LEDs of different brightness ratings

[Dishum]

I often see LED types categorized according to their brightness
ratings. Are the ultra-bright and super-bright types always
focussed to achieve their extra brightness or does it depend on
the material and manufacturing technology other than focussing?
Are there diffused but extra bright types?

 

On Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:48:36 +0530, "Dishum"
<Dishum@notarealaddress.invalid> wrote:

I often see LED types categorized according to their brightness
ratings. Are the ultra-bright and super-bright types always
focussed to achieve their extra brightness or does it depend on
the material and manufacturing technology other than focussing?
Are there diffused but extra bright types?

The ratings seem more like marketing hype IMO. I usually choose based
on mcd or lumens and the angle I want to cover - preferably with a
chart to show the half-power points not just the "degrees" the
manufacturer claims. From there I assume that they will put out at
least half their specified brightness at a reasonable current. Ultra
bright and super bright are just subjective marketeering hyperbole,
along with the "life expectancy."

There are diffused "extra" (another subjective meaningless adjective)
bright types.

One would think that will all the potential market for these things
for general lighting applications, that they'd adhere to the same
testing and specification standard. Then we have bin numbers, color
grading schemes and ebay.....

 

[George Herold]

On Oct 25, 2:18 pm, "Dishum" <Dis...@notarealaddress.invalid> wrote:

I often see LED types categorized according to their brightness
ratings. Are the ultra-bright and super-bright types always
focussed to achieve their extra brightness or does it depend on
the material and manufacturing technology other than focussing?
Are there diffused but extra bright types?

You just have to read the fine print on the spec sheet. Brightness is
somethng like power/ area, so as you focus more the 'brightness'
increases.

There are some expensive "superluminous" LED's. I've never used any
of them though.

George H.

 

On Oct 26, 8:08 am, default wrote:

The ratings seem more like marketing hype IMO.  I usually choose
based
on mcd or lumens and the angle I want to cover - preferably with a
chart to show the half-power points not just the "degrees" the
manufacturer claims.  From there I assume that they will put out at
least half their specified brightness at a reasonable current.
 Ultra
bright and super bright are just subjective marketeering hyperbole,
along with the "life expectancy."

There are diffused "extra" (another subjective meaningless
adjective)
bright types.  

One would think that will all the potential market for these things
for general lighting applications, that they'd adhere to the same
testing and specification standard.  Then we have  bin numbers,
color
grading schemes and ebay.....

No it's not. Iused old red LEDs years ago that were dim with 10 mA. I
bought some high brightness LEDs a few weeks back that are VERY bright
running 350 uA.

Quite a few years back we needed very fast turn on/off times on LEDs
and the HP high brightness LEDs were 10 nS. We used it for test
signals up to 30 MHz to test photo sensors and preamps for HDTV film
scanner.

G˛

 

[Bill Bowden]

On Oct 25, 10:18 am, "Dishum" <Dis...@notarealaddress.invalid> wrote:

I often see LED types categorized according to their brightness
ratings. Are the ultra-bright and super-bright types always
focussed to achieve their extra brightness or does it depend on
the material and manufacturing technology other than focussing?
Are there diffused but extra bright types?

I bought a few (1 watt) orange and white LEDs on ebay awhile back. The
brightness is more than I can look at directly. One on the white (1
watt) versions lights up my living room at night, so I can walk around
the room with no other light. They also work well at low power of a
few milliamps, so you can use them either way, low or high power. They
draw about 300mA at 2 to 3 volts. The cost was about $1 each.

-Bill