs and a number of tiny LEDs to vary based on requirements and areas. Application AreasLED Flat Tubes are an excellent choice to illuminate cases and showcases in showrooms or shops. |
LED High Bay & High Lumen Lights
Floodlights, tracking/searchlights, sports lights, and street lights always demand high-intensity lighting solutions in terms of luminosity. LEDs provide a highly efficient solution for energy consumption and costing point of view. Let’s check some out of all.
#10 - LED Panel Light
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CharacteristicsLED panel light is made of aluminum alloy by anodic oxidation. Thus, it exerts adorable illumination effects with long-lasting and straightforward designs. It comes with different Wattage and lumens to make your choice according to requirements. Application AreasLED panel lights are termed as high-grade indoor lighting solutions. Hotels, showrooms, and exhibition centers freely use it in the case of powerful lighting needs. |
#11 - LED Flood Light
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CharacteristicsLED Flood Light is the furthest thing from bulbs. It throws uniform light beams to a distance like a flood. It gives lighting in radius and provides traditional angle control. Application AreasLED floodlight is useful in long-distance search operations, brighten exteriors, and acts as sports lights to illuminate courts and playgrounds for night matches/tournaments. |
#12 - LED High Bay Light
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CharacteristicsLED high bay light designed to cover a wide area from significant roof height. It is structured in anodized extruded aluminum with a thermal dissipation mechanism to keep it cool. It is made for suspended/ceiling mounting. Application AreasLED high bay light is meant for outdoor lighting applications, such as brighten façade, patio, and front gate of the outdoor landscape. It has many commercial and industrial applications to cover workplaces like sheds, warehouses, and manufacturing units. |
#13 - LED Street Light
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CharacteristicsLED street light is a durable and highly efficient solution for industry and government. It designs for high bay, and high temperature LED requirements. It renders different colors at different temperatures yet remains cool. Application AreasLED street light is best for personal to public street light solutions. You can use it in garage, porch, and backyards like outdoor areas with poles or without by fixing on walls and columns. |
#14 - LED Wall Pack/Mount Light
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CharacteristicsLED wall-pack or wall-mount light specially designed to fix on walls and enhance the aesthetic of the spaces wherever you install. Application AreasLED wall-mount light comes with a decent wall-mounting fixture and gives a permanent lighting solution for indoor as well as outdoor applications like a porch, galleries, terrace, patio, garage door/front, and gates. |
#15 - LED Barn Light
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CharacteristicsLED barn light mimics the style of vintage light. Traditionally barn lights are used for barns and farmhouses. It is designed for large round dome shades as a downlight. Application AreasLED barn light today is used as decorative lights and perimeter lights. It comes with contemporary style and designs. |
Benefits of LEDs
LED has earned energy star qualifications by giving the following advantages over incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and sodium lighting solutions in the industry.
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Cost-efficiency – LED saves nearly 75% energy consumption compared to other lighting solutions.
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Maintenance Efficiency – LED lasts for nearly 35-50 times longer than incandescent lights and 2-5 times fluorescent lights. It comes with no frequent replacement needs; hence, save a lot in regular maintenance programs.
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Cooling Cost – LED generates low heat and remains cool to allow low-distance from the light source/fixture.
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Long-Lasting – LED comes with unbreakable plastic covers compared to breakable glasses in traditional solutions.
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Convenient Features – LED adopted to high-tech solutions for lightings like dimming, day-light sensors, and motion sensors.
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Consistency – LEDs are remaining constant in brightness and light outputs irrespective of the lifespan and duration of use.
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Highly Efficient – LED exerts good color quality. It has no flickering when dimmed. It gets turned-on instantly. It never draws off-state power.
Where to Get the Best LEDs?
Surplus Electrical marketplace is an innovative concept and real experiment in Canada to provide a viable platform for the lighting industry. You can get the best products at the best bargaining for your B2B and B2C requirements.
