Basic Facts Regarding LED Light Panels

By Brandi Little


LED light panels are a revolutionary technological development that has greatly changed the way display systems work. These panels are made up of numerous diodes that emit light to display video images. The numerous advantages associated with these lighting systems have resulted in their increased popularity in many fields. They are used in billboards for advertisements, for general illumination, in store signs and for stage lighting among other uses.

The standard panel has a depth of 8mm. The length and width are variable. The largest of them measures 105 by 48 inches. In order to create larger plates than this, it is necessary to lay these smaller ones side by side. Designs are often customized in different ways so as to meet customer requirements. They can take the form of various shapes, logos and cut-outs.

The LED panel is embedded with impurities and semiconducting materials. This arrangement forms what is known as the p-n junction. Electric current enters through the p end (also known as the anode) and leaves through the n-side, the cathode. It cannot flow in the opposite direction. The flow of current is facilitated by charge carriers of two types: electrons and holes. As the current flows, the diodes light up.

There two main LED types available in the market: the conventional and the SMD type. The former type operates using discrete diodes. The SMD (surface mounted diode) type comprises diodes that are fixed on a firm solid surface. For both types, three color types are used: blue, red and green. These three colors are mixed to produce the full spectrum of colors needed for display. There are other systems that use either a single color or two colors.

There are four main ways in which the panels can be installed. They include the built-in, suspended, recessed and mounted installations. The suspended type is hang from the ceiling using cables and is mostly used for general illumination. Mounted installations are fixed on walls or any other hard surfaces. They are recommended for displays that are less than 10 sqm. The recessed type is good for indoor lighting such as in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and so on. Built-in installations replace frames of ceiling tiles.

The choice of panel design to use is dependent on whether it is to be used indoors or outdoors. The main reason for this is mainly because there is a difference in ambient brightness between indoors and outdoors. Indoor designs are typically made based on SMD technology. The outdoor designs, on the other hand, are usually built from conventional LEDs. A minimum brightness of 600 candelas/square meter is required for indoor systems and much greater for outdoor systems.

The panel is very energy-efficient. The brightness is high enough at a voltage of just 12 volts. They are also durable with a life expectancy of about 70,000 hours. The main downside is that the efficiency decreases steadily as current is increased. This phenomenon is known as droop. The other advantages include the high initial price, high voltage sensitivity and temperature dependence.

LED light panels continue to undergo many improvements that have greatly increased their efficiency. Efforts are geared towards designing displays that are not just high performing but are also affordable. For instance, there are designs that can use cheap power sources of DC current such as cigarette lighter adaptors, camera batteries and snap-on batteries among others.




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