| Light emitting diodes or LEDs are appearing in | | | | causes the filament to burn out and need to be |
| more and more products. Flashlights are a typical | | | | replaced. LEDs do not have this problem and they |
| example of this - using new technology in old | | | | have been known to illuminate continuously for |
| products. If they are becoming so popular what | | | | over 10 years. |
| are the advantages of LEDs over traditional bulbs? | | | | LEDs are much less fragile than glass bulbs and |
| LEDs produce light through a different method | | | | can usually survive being dropped with no damage. |
| than incandescent bulbs and it is their means of | | | | This combined with efficiency are their two major |
| light production that creates the benefits. A LED is | | | | advantages. |
| composed of two semiconductors. When an | | | | As reliability is a key characteristic of good |
| electrical charge is applied, electrons move | | | | flashlights, LEDs are perfectly suited to this |
| between the semiconductors and light is emitted. | | | | application. Their efficiency is particularly important |
| This produces less heat than a traditional bulb that | | | | as it greatly extends the battery life of the |
| uses a filament wire inside a vacuum tube. | | | | flashlight. This fact has also made LEDs very |
| At low energy levels, LEDs are much more | | | | popular in headlamps for hikers and climbers, |
| efficient than normal bulbs. Any heat that is | | | | particularly on longer expeditions. Not having to |
| produced is wasting energy and decreasing | | | | worry about a globe burning out is also important |
| efficiency. The heat produced in glass bulbs in time | | | | when far from civilization. |