Has anyone seen any replacement LED 'bulbs' for sale or are they supposed to last the life of the fitting?
2007-11-08 23:21:38 · 6 answers · asked by Quasimojo 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
They are supposed to last for ever. However they are semi-conductor devices like transistors and are susceptible to excess heat. A lot of LED devices quote 100 000 hours lifetime. Part of the life problem is the plastic packaging where the impurities in the plastic may gradually contaminate the device. Also some of them are operated right at the limit to maximise light output and this affects long term reliability
2007-11-09 20:04:30 · answer #1 · answered by The original Peter G 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An LED is a Light Emitting Diode. There is no moving parts and it barely gives off heat.
Have you ever tapped on a light bulb and seen the filament vibrate inside? When energized a normal bulb passes a high amount of current through the wire (filament) causing it to glow, near the point of melting. The reason it doesn't burn up is there isn't any oxygen inside the glass of a bulb, break the glass and turn on the light it will burn out almost instantly.
An LED works by the electrons passing through the PN junction, and the process gives off energy, in the form of light.
By the characteristics of doides, they can only be hooked up one way, allow current to pass in only one direction. So if they are installed backwards, they wont work. But dont worry, you can't install a bulb or an LED 'bulb' into a car backwards because of the design of the socket. As for the slide in type bulbs (192's/ect), there is some more components to make them work if they are spun around.
So yes, LED's will last the life of whatever. They are more resistant to vibration, and if they do fail, it is usually because of the circuit board, solder, or traces on the board before the diode actually fails.
2007-11-09 08:42:14 · answer #2 · answered by boogie_4wheel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
LEDs can last a lifetime. A LED is a "Light Emitting Diode" so, technically it not a light bulb as we would think, but, more of an Electronic Component like a Transistor or Capacitor. So, it have a service life of Electronics. They can burn out as we know stuff stops working but think of something old you may have laying around like an old radio that still works. There are radios working from the 1960's and older I guess. They use diodes, just they may not be light emitting.
2007-11-09 07:30:09 · answer #3 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
as long as the charging sys is in good working order the life expectancy of a LED is about 100,000 hours. but not continuous
2007-11-09 07:29:01 · answer #4 · answered by JC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are constructed and manufactured to last the life of the car.
2007-11-09 09:28:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
life long. I've had mine for years.
2007-11-09 07:24:37 · answer #6 · answered by M1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋