How Long Do LED Lights Last? 4 Important Factors Affect LED Lifespan

LED lifespan is always one of the most important factors that determine the quality of LED lights. Therefore, when choosing LED lighting, users should not ignore this parameter.

So, how long do led lights last? This question will be answered through this article!

​​What are LED lights?

LED (short for Light Emitting Diode) is capable of emitting light or infrared and ultraviolet rays. LED technology is a two-electrode lighting technology with the help of semiconductor materials and nanotechnology. 

Like a diode, LED is composed of a p-type semiconductor block coupled with an n-type semiconductor block. Of the two semiconductor blocks, one contains negatively charged electrons and positively charged holes. When they meet, the negative and positive charges combine, creating electrons that release energy in the form of light quanta.

LED lights do not use a conventional 220V AC power source but only a DC power source with a small voltage, so it usually has a filter and controller attached.

LED lights have advantages such as saving energy consumption from 70%-80% compared to conventional lamps. A 5W LED bulb can give the same light as a 20W regular light bulb. The average lighting time of white LEDs is 100,000 hours (equivalent to 35 years, 8 hours of operation per day). According to calculations by the American Academy of Sciences, if using LED lights for 50% of the current lighting needs in this country, each year will save 17GigaWatt of electricity. In the field of public lighting, white LEDs have begun to participate in new architectural works.

In addition, LEDs also have a variety of lighting applications such as LED string lights, LED floor lamps, LED ceiling lights, etc.

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How Long Do LED Lights Last?

In the lighting industry, the life of a lamp is determined from the time it is used until it degrades in light quality. That’s when the lumen is reduced by 30% from the original lumen value. They call it the L70 standard. Thus, the life of the led lamp is evaluated by the L70 standard. This means 70% of the remaining lumens compared to the original. As a result, the average life of LED lights is 2-3 times longer than that of traditional lights.

The average lifespan of LEDs currently on the market is 50,000 hours. This life is achieved in an external environment with a temperature of about 25°C. When comparing the lifespan of LED lights with traditional lights, you will see a huge difference.

In the same environment, traditional and fluorescent lamps have a lifespan of 7,000 – 10,000 hours of lighting. Incandescent lamps will be 1,500 – 2,000 hours of light. But come with LED lights with a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours of lighting. The life of LED bulbs is 3-5 times longer than that of traditional lights.

However, if the protection conditions are changed, the LED lamp life will more or less change. The life of the lamp depends on many factors, typically the power supply, chipped, lamp heatsink, and many other factors.

There are two ways to calculate the life of the lamp. The first way uses the LED lamp life rating standard. Method 2 refers to the parameters on the product packaging or through the websites of those brands.

The average lifespan of some common types of LEDs

The structure of each line of lighting products is different. Therefore, the average lifespan of LED lights falls in the range of 50,000 – 65,000 lights.

#1. The lifespan of LED tube lamp 

Led tube light has a cylindrical design. Lamps have better light dispersion than traditional fluorescent tubes. Lights are used to illuminate offices, classrooms, houses,… any indoor area that needs lighting.

LED tube lights also have a lifespan ranging from 50,000 to 65,000 hours. If illuminated in an ideal environment, the lifespan of LED tube lights can be up to 70,000 hours or even more.

Humidity greatly influenced the life of led bulbs, and led tube lights are no exception. In our country’s climate, there is a North-South temperature division. Therefore, the lifespan of LED tube lights in each lighting environment is different.

When buying led tube lights, we must pay attention to the IP index of the lamp. For LED tube lights to achieve the same lifespan as other led models from 50,000 hours or more, IP40 must be used. To meet indoor lighting standards and excellent moisture resistance.

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#2. The lifespan of LED string lights

The LED string light system includes indoor led string lights, outdoor led string lights, and underwater led string lights.

LED lamp suppliers give LED lamp life indicators that are life expectancy in the perfect environment. Meeting all standards of use environment, humidity, etc., the overall lifespan of the LED string lights will be 65,000 hours. 

Lamp life will be shortened when outdoor led string lights are used in environments with many impacts from high temperatures, rainstorms, etc. The L70 standard of outdoor led string lights will be faster than those used in perfect environments. But when it comes to LEDMART outdoor led string lights, this is no longer a problem. Because the product has been used silicone glue, customers can rest assured to use the product. At the same time, the lamp life is still guaranteed to be maximum.

How is LED lamp life different from incandescent lamps?

Typical incandescent bulbs last between 1,000 and 2,000 hours. But when talking about LEDs, the lamp life is often quoted from 25,000 to 50,000 hours. Long lamp life is one of the factors that make this technology increasingly popular.

• The lifespan of incandescent bulbs

When it is said that an incandescent light bulb has a lifespan of 1,000 hours, that is the average time from the start of use to when the filament breaks and renders the bulb unable to glow when powered up.

• Lifespan of LEDs

Don’t confuse the lifespan of an LED chip with the equivalent of a luminaire. Manufacturers usually only guarantee the life of the chip, not the whole lamp. Essential accessories such as drivers will often fail ahead of time. The light source (LED chip) still works, but it will need to replace the new driver.

When a manufacturer describes their LED product as going to last 50,000 hours. It means that the LED chips no longer provide the required amount of light and should be replaced by that time, not if they burn out. 

LED is dimmed during operation. This is called lumen loss – A unique feature of LED technology. This process begins as soon as the light is turned on for the first time.

However, rest assured, the reduced brightness in the led chip is tiny and is usually only noticed at the end of the life commitment. When the light has been on for 50000 hours, the light will be at 70% of the original.

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Factors affecting the lifespan of LEDs

#1. Power Supply

This is an important part that provides a stable voltage source for the lamp device. When there is a stable voltage source, it will ensure that the LED lights do not encounter unexpected incidents that cause fire and explosion, reducing the life of the LEDs. In addition, a good power supply will also help prevent LEDs from suffering from a widespread disease that is constantly flickering.

So it would be best if you chose power supplies with the suitable capacity for the lights and from famous brands.

#2. Heat dissipation capacity

LEDs are inherently lighting devices that emit the least amount of heat of all lamps. However, when a system of many LED chips works simultaneously, there will also be a certain amount of heat generated, affecting the life of the LED. Conventional LED devices will have a built-in radiator, automatically shutting off when the temperature is too high.

New devices such as aluminum LED profiles are dissipated by LED chip components, high-level LED PCB boards. In addition, the high-grade aluminum material also helps this device have a fantastic heat dissipation ability, not inferior to the radiators.

#3. The influence of the external environment

Even with a heatsink, the influence of ambient temperature still affects the lifespan of the LED. Therefore, LED lights need to be arranged in cool locations. Not too close to artificial heat sources to achieve the highest efficiency.

#4. Effect of humidity

If LED lights stay in an environment with high humidity for too long, it will lead to corrosion of components, seriously affecting the lifespan and lighting performance.

Thanks to the high-quality ABS plastic buttons, with advanced LED devices such as aluminum, LED profiles. Moisture resistance is perfect. However, to be safest and most secure, installing it in a dry and ventilated location is still recommended.

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Conclusion

With that, you have reached the end of this article on “how long do LED lights last”. Did you enjoy it? Was there anything you found interesting? Comment your thoughts down below! We are always very happy to hear from our readers. 

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