LED lighting is still pretty new and when something is new many people do not want to change from their tried and true. That is perfectly understandable but in some instances it spawns a number of myths that are intended to keep people from pursuing something new like LED lighting.
You might have an old landscape lighting system that uses older technology and you might be A-OK with that. If that is the case, that’s great but you might have heard some things about LED bulbs that have kept it that way. Some of what you have heard may not be the truth and today we are going to try to separate fact from fiction with some LED myths.
Myth: LED Lights Are Bad For Your Eyes
This is 100% false. LED lights contain blue light which is found naturally in sunlight and it does not contain UV light which can damage your eyes. It is recommended that going outside into sunlight is good for you. Now of course too much of anything can be bad for you and we don’t recommend staring at the lights for hours on end or anything like that.
Blue light can also be found in your computer’s screen and staring at that for hours on end can have negative effects but for normal exposure LED lights are just fine. In fact they are better than other kinds of lights, which makes them the best on the market.
Myth: LED Lights Contain Toxic Materials
Fluorescent lighting contains mercury which is a toxic material and it requires special facilities to recycle or dispose of those bulbs. LED lights contain no mercury. There have been some concerns in the past that LED bulbs that contain lead or arsenic. This was a major issue about a decade ago when these first hit markets and LED junctions still use gallium arsenide (of which arsenic is a part) but the amount used is extremely small and it is entombed in plastic making it very hard for it to get out into the atmosphere.
Lead is also used in soldered parts of all electronic devices and you are unlikely to be disposing of your TV or computer anytime soon so don’t sweat the amount used with a LED bulb, if it is even present. To avoid major concerns, purchase LED bulbs from reputable manufacturers since they have the highest quality control and when the bulb is used they can be disposed of with regular electronic recycling. This is not necessarily a myth but it is something that has been improved upon as technology improves with some instances being pure scare tactics.
Myth: LED Lights Cost More
We won’t deny it, the cost of a LED bulb is more than the cost of a compact fluorescent bulb but a LED bulb gets you more. They last longer and use less power over the course of their lifespan. Combine that with ever improving technology that is bringing the cost of the bulbs down and you will actually save money by using LED bulbs rather than compact fluorescent bulbs.
Myth: LED Bulbs Need Time To Warm Up
This is one of the most commonly heard myths regarding LED bulbs and it is completely 100% myth. LED bulbs light up at full brightness immediately when they are switched on.
Myth: LED Lights Will Not Work In Cold Weather
Winters can get cold on Long Island and when a landscape lighting system is installed you want to know that the cold temperatures that winter brings will not require you to change bulbs when temperatures warm up in the spring. LED bulbs work perfectly fine in extreme temperatures, whether it is extreme cold or heat, though extreme heat can cause some of the electrical components to fail over time if not properly insulated. But LED bulbs will work just fine in extreme cold.
Myth: LED Lights Are Bad For Sleeping
Electric lighting has been a part of our society for well over a century and we’ve had lighting for millennia thanks to fire. Our bodies are programmed to sleep when it is dark and be awake when it is light out (the circadian rhythm) and electric lighting has changed that somewhat. LED bulbs are not the culprit of that. You can leave a compact fluorescent bulb on right next to you as you try to go to sleep and get the exact same effect as if you left a LED bulb on. There is a reason people turn the lights off at night when they are going to sleep.
Myth: LED Bulbs Will Last Forever
Not all myths are intended to discourage you from purchasing something but this one is also a myth. LED bulbs will last for several years or even a decade but they will not last forever. Only diamonds are forever.
Myth: LED Bulbs Don’t Get Hot
Anyone over the age of 20 probably has had a bad experience touching a lightbulb after the light was turned out. Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs could get hot and they could stay hot for quite awhile. LED bulbs can get hot too but a heat sink is in place to transfer much of that heat away with landscape lighting. Also LED bulbs don’t emit infrared light which also produces a lot of heat so while they won’t get as hot as the bulbs of yesteryear they can still get hot.
Myth: Switching To A LED System Costs Too Much
Not every electrical system can handle LED lighting so for anyone that has an older landscape lighting system an upgrade may be in order. While this will cost money, it will not cost anywhere near as much as it would have even five years ago. The technology is improving and increased manufacturing has brought prices down dramatically. Add on top of that all of the savings that a LED system will bring and it is possible for LED bulbs to pay for the upgrades over their lifetime with the savings.
When it comes to just about anything new there are always going to be misconceptions and myths that need to be explained before the public accepts anything. LED lighting is no different. Whether it is because of competitors that wanted to disparage another or just plan fear mongering myths that are put into the public about a product can have serious consequences. Fortunately most people have come to understand the value of LED lighting and have cut through the myths and misconceptions. We hope that this helps.
