How Do Rechargeable and Battery Backup Light Bulbs Work?

When the power goes out, rechargeable and battery backup light bulbs can keep your space illuminated. But how exactly do these smart bulbs work, and what makes them different from regular bulbs? In this guide, we'll break down the technology behind rechargeable and battery-backup light bulbs and the benefits of incorporating them into your home or business. Let's shed some light on how to keep your space safe and functional, even when the grid goes dark.

What Rechargeable and Battery Backup Light Bulbs Are

Rechargeable and battery backup light bulbs are specially designed to provide continuous illumination during power outages. They have built-in batteries that charge while the bulb is in use. When the power cuts off, the bulb automatically switches to battery mode to keep shining for several hours. They fit into standard light fixtures, making them a convenient and cost-effective way to add an extra layer of security and peace of mind.

Types of Rechargeable and Battery Backup Lights

Rechargeable and battery backup light bulbs aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. There are multiple types of light bulbs to choose from, each with its own benefits.

• Standard LED Rechargeable Bulbs: These look and function like traditional LED bulbs but come with built-in batteries. They’re perfect for regular household use and can provide light for several hours when fully charged.
• Smart Rechargeable Bulbs: Equipped with smart features like remote control or app connectivity, these bulbs allow you to manage your lighting from your , even during an outage. Many offer dimming options and color-changing capabilities for extra convenience.
• Emergency Light Bulbs: Specifically designed for blackout situations, these bulbs automatically switch to battery power when they detect a power outage. Some even come with portable bases, which can be removed from fixtures and used as flashlights.
• Solar-Powered Rechargeable Bulbs: Ideal for energy efficiency, these bulbs use solar power to recharge their batteries, making them an eco-friendly option. They are perfect for outdoor settings like patios or campsites, where sunlight is plentiful.
• Dimmable Battery Backup Bulbs: These bulbs allow you to adjust brightness. Lowering the light intensity can significantly increase the runtime during an outage.

How Do Rechargeable Light Bulbs Work?

Rechargeable light bulbs work by integrating a built-in battery and a small charging circuit inside the bulb itself. When the bulb is screwed into a standard light socket and turned on, it functions just like a regular LED bulb. At the same time, the charging circuit draws a small amount of power from the electrical current to charge the internal battery. This process happens automatically in the background without affecting the bulb’s normal operation.

When the power goes out, a sensor inside the bulb detects the loss of electrical current and automatically switches to battery mode. The battery then provides power to the LED light source, allowing it to stay illuminated for 3 to 5 hours, depending on the bulb. If the bulb is turned off or removed from the socket, the battery will remain charged until needed. In case of a power outage or when the bulb is taken to a location without electrical access, the internal battery kicks in automatically, allowing the LED to continue providing light without any manual intervention. When power is restored, the bulb resumes using the electrical current to recharge the battery and light up your space.

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Key Components of Rechargeable Light Bulbs

Rechargeable light bulbs have several components that work together to provide lighting during both normal operation and power outages:

• LED Light Source: LEDs are energy-efficient light-emitting diodes that provide bright illumination while consuming minimal power. Their long lifespan makes them ideal for rechargeable applications.
• Rechargeable Battery: Typically a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery, this component stores electrical energy while the bulb is in use. It powers the LED light when the external electricity supply is interrupted, ensuring continued illumination.
• Charging Circuit: This circuit manages the flow of electricity to the battery during charging. It ensures the battery is charged safely and efficiently, preventing overcharging and extending its lifespan.
• Power Detection Sensor: This component monitors the incoming electrical supply. It automatically detects when a power outage occurs, triggering the transition from standard operation to battery mode.
• Control Circuit: The control circuit manages the bulb's operation and coordinates the switch between normal and battery-powered modes, ensuring a smooth transition and consistent performance.
• Thermal Management System: This system helps dissipate heat generated during the bulb's operation, maintaining optimal temperatures for both the LED and the battery. Effective thermal management is crucial for enhancing the bulb's longevity and reliability.

How Do Battery Backup Light Bulbs Work?

Battery backup and rechargeable light bulbs have the same components and function similarly. However, battery backup light bulbs focus specifically on emergency use during power outages, and rechargeable light bulbs are designed to be more versatile.

Battery backup lights always have a sensor that detects power outages, allowing it to switch to battery mode instantly. This ensures they operate seamlessly without a delay in illumination and don’t require manual intervention. Unlike rechargeable light bulbs, backup battery light bulbs may not function effectively when removed from their fixtures because their design centers around automatic activation when power is lost. This means they are less portable and less convenient for non-emergency-related situations.

Benefits of LED Rechargeable and Battery Backup Light Bulbs

LED rechargeable and battery backup lights offer a range of advantages that make them an excellent choice for both residential and commercial lighting needs, including:

• Energy Efficiency: LED technology is inherently energy-efficient, consuming significantly less power than traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. This not only lowers your electricity bills but also reduces your environmental footprint.
• Long Lifespan: LED bulbs have an impressive lifespan, often lasting up to 25,000 hours or more. This means fewer replacements and reduced waste, making them a cost-effective and eco-friendly choice in the long run.
• Instant Illumination: Unlike traditional bulbs that may take time to warm up, LED rechargeable and battery backup lights provide instant brightness as soon as they are turned on. This is especially beneficial during power outages when immediate lighting is essential.
• Versatility: Rechargeable lights can be used in various settings, from everyday household lighting to outdoor activities and emergency situations. Their portability allows users to take them anywhere they need light, making them incredibly convenient.
• Seamless Transition During Outages: Battery backup lights automatically switch to battery power during power outages, ensuring uninterrupted illumination. This automatic activation enhances safety and security in homes and businesses during unexpected situations.
• Low Heat Emission: LEDs produce very little heat compared to traditional bulbs, which reduces the risk of burns and fire hazards. This feature makes them safer to use in a variety of applications.
• Reduced Maintenance: With their long lifespan and durability, LED rechargeable and battery backup lights require less frequent maintenance and replacement, allowing you to save time and money over time.
• Environmentally Friendly: LED bulbs do not contain harmful substances like mercury, making them safer for the environment. Their energy efficiency also contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
  

  Disadvantages of LED Rechargeable and Battery Backup Light Bulbs

  While LED rechargeable and battery backup lights offer numerous benefits, there are also some disadvantages to consider, such as:
• Initial Cost: LED rechargeable and battery backup lights often have a higher upfront cost than traditional bulbs. While they save money over time due to their longevity and energy efficiency, the initial investment may deter some consumers.
• Battery Limitations: The performance of rechargeable lights is dependent on the quality and capacity of the built-in batteries. Over time, battery life may diminish, leading to shorter usage periods during power outages or reduced brightness when running on battery.
• Charging Time: Depending on the design and capacity, some rechargeable bulbs may take several hours to charge fully. This could be inconvenient if immediate use is required, especially during an unexpected outage.
• Compatibility Issues: Not all fixtures are compatible with LED rechargeable and battery backup lights.
• Limited Output: While many LED rechargeable and battery backup lights provide adequate illumination for common tasks, some models may not produce enough light for larger areas or specific applications that require higher brightness levels.
  

  LED Rechargeable and Battery Backup Light Bulb Uses

  LED rechargeable and battery backup light bulbs are versatile lighting solutions suitable for various applications, including:
• Home Lighting: Perfect for everyday use, these bulbs can be installed in fixtures throughout your home, providing efficient and reliable illumination in living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
• Emergency Lighting: During power outages, battery backup lights ensure that critical areas remain illuminated, such as hallways, staircases, and entryways, enhancing safety and security when the grid goes down.
• Outdoor Activities: Rechargeable light bulbs are great for camping, picnics, or outdoor gatherings. Their portability allows you to take them wherever you need light, making them an essential addition to your outdoor gear.
• Workspaces: Ideal for workshops, garages, factories, or job sites, these bulbs provide reliable lighting that can be easily moved or removed as needed, especially in areas without consistent electrical access.
• Portable Lighting: Many rechargeable bulbs can be removed from their fixtures and used as handheld lights or flashlights, making them convenient for emergency situations or during repairs in hard-to-reach areas.
  

  Tips for Maximizing Your LED Rechargeable or Backup Battery Light Bulb’s Performance

  To ensure that your LED rechargeable and battery backup light bulbs work optimally and have long lifespans, follow these expert tips:
• Regular Charging: Make it a habit to charge your rechargeable bulbs periodically, even if you’re not using them frequently. This helps maintain battery health and ensures they are ready for emergencies.
• Use Compatible Fixtures: Always install your bulbs in fixtures compatible with LED technology. This ensures proper heat dissipation and electrical performance, maximizing the lifespan of your bulbs.
• Avoid Overheating: Ensure the bulbs are not enclosed in fixtures that trap heat, as excessive heat can shorten their lifespan. Opt for open fixtures or those designed for LED use to promote adequate airflow.
• Clean Bulbs Regularly: Dust and debris can diminish the brightness of your LED bulbs. Wipe them down periodically with a soft, dry cloth to keep them clean and ensure optimal light output.
• Store Properly: If you’re not using rechargeable bulbs for an extended period, store them in a cool, dry place. This helps preserve battery life and prevents any potential damage from extreme temperatures.
• Test Regularly: Make it a practice to test your battery backup bulbs every few months. Turn them off and disconnect them from the power source to ensure the battery activates correctly. This ensures they’re always functional when needed.
• Choose the Right Lumens: Consider the brightness level (measured in lumens) appropriate for your needs. Selecting bulbs with the right lumens ensures sufficient light for your specific application.
• Monitor Usage: Be aware of how long you use your rechargeable bulbs during power outages. Extended use of battery power can deplete the charge quickly. If possible, conserve battery life by using the lights only as needed.
  

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What types of battery are used in emergency lighting?

A variety of different battery types are used in emergency lighting. The main types are:

• Lead acid. These were commonly used till recently in self-contained emergency lighting fixtures, such as a twinspot, and are still widely used in central battery systems. Outside these specific applications, lead acid batteries are now rarely used in emergency lighting.

 A twinspot emergency light fitting. Till recently, most of these used sealed lead acid batteries, but other chemistries are now being used.

    A central battery system. Note the lead acid batteries on the bottom three shelves.

• Nickel cadmium (NiCd). Cadmium is highly toxic and is one of only 6 substances banned by the EU’s RoHS Directive. However, an exemption is in place for batteries in emergency lighting because till recently there have been few suitable alternatives. NiCd batteries are widely used in stand-alone emergency lighting fixtures and in emergency conversion kits.

A stand-alone emergency exit sign. Most of these use nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries, located inside the fitting.

Examples of NiCd batteries, as would be used in a conversion kit, used to turn a standard light fitting into an emergency light fitting. Each battery in these examples consists of 2, 3 or 4 cells.

• Nickel metal hydride (NiMH). These batteries are widely used in place of NiCd in emergency conversion kits where they have some (slight) advantages in some applications

A NiMH battery consisting, in this example, of 5 cells. Visually, the main difference is that NiMH cells are slimmer than NiCd cells.

• Lithium. There are many types of lithium battery and they are becoming more widely used for emergency lighting. They have many advantages over lead acid, NiCd and NiMH so their use is increasing rapidly.

Are lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries suitable for emergency lighting?  

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, or LFP) are very well suited for use in emergency lighting. When compared with alternatives such as nickel cadmium (NiCd) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have several advantages:

• Energy efficiency. LFP is more efficient than NiCd in two ways.
• Self discharge. All rechargeable batteries lose charge over time, but with LFP the rate is only 3-5% per month. NiCd can lose 15% in the first 24 hours, falling to 10-20% per month (depending on temperature) after that. The result of this is that the charger in an emergency fitting with NiCd or NiMH batteries is working almost continually, whereas the charger in an LFP circuit is working at low current in short and infrequent bursts.
• Charge efficiency. Energy is lost in the form of heat during the charging process of any battery. With LFP the charge efficiency is very high, about 95%. With NiCd the charge efficiency is also very high, but only in the earlier stages of charging. Once the battery reaches 70% capacity heat starts to be generated and the charging efficiency falls to c 85%. This is significant because in normal use a NiCd battery in an emergency light fitting is being continually trickle-charged to keep it at near 100% capacity.
• Long life.
• LFP batteries have little memory effect so their performance remains almost constant till they reach end of life, usually defined as 70% of rated capacity. Typically, an LFP battery will have a life of 8-10 years.
• The performance (power storage) of NiCd and NiMH declines rapidly with every charge/discharge cycle, so they typically need to be changed after 3 or 4 years. The routine testing of emergency lighting required by BS contributes to shortening the life of NiCd batteries. It is also common for NiCd batteries in new-build projects to fail in their first year of life if they have been fully installed in the construction phase when the mains power would normally be switched off completely overnight. The resulting nightly discharge and daily re-charge degrades the NiCd batteries to the point that they can be due for replacement withing the first year of occupation.
• Extreme temperature performance.
• High temperatures. LFP is unharmed by ambient temperatures up to 60ºC, whereas NiCd and NiMH can only tolerate 55ºC and 50ºC respectively.
• Low temperatures, LFP performs well down to -20ºC, but NiCd and NiMH will not deliver the charge needed to run emergency lighting below 0º
• Environment. Cadmium is banned under the RoHS Directive because it is a dangerous pollutant.
• Cadmium is highly toxic. Cadmium is highly toxic to almost all animals and many plants. It is also very persistent in the environment, being not easily combined with other elements that would render it harmless. NiCd batteries therefore have to be recycled with great care. LFP batteries must also be recycled, but the materials used are inherently less harmful than those used in NiCd and NiMH batteries.
• Cadmium has a limited future use. Now that superior alternatives to cadmium are available for use in batteries it is to be expected that the RoHS directive will be amended to eliminate the exemption that has been allowed till now ().
• Lithium has a long future ahead. Lithium iron phosphate in particular is favoured for its safety, economy and efficiency and is being increasingly used in many applications, such as vehicles, in addition to emergency lighting.

LiFePO4 or LiFePO₄ - what’s the difference?

Contact us to discuss your requirements of lithium-ion emergency light power pack. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

 LiFePO₄ is the correct chemical formula for lithium iron phosphate. The small ₄ indicates that there are 4 oxygen atoms (O) bound to one phosphorous atom (P). However, the small ₄ is hard to find on most keyboards, so when searching most people write LiFePO4. In this article we are using LiFePO4 because that’s most probably what you typed if you were searching in Google, but please be informed, LiFePO₄ is correct.

What are the costs of using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in emergency lighting?

Lithium iron phosphate is very cost effective as the power source in emergency lighting when compared with alternatives such as NiCd. This applies to its acquisition costs, running costs and maintenance costs.

• Acquisition costs. Over 4+ years the acquisition costs of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for emergency lighting are lower than the cost of NiCd batteries. Compared on the basis of capacity (Ah), LFP batteries are more expensive than NiCd. However, because the performance of NiCd batteries declines relatively steeply through their life, more of them are required to deliver the expected 3 hours duration after 4 years use. Further, LFP batteries can be expected to last about twice as long as their NiCd equivalents, so over a period of 4 or more years the acquisition costs of LFP are lower than NiCd.

• Running costs. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are the most economical batteries to run for emergency lighting. This is because the main alternative, NiCd batteries, have a high self-discharge rate (c. 20% per month) so have to be constantly charged in order to be ready in case of a power cut. In contrast, the much lower self-discharge rate for LFP means that the charger is only used in short bursts once in every one or two months. Based on tests performed using a commercially available emergency bulkhead fitting (pictured) with NiCd and LFP batteries the following power consumption data was recorded:

LED emergency bulkhead used to compare power consumption of NiCd and LFP batteries.

In summary, the power savings that result from using LFP rather than NiCd in popular emergency light fittings are >40%.

In financial terms, assuming an electricity price of £0.145 per kWh, the annual saving per emergency light fitting is £2.25.

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• Maintenance costs. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) has lower maintenance costs than the alternatives such as NiCd. This is because the design life of the NiCd batteries used in emergency lighting is typically just 4 years. The expected life of the comparable LFP batteries is 8-10 years, so the maintenance costs are only 50% or less than those of NiCd.