Three Designs that Decrease the Efficiency of LED Lights

Design flaws in LED lights can impact their brightness. In order to achieve brighter lights, we must replace the light-emitting components with brighter ones, thereby consuming more electricity. In other words, “incorrect design wastes the light emitted by the lights and reduces their efficiency.”

So what kind of designs decrease the efficiency of LED lights? There are three common ones:

1. Crystal Lights

People involved in interior decoration would not recommend choosing crystal lights for reasons such as “difficult to clean and easily get dirty.” Today, I will provide another reason: they are not conducive to light propagation.

The light-emitting components of crystal lights are enclosed within crystal beads, and the light needs to pass through these beads before entering the room. This leads to two problems—the first being a reduction in the distance over which the light propagates, resulting in decreased indoor brightness. The second problem is that after passing through the crystal beads, the light undergoes refraction, causing light spots to appear in the room.

2. Upward-facing Lights (Ceiling Lights)

The part where the light bulb is installed is called the “light socket.” Most light fixtures have downward-facing sockets. However, some fixtures have upward-facing sockets.

If we consider the light bulb as a point of light emission, the light it emits tends to be directed away from the socket. This can be observed by simply looking at any light bulb—its top end is often flat or pointed, while the end closer to the socket is a non-emitting cylinder, designed to concentrate the light forward.

With upward-facing lights, the light emitted by the fixtures will shine towards the ceiling. The light we receive in the room is then reflected down from the ceiling. Reflection inevitably involves light loss, leading to reduced brightness. Some fixtures even have an additional lampshade below the upward-facing socket, further affecting the light.

3. Glass Cover Lights

Many light fixtures use a cover to enclose the light-emitting components. This design is understandable as lighting fixtures also require a certain level of aesthetics. However, the material of the cover becomes crucial.

Commonly used materials include acrylic and ordinary plastics. Although these materials may feel loose, they hardly affect the propagation of light. Even colored or frosted covers allow light to pass smoothly.

The problem arises when people excessively pursue aesthetics and choose lights with glass covers. Glass covers not only tend to produce light spots but also, due to uneven internal structure, hinder light propagation. If one insists on glass covers, it is important to select high-quality glass. If you desire glass but also seek affordability, it is better to give up early on.