LED, Halogen or Fluorescent: Which Light is Best for Your Project?
When you're working on putting together a new display, booth or exhibit, you want the best possible lighting to showcase your design. Why? As human beings, we're naturally drawn towards the light, so a well-lit display helps draw attention to what's important. Though there are many different lighting options available for your booth, the market has generally moved down to three specific options: LED, halogen and fluorescent lighting. But what's the difference between them and which one is best for your needs? Here's a quick overview to help get you started.
LED, Halogen or Fluorescent: Which Light is Best for Your Project?
LED
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are an electronic light option that is taking the market by storm. As electricity passes through it, the diode emits light. Originally used in computers and electronic equipment, it's grown into a much larger market. These lights are available in a wide range of brightnesses and color temperatures, use very low levels of power compared to its predecessors and competitors and have become available in a number of different formats to make unique light design much easier to accomplish. This is an asset to exhibit design because LED can be used in so many ways and in so many places. LED’s are available in small configurations, making it a great option for limited space. It's also very cool, so it works well in areas where temperature control is a must. For area lighting, it works well for almost any application. However, it is most effective as indirect lighting that illuminates an area by reflecting light off of other surfaces, such as the ceiling or walls.
Halogen
When it comes to spotlights and direct lighting, halogen lights are capable of putting serious light on a particular spot, such as a stage. They also work well for area lighting and have taken over much of the market left empty with the changes in incandescent lighting energy use regulations. Like LED lights, they come on instantly and do not need a warmup period to reach full brightness. It delivers a bright, crisp light but also puts off a significant amount of heat both at the bulb and in the path of the light, which can make it ill-suited to some purposes.
Fluorescent
Long the standard of almost any area lighting task, fluorescent lights work by passing electricity through mercury gas in the bulb, causing it to light up from the added energy. Though they tend to be very economical in terms of energy use, they can take a significant amount of time to warm up, especially in cold conditions. Because they've been around for such a long time, it is relatively easy to find parts and bulbs for them in a wide range of sizes, brightnesses and color temperatures. Fluorescent lights stay cooler and last longer than halogen lights, but still tend to warm up more than LED lighting systems. Frequent cycling will also cost the bulbs some level of longevity.
Though all these lights have particular applications in which they work best, LEDs are quickly growing to take over a large portion of the market. If you're not quite sure which of these three options is the best for your trade show booth, exhibit or other project, Light Craft Manufacturing is here to help. Please feel free to contact us today for more information about our product and services, with any questions or to get a quote on your next dynamic lighting solution.