Frequently Asked Questions

What is an LED?

An LED or light emitting diode, as the name states - is a diode. A diode is a semi-conductor device that permits current flow in one direction. Semiconductor diodes are a junction of two materials. One material has a surplus of positive charge (holes), and the other a surplus of negative charge (electrons). When you apply a forward voltage, the electrons and holes are brought together. They combine and release light energy - the 'light emitting' part of the name.

Is an LED a bulb?

LEDs appear to be bulbs, but in fact are not. LEDs are tiny semiconductors encapsulated in plastic, which protects their components and helps to focus the light.

What is the difference between an incandescent bulb and an LED?

Incandescent creates light by the use of a filament. When power is applied, the filament glows and generates heat - which in turn produces light. LEDs are just the opposite. LEDs create light through a 'cold process'. When power is applied to semiconductors they are stimulated by the movement of electrons, thus creating photons. Photons are the light that is visibly seen by humans.

Why do LEDs use such little power?

LEDs do not use a filament where a conductor is heated and light is created. Filament based lighting consumes more power than the light produced. LEDs produce very little amounts of heat and do not use filaments, making them far more efficient in consumption and output.

It is said that LEDs don’t produce heat, true or false?

Both. It is true that LEDs produce very little amounts of heat and are cool to the touch. The heat noticed in some instances is due to on board components and other factors of the circuit. In comparison to incandescent lamps, LEDs produce a fraction of the heat. However, heat is produced within the LED device itself and it is essential to remove this heat through efficient thermal management.

Why is LED thermal management important?

The temperature at the point where an individual diode connects to the base is called the junction temperature. Maintaining a low junction temperature is critical to the performance of LEDs. Low junction temperature equals slower lumen depreciation and a longer LED life. Controlling the junction temperature is what thermal management is all about and is where Relume’s technology shines. Only Relume has the patented aggressive thermal management technology needed to allow light engines to perform with significantly higher light output, and for dramatically longer periods of time than the competition.

Are LEDs affected by extreme conditions?

LEDs are geared for harsh environments. LEDs function from -40F to 180F. There is no delay or required warm up time for LEDs to function.

How long do LEDs last?

Depending on the amount of time a fixture is illuminated each day (and with proper thermal management), an LED can last up to 100,000 hours. As LEDs get older, they tend to dim and fade but aren't susceptible to blinking like incandescent or fluorescents.

How do Relume fixtures use less LEDs, yet give the same light output?

LED technology is more than sufficient to meet today's lighting requirements; the issue is whether thermal dissipation technology is ready for today's applications. Conventional arrays of high output LEDs are particularly vulnerable to degradation as it becomes increasingly difficult to shed heat from such arrays. Without aggressive cooling means, LED arrays will degrade rapidly as the operating temperature of the system increases. This is why many lighting companies use many more LEDs than Relume in order to compensate for their lack of thermal dissipation.

Relume Technologies has developed and patented technologies that increase the light output, the useful life, and the reliability of LEDs through aggressive thermal management. Our proprietary high performance adhesive to insulated metal substrate process for LED arrays has been able to demonstrate a two to three-fold increase in luminous output over conventional approaches with a dramatic improvement in life. Our technologies also reduce production costs and increase reliability. The most expensive portion of an LED fixture is the LED itself, so it is not a bonus to replace them. The bonus is to have the entire fixture be less expensive than 100 LED replacements.