LED light bulbs

pacman2007

Hi everyone, I bought 10 GU10 LED off Amazon. To be honest, I didn't expect a tiny 3W LED bulb could replace my halogen bulbs! But they ARE as bright as the halogen ones!!!! can't believe it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LIGHT-ENERGY-SAVING-REPLACING-HALOGEN/dp/B0051BUCI8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1310155373&sr=8-5

pacman2007

exactly rebecc4! Before I bought them, I thought it would be much darker than my traditional bulbs but hey, surprise surprise. Selling of halogen bulbs should be banned from now :-)

Dan_Iggulden

What is the real difference between SMD and LED technology?

I only thing I can really find on the net is that SMD's run hotter than LED's, is there anything else?

sillygoose

SMD is not a technology as such, just a form of packaging and mounting - surface mount device. Traditionally electronic components have wire leads that have to pass through holes drilled in a circuit board and soldered to the copper on the other side. SMD components have just metal contacts underneath. They can be temporally glued to a circuit board on the same side of a circuit board as the copper by a machine and then its heated until a low temperature solder melts and connects the component to the board copper track permanently. The only real advantage is cost, the LED chips can be placed by machine and soldered by another machine in one go. The undrilled circuit board is cheaper too. A good thermal connection can be acheived but this can be offset by there being less metal around.

Dan_Iggulden

So in terms of pro's and con's between the two... are there any?

sillygoose

Dan_Iggulden wrote: »

So in terms of pro's and con's between the two... are there any?

Not clearly, it depends on the application. For example if its used for lots of LED's that are running comfortably at the right current then excess heat won't be much of an issue and it won't be a disadvantage.

SMD has been used for powerful devices for a long time in many applications not just LEDs.

I think it hard to get the same density of LEDS as through board mounting.

The big advantage of SMD is going to be cost, they should be cheaper.

I am not keen on them because everything is 'on show' on the bulb and the SMD emitters are not very pretty.

The ones I have suggested a few time use conventional mounting and as all the LEDs are physically packed and larger sized (5mm) achieve about the maximum density possibly in the area available, personally I think they are better looking.

Biggles

elstimpo wrote: »

I'm very interested in your intended application for a LED that replaces a 100w GLS.

Purely to replace normal bulbs around the house, ie for general room lighting.

buglawton

LEDs are brilliant (!) for cupboard interior lighting, eg display cabinets because they don't heat up the inside & the cupboard contents or weaken the cupboards glued parts. This is the only application I use them for at the moment.

pacman2007

Dan_Iggulden wrote: »

What is the real difference between SMD and LED technology?

I only thing I can really find on the net is that SMD's run hotter than LED's, is there anything else?

Dan, they are not totally different. I found this link is very useful. It explains what's SMD and what are the benefits.
http://www.lightingmarket.co.uk/faq_info.html?faqs_id=128

But I couldn't find SMD's run hotter than LED's. Where did you find it?

Dan_Iggulden

That link is useful thanks, best explaination I have seen so far...... I have no idea where I read the bit about them running hotter, possibly on another forum, have spent so much time reading about LED bulb that it's all a bit of a blur!!