Probably, you are wondering whether LED light bulbs get hot or produce heat.
Well, we are going to explore everything about LED overheating, or the amount of heat LED lights can produce. But first, let’s make this clear.
Do LED Lights get hot under normal working conditions?
LED lights may produce some heat when switched on or under normal working conditions. However, the amount of heat LED lights produce is quite low. Therefore, heat from LED lights does not have any negative effects.
Theoretically, you will hardly find any type of light that produces zero heat. However, there are light bulbs that produce more heat. Take for instance, incandescent bulbs and halogen bulbs produce high amounts of heat.
Why do LED Light get Hot
LED does not use all electric energy to produce light. Some percentage is lost in the form of heat.
The best part – the increase in LED temperature is relatively low. This makes LED lights to be more efficient compared to other types of lights available in the market.
At the same time, it is important to note that LED lights cannot withstand high heat. For this reason, you will find some LED lighting systems with heat sinks. The heat sinks help to dissipate excess heat that can reduce the lifespan of LED lights.
Are LED Lights Warm
Yes.
However, the heat LED lights produce is quite low. In fact, with modern LED lighting systems, you may not notice that the LED lights get hot. You cannot compare it with heat generated by incandescent lights (Produces a lot of heat).
This makes LED lights to be the safest lighting systems where there is a risk of fire outbreak.
Estimating Heat LED Lights Produce
LED lights are energy efficient. Besides, they are suitable for applications that do not require high temperatures.
You will find most refrigerators or freezers using LED lights. Reason – LED lights do not generate excessive heat.
On average, LED light efficiency ranges from 30% to 50%. The remaining energy is lost in the form of heat. However, other circuitry systems may contribute to the overall heating in LED systems. That is, any resistance in the system manifests as heat.
Additionally, LED systems with inefficient semiconductor systems may produce excess heat. This may require additional cooling systems to protect LEDs from overheating.
Do LED Lights Produce Heat inform of Infrared
The normal LED lights do not produce heat as infrared. However, there are special-purpose LED lights such as the IR LED. In most cases, the IR LED wavelength ranges between 700 nm and 1 mm.
The IR LED radiates heat to the surrounding environment. Therefore, these LED lights are hot to touch.
With all these in mind, let’s summarize this by noting the following:
- Normal LED lights produce very low heat
- Overheating in LED is mainly due to environmental factors and design flaws
- Poor thermal management may cause LED overheating
- The heat from LED lights cannot warm a room or space – it is quite low
Here is a useful resource on LED light specifications.
