There are so many different types of lights on the market that it’s hard to know which one will specifically suit your needs. You not only have to compare brands or prices, but you also have to know the nitty-gritty details about different lighting options. You need to think about the watts, energy efficiency, CRIs, lumens, high-intensity illumination, and a whole lot of other factors.
This article aims to simplify the process and make things easy for you by providing you with a side-by-side comparison of two of the most popular lighting options. LED and induction lighting options have found themselves to be competitors due to similar applications. This is an important decision because according to the department of energy, approximately 22% of all the generated electricity in the United States goes to lighting.
The applications
One of the most significant factors about the two lighting options is that they are low maintenance, and long-lasting. To begin with, they are popular because they’re retrofit choices for areas that are difficult to access or outdoor spaces. For instance, they are great options for pole lights, wall packs, parking ramps, panel, street lights, and almost any other outdoor lighting system. If you find that you have a place in your home that’s inconvenient to change bulbs regularly, any of the two will serve you well. While other lighting options could serve a similar purpose, none of them have the high life span that these two options have to offer.
Overview
While it’s clear that both lighting options outperform other light sources significantly, it is good to look at how they stack up against each other. They do have significant differences, like the fact that LED has high intensity illumination.
LED lights
LED lights produce light by using a flow of electrons through a semiconductor material made of negatively and positively charged parts. This is unlike incandescence lights that use a filament or CFLs that use gas to produce light. LED lights have different illuminations, and finding a high intensity illumination for outdoor applications is very easy. Unlike induction lights, you can get high power LED lights.
Induction lamps
Induction lights are closely similar to fluorescent lights because they create light through the use of electromagnetic fields. Electromagnetic fields excite the mercury particles mixed with the inert gas. They move through powerful electromagnets that are positioned outside the bulb. This usually eliminates the possibility of flicker bulbs, which are very common with fluorescent lights.
How do you choose between the two?
There are very many similarities between LED and induction lights, but to make the right decision, you need to consider your application. Consider whether your area of application will benefit from a focused light or floodlight light. While LEDs can provide both, they are much better at producing focused light or one-directional light. Consider whether you need high intensity illumination or not. As a comparison, induction lights are not as good when it comes to pinpointed light.
Given the fact that LED lights are a recent technology, they don’t have as many options when it comes to lumen packages as induction light. While induction lights go as high as 36,000 lumens, it’s very hard to find any LEDs that go above 20,000 lumens. However, it’s imperative that you know that LED lights have better lumen per watt ratios than induction lights. High power LED lighting can be very efficient.
You should also consider the fact that LED lights will stay brighter for a longer time compared to induction lights due to their high intensity illumination. Induction lights also contain mercury, so be very careful about how you recycle. LED lights don’t contain any toxic mercury, making them easier to dispose of.
The solution
The induction lighting is tested and efficient in terms of delivering energy, low maintenance, and longevity. On the other hand, it is not likely that induction lights will be improved further in the future. LED lights offer similar benefits, and manufacturers are improving them with time. They are energy efficient, and you can get high intensity illumination LED lights. It makes them a much better option for most applications.