Our expert, Randall Whitehead, IALD, explains how induction lighting works differently.
What is the difference between Induction and LED Lighting?
Is this a pop quiz? What do I win if I get the answers right? Okay, for the new car my answer is: An induction lamp is a light source in which the power required to generate light is transferred from the outside of the lamp envelope by means of electromagnetic fields. A typical incandescent lamps or fluorescent lamps use electrical connections through the lamp envelope to transfer power to a filament or phosphors. An LED uses energized diodes to create light.
Induction lamps have a high lumen output and were developed for the most part to replace high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, such as mercury vapor, metal halide and high- and low-pressure sodium. Induction lamps are “instant-on,” whereas HID lamps take two to eight minutes to come up to full brightness. I foresee that high-lumen-output LEDs are gearing up to replace HID lamps and may take over the lead from induction lamps in commercial and public space applications. Their uni-directional way of projecting light lend themselves nicely to roadway, parking lot and warehouse lighting applications. Induction lamps do have mercury in them, but it is in a solid form and can be easily recovered if the lamp is broken or when recycled.