New Technology Provides Effective LED Emergency Light Bars

Man is a visual creature, and gains most of the information needed to survive and thrive through his eyes. Modern man requires the ability to illuminate the darkness in order to maintain the lifestyle of current society. When a crisis, such as an earthquake or extreme weather occurs, the use of LED emergency light bars can make a life or death difference.

Of all the inventions which have propelled civilization forward in the technological era, the incandescent bulb was perhaps the most significant and least heralded. Without the ability to illuminate the night, life would be much different than it is now. The impact on economies alone would be dramatic if all nighttime activity was restricted or eliminated due to the absence of illumination.

The problems associated with the incandescent bulb are well known to all. They are very fragile, requiring very little impact to crack them and render them useless. The waste a lot of energy in the production of heat, which also means the glass bulb can crack as a result of temperature shock. It has been a struggle to produce them in very small forms which limits their uses in a number of ways.

In the early part of the 20th century, a British researcher described for the first time the properties of electroluminescence, a finding that would begin the development of emitting diodes to produce luminescence. But from this early discovery, a great deal of work was conducted before the first emitting diode, and it was not of the visible spectrum. That breakthrough would not occur until 1962.

There are several ways that the illumination produced from diodes are comparatively superior to incandescent bulbs. What is the most important, from a commercial perspective, is just how well the product is able to convert energy input into lumens. This notion is referred to as luminous efficacy, and this value for diodes surpassed that of incandescent bulbs around the year 2000.

In the early stages, the bulbs using this technology were expensive, even though their lifetime value was equivalent to their incandescent counterparts, they were not commercially viable. Just as with many other devices, however, the price was gradually reduced just as their efficiency increased. They have also proved that they can last up to 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs, with many introduced in the 70s still in operation.

In some case the new product was an instant win, such as in refrigerators and freezers and in indicators for everything from automobiles and airplanes, to stereos and appliance clocks. The longevity and durability of these products often meant they would outlast the product on which they served. They are especially well adapted to use outside in traffic lights, advertising and information signs.

The efficiency and durability of light emitting diodes, combined with the ability to manufacture them in very small sizes compared to their incandescent or fluorescent counterparts make them an ideal new product. Their reliability and durability put them in an important place in society, and even more so when crises occur. The invention of LED emergency light bars presents a huge step forward in emergency protective equipment.