CFL Vs LED Bulbs – Find the Difference?

Both the CFLs and LEDs were introduced to have high efficiency and lifespan than previous light bulbs. LED is the latest among the two and has a slight edge. The LEDs offer more benefits when compared to CFLs. However, it also has its disadvantages.

The below article compares CFLs and LEDs against different parameters to understand their value for money.

What is an LED Bulb?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. An LED works on the concept of electroluminescence. When current passes through a semiconductor material, it emits photons. In case you didn’t know, photons are light particles.

There is a transfer of charged electrons when current passes through the semiconductor. This charged electron produces photons. LED bulbs do not rely on heat to produce light. Hence, they do not emit heat and are energy-efficient.

What is a CFL Bulb?

CFL bulb stands for Compact Fluorescent Lamp. It works on the principle of discharge of gases using electricity. A CFL tube contains inert gases like argon, along with a small amount of mercury. The inner surface of tubes has a coating of phosphor.

When electricity passes through the tube, it generates invisible UV radiation. The UV radiation excites the phosphor coating that emits visible light. They take some time to warm and reach their peak. CFL bulbs come with a ballast that kick starts the process.

Key Parameters of LED and CFL Bulbs?

Following are the key parameters that differentiate the LED and CFL bulbs from each other.

LED Vs. CFL Brightness

There is no big difference in the level of brightness between an LED and CFL. However, CFLs use more electricity to produce brightness. On the other hand, LEDs will produce the same brightness by consuming less power.

This is the reason why LED tubes are more efficient than CFLs. They can produce bright light by consuming electricity.

Lumen and Wattage Comparison

Lumen is the measure of light. It is not watts but lumens that determine the intensity of light. If the number of lumens is more, the intensity of light will be high.

The light bulb packages will have the bulb’s brightness in lumens. So, you can find the brightness of a light bulb using this. Always, choose the bulb with the lowest wattage rating with the brightness you require.

LED bulbs require less wattage to produce brightness. We have developed a table showing the wattage requirement of LED and CFL bulbs for different lumens.

PARAMETER	LED BULBS	CFL BULBS
Efficiency	High	Comparatively less
Electrical Usage	6-8 watts	12-15 watts
Saving	Upto to 80% per year on electric bills	Upto to 75% per year on electric bills
Ballast	Not required	Required
Durability	High	Fragile
Heat	Remains cool	Gets heated up quickly
Average lifespan	25,000 hours	8,000 hours
Size	Small	Large
Cost	High	Comparatively less

Are CFL or LEDs more cost-effective?

When it comes to the initial cost, LEDs are higher than CFLs. However, LEDs save more energy than CFLs. Additionally, LEDs last longer than CFL. Overall, when you consider a period of 10 years, LED bulbs save you a lot of money. They are more cost-effective than CFL bulbs.

Do CFL or LED Bulbs Last Longer?

Undoubtedly LED bulbs last longer than CFL bulbs. The average lifespan of an LED bulb is 25,000 to 35,000 hours. Some LEDs have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours. On the other hand, a CFL’s average lifespan is 8,000 hours. Mathematically speaking, LED bulbs have 3 times the lifespan of a CFL.

Most brands claim that their LED bulbs can last up to 10 years. But it depends a lot on your usage. If you use them for 3 to 6 hours per day, even the cheapest LEDs will last for 10 years.

How Much Heat do CFL and LED Bulbs Give off?

CFL bulbs emit a considerable amount of heat. They release most of their energy as heat, rather than light. Some laboratory tests show that 100W CFL bulbs emit 179.2F. On the other hand, the LED bulbs burn at 87.2F.

Many companies claim that their LED bulbs do not generate heat. However, this is not true. They generate heat. However, as you can see, it is small compared to the amount of heat compared in CFLs.

What Kind of Light do LED and CFL Bulbs Emit?

An LED bulb uses a semiconductor material to produce brightness. When current passes through the semiconductor, it emits visible light. The light is unique and similar to the natural light of the sun. It does not have to warm up and reaches its peak once you turn it on.

Everything about the CFL bulb is opposite to that of an LED. It uses a gas discharge method to produce light. It requires some time to warm before reaching its peak. When a CFL becomes old, its efficiency decreases. It needs more current to produce the same brightness.

Are LED or CFL Bulbs Safer?

CFL bulbs use mercury which is a toxic substance. However, the mercury vapors won’t cause any hazardous damage if they break. It will take a lot of time for the bulb to release vapors. So, you will have to dispose of the bulb as soon as it breaks.

Additionally, there can be a leakage of UV radiation from CFL bulbs. If you sit too close to a CFL bulb, it might damage your skin cells.

On the other hand, LEDs are safer. They do not contain any hazardous substances.

PARAMETER	LED BULBS	CFL BULBS
Efficiency	High	Comparatively less
Electrical Usage	6-8 watts	12-15 watts
Saving	Upto to 80% per year on electric bills	Upto to 75% per year on electric bills
Ballast	Not required	Required
Durability	High	Fragile
Heat	Remains cool	Gets heated up quickly
Average lifespan	25,000 hours	8,000 hours
Size	Small	Large
Cost	High	Comparatively less

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

CFLs are far better than incandescent bulbs. But, LEDs outrank them in all departments. The initial costs of LED are indeed high. However, they compensate for their high cost through efficiency. Apart from this, they last longer and produce less heat.

If you have any queries or doubts, you can let us know using the comments section. We will be glad to help you out. Also, you can share your thoughts and views in the comments box.