Do LEDs have gas inside?
So, even if you know a lot of information about LED technology, still you may start wondering: "Do LEDs have gas inside?"
To answer this question, you should understand what LED is. Basically, it's a semiconductor light source. So if you put it into the category of conventional lighting sources then yes, LEDs do have gas inside them. The only difference is that they use materials other than mercury or neon to work.
Alkaline batteries are another example of where there's a gas on the inside. This time it's hydrogen which can be found in alkaline batteries for things like flashlights too due to the chemical reaction taking place. However, since these systems are sealed off so there shouldn't be any leakage if they are handled properly and responsibly by people who know what they're doing at all times.
The plasma lamp is a good example too. It uses noble gases like neon and argon and in some cases mercury instead of gas to make the inside light up when the lamp is turned on. Basically, depending on what you want to use it for, there can be various different types of lamps - both small and large - out there that use gas (or not).
The technology involved in all these varieties varies as well so it's pretty much impossible to generalize given the amount of models manufacturers have come up with overtime. But if we do get down to talking about LED vs incandescent bulbs then it becomes clear how LED wins at being more efficient. With that said, they are still new products on the market so before making a final conclusion we should wait and see how the technology develops in time.
What other bulb types have gas inside?
So, now it`s clear with LED bulbs. But what about incandescent and fluorescent bulbs? Do they have gas inside?
To answer this question, we should differentiate between the different bulb types. If you're talking about tungsten filament bulbs then no, they don't. The technology used in these is very old and now they are slowly being replaced by LEDs which use semiconductor chips (and/or other substances) instead of thin metal wires with resistors to create light through heat.
The mercury vapor lamps on the other hand do have gas inside them - it's mercury vapor, argon or krypton depending on the lamp type. As for fluorescent ones, there can be one or more than one extra gas added into the mix including argon and helium gases just to mention a few examples with argon being most widely used around many countries worldwide. This is also another reason why fluorescent lights are said to be more efficient because they can operate at lower temperatures while still producing the same amount of light (or more) as incandescent bulbs.
As for CFL lamps, it's argon and/or krypton and mercury vapors with a phosphor coating on top which creates visible light when hitting it by electrons. Again, we're talking about semiconductor chips versus tungsten wires here so there will be much less heat produced as well as less energy used in order to produce the same amount of light. Whether using such technology actually saves money or not depends on how much you pay for your lighting system monthly compared to how much you would otherwise spend if you were to use regular bulbs.
Is it dangerous to have gas inside the bulb?
The short answer would be no. That's not to say that it's completely safe because you could potentially get shocked if the system isn't made properly* but other than that, there should be no other reason why you shouldn't touch it or use the product in any way.
Also, if the power goes out all of a sudden while lighting up your house then I'd recommend switching off the circuit breaker to make sure everything remains safe and sound over time.
But, while gas itself is relatively harmless while being inside a lamp it can become toxic when handled inappropriately. For example, while argon is generally suitable for CFL lamps manufacturers are required to warn users about potential risks associated with inhaling argon at higher concentrations just to ensure their safety. This means that it isn't as safe as we thought and can be fatal if used wrongly.
Just to mention, the proper use would mean not touching any electrical connections or other such parts of the lamp that could potentially cause harm to you due to the electricity running through them given that all components are kept in their rightful place and no damage is done to any part of the system over time.
Why do incandescent lamps have glowing filaments?
That's a pretty interesting question because there are also gas-filled lamps that don't have filaments - take neon lights for example - but it doesn't make sense why incandescent bulbs need them given how old they are... But let's assume that if incandescent lights are made with tungsten filaments then they are naturally going to consume more energy, right?
Well, that is partly true because tungsten is used in incandescent lamps mostly because it works at higher temperatures than normal filaments. But on the other hand, lower temperature means less light will be produced so you'll need more “layers” of filament wire inside the lamp in order to increase the overall brightness. And yes, if you look closely at an incandescent light bulb you can see multiple layers of these tiny metal wires all attached together which reheated extremely fast by using alternating current (AC) electricity - hence how they work.
What about gas-filled fluorescent tube lights?
Fluorescent lamps don't have any filaments and they also consume less energy than incandescent ones. But since we're talking about gas-filled bulbs here, let's say that their style of lighting is different in a way because fluorescent lights use mercury vapors which hit the phosphor coating on top of an inert electrode creating visible light with the help of electricity being passed through them at one point or another.
Also, unlike most other types of lamps with a similar design, these ones need a ballast to start up. If you didn't know, there are two main starting mechanisms for fluorescent tubes: electromagnetic starters and electronic starters. The latter involves turning the light switch on for being able to sense when enough voltage has been created from the AC electricity and will then start to flow through the whole system.
Since we're talking about voltage, you should know that (in North America at least) it has an alternating current of 120 volts which get boosted up or down depending on how many lamps are connected in a single circuit breaker at home. But fluorescent tubes use much lower voltages than regular incandescent lights - around 70 volts is all it takes for them to work without any problems whatsoever.
What types of gas are used?
Given that gas lamps are made with different kinds of gases it makes sense to know what each one does so here's a list of the most common types:
Nitrogen is used in low-pressure sodium lamps because it can be combusted without being too hard. It comes as no surprise that this type of lamp emits the yellow light required for street lights and another outdoor lighting since they're exposed to high amounts of humidity, clouds or fog which would otherwise reduce the overall brightness quite fast.
Also, you should know that nitrous oxide (N2O) is commonly used with mercury vapor lamps because it doesn't readily form mercuric oxide (HgO) as you might already know. For those who don't - HgO is the crystal that can eat away at tungsten so it's best to avoid mercury vapor lamps if you don't want the inside of your light bulb to deteriorate over time.
Hydrogen is used with tungsten halogen lamps mainly because this type of lamp requires a very hot filament to work properly without having an effect on its life expectancy of it. If that was not enough, hydrogen also changes the color temperature of incandescent light bulbs which are often too yellow or “warm” for most people out there nowadays.
Argon works well with electronic starting ballasts which give off a dim blue glow during operation making them one of the best choices for indoor lighting applications.
How does gas type affect the lighting color?
Every gas type has its own color spectrum regardless of the incandescent light source itself. And that's due to its ability to emit specific portions of visible light when exposed to electricity which in turn will affect the color temperature over time.
For example, argon emits a deep blue glow which causes most lamps with this gas inside to have their preferred shade being somewhere around 3000K. This means it has more reds than any other type out there so your lighting won't appear too warm at all no matter how soft or intense you decide to use it.
Nitrogen performs just like argon but adds some yellows into the mix giving our lamps an even higher yellow tone than argon can provide alone - that's why these are often used for street lights and other similar applications.
Mercury vapor lamps are the only ones that emit ultra-deep colors, but all of them are known for having a greenish-yellow light which is quite bright despite the fact that it doesn't have as much output.
Can I change the gas type for a certain bulb?
The first question is do you really need it? Changing the gas type is not an easy thing to do since you'd have to get a new lamp tube which would be way more expensive than just getting a bulb with another kind of gas inside.
If it's still something you want, there are some ways for changing the type of gas in your light bulbs using ice and salt though nothing is certain when it comes to this process. If anybody has tried this before, please feel free to share your results!
Are there any safety concerns?
Not really. Gas lights are probably safer than anything else on today's market since they don't work with high voltage or extremely hot materials so they're not as dangerous as some might think them to be if handled properly.
Also, remember that every gas has its own safety concerns so it's best to do your research before using any light bulb with high levels of whatever kind of gas you're not familiar with.
Are those gas-filled lamps eco-friendly?
Not necessarily since most of them are created in factories which means they use the same amount of power to be made in the first place. And if they weren't, it would probably take too long for your new bulb to reach its full brightness so it's best not to think about these kinds of lamps as eco-friendly until somebody can prove their point without any doubt.
To recycle or not to recycle? It all depends on the material used in your home lighting. This is one of those rare cases where some recycling might be possible while others end up in a landfill after a few months of use because their lights just can't be reused for anything else.
How much do gas-filled lamps cost?
The price is definitely more than any other type because even if you get your lamp with whatever gas inside it, you would still have to buy an electronic ballast separately which is quite expensive when compared to magnetic ones due to their better performance and durability.
But there are always options, so feel free to browse our store for items that meet your needs perfectly. You should also know higher quality versions tend to be a little more expensive because they have better materials and overall craftsmanship which ensures a longer lifespan.
How do I know if my gas lamp is safe for outdoor use?
First, look at its label to see if it says something like "Suitable for outdoor use" or any other similar term that allows you to keep your light turned on after sundown. Otherwise, you'll have to ask the seller directly since their products are all different in many ways which mean there's no way of knowing what's best in each case without actually asking about this small detail.
Also, note that some manufacturers simply don't allow their lamps for being used outdoors so check out all available options before making up your mind in this regard.