LED Bulb Light
Why Is An LED Bulb So Much Harder to Light?
I know that an LED bulb is more efficient than a fluorescent one, at least in theory. However, I have a bike apparatus that, when peddled, lights the bulbs and the LED bulb is much harder to keep lit. Would could be causing this? Is it the lower resistance in the LED bulb, or a flaw in our system or human peddling error?
Both bulbs are of equivalent wattage.
An LED has a minimum voltage to light it. A typical Red LED requires 1.5 to 1.75Volts, anything less and the LED turns off. The LED is not tolerant of low voltage operation, also different color LED's require different voltage levels. A white LED may require as much as 3 volts to light.
An incandescent flashlight bulb that is rated for 1.5 V generates rated brightness at 1.5V. The difference here is that a flashlight bulb will work at a reduced light output as the voltage drops below this 1.5V so its possible to see a dimly glowing bulb at a voltage of 1.0 volt or less. Same goes for a 3V flash light bulb.
It is this difference in how these two different light sources operate that is causing your difficulty. You are comparing apples to oranges and wondering why there is a difference.
Your generator is not putting out enough voltage or current at a sustained level of over the minimum voltage requirements of the LED. Meanwhile the flashlight bulb is much more tolerant of low voltage operation. So to get the LED to light you have to pedal harder NOT because the LED is consuming more current, rather you must generate a higher voltage to get it to operate at all. Generating the higher voltage is what is requiring the extra effort.
Also an LED only work with DC. The current flows through the LED only in one direction. A light bulb can work with eiter AC or DC. So if your generator is producing AC instead of DC then your LED is only working for half of the AC cycle
12W LED displaces 60W standard bulb
Royal Philips Electronics has unveiled its 12W EnduraLED light bulb, claimed to be the first LED replacement for a 60W incandescent light bulb.
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US $11.00
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