With each model year, more and more automakers are phasing out old and faithful incandescent light bulbs invented in the 1800s, and replacing them with LED lights for interior and exterior applications. To explain, “LED” stands for Light Emitting Diodes – a form of transistor doped with a substrate that emits light when current is applied. If an incandescent bulb can figuratively be thought of as analog technology, then LEDs are the “digital” equivalent.
Because LEDs can be installed in various ways and locations not possible with incandescent or fluorescent lighting, unique applications are created. In this article, we’ll look at a few such advantages LEDs offer.
LEDs have a number of advantages over incandescent lighting that are very attractive for automotive use:
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They are very resistant to vibrations
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They can often last for the life of the vehicle
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They can be baked into moisture proof casings that withstand all kinds of harsh environments
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They light up much quicker than incandescent bulbs
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They are extremely compact
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They can be made to emit different colors
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They run cool
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They provide more light per supplied watt than incandescent bulbs
Looking at a typical LED light assembly designed to replace a conventional bulb, you’ll notice it has a center shaft with numerous small LEDs placed on it. This is because each of those single LEDs has a smaller light output (measured in lumens) than an incandescent bulb does. But when they light up together, an equal or greater amount of light is produced.
Individual LEDs also emit light in a very narrow angle. Thus, to make an LED light radiate evenly in all directions the way a normal bulb would, those individual LEDs are placed strategically around the shaft to create full radiance.
For custom applications, individual LEDs are also available on thin, flexible strips which can be mounted anywhere
