While LED lights (mostly in the design of individual diodes) had been part of our daily life for years, their use for lighting up purposes started only several years later. This was because of their low light performance and to other circumstances provided only by later technical innovations.

So what are the conditions that make it possible to have LED light bulbs, which operate at mains and emit enough light to replace any of our used light bulbs?

Light emitting diodes generates low voltage DC, therefore LED light bulbs in household use, have to include indoor circuits to work from AC. Another significant condition is obviously an adequate light output of the LEDs. Despite the fact that, the light given off by a single LED is improving fast due to the extensive technological research, most LED light bulbs contain countless diodes, to increase light emission. LED light bulbs used as a main source of lighting in households launched with the introduction of SMD technology to LED lighting solutions, and was followed by high power LEDs. These are very bright LEDs, but they are difficult to place into the small space allowed by the traditional light bulb.

Milestone products in household use were Osram's replacement for a 40W ordinary light in 2009, and Philips' replacement model of a 50W bulb in May 2010. The light bulbs made with this high light output are full replacements of previous light bulbs of filament types, with similar beam angles. Simultaneously, hundreds of Chinese suppliers work on developing new LED products for a cost much more available to the average people. These solutions might lack branding, which could be a guarantee for quality, but might manufacture quality products with warranty.

One more issue was heat generated by the LEDs. LEDs are warm sensitive devices, therefore their thermal control is crucial. When installed close to each other – particularly with high power LEDs, which achieve more heat – LEDs can easily overheat one another, which eventually triggers the failing of the device. The most effective way of avoiding the overheating of LEDs is basically, to allow them to be opened, although this would indicate that, they are also unprotected, and this could also shorten their lifespan due to the particles or oil depositing on the LEDs exterior area. The most effective solution was the introduction of heat sinks with cooling fins into the design of the lamp itself. This gives a proper air movement and eventually releases much of the heat generated by the LEDs.

LEDs come in regular fittings for the reason of easy replacement, however not all LEDs operate at the mains, 12V LED lights are still available for operating them on batteries or transformers. Transformers must be LED compatible, as the electronic transformers most frequently used with halogen lights harm LEDs. There is no such difficulty with LED lbulbs which are suited for 220V or mains. So those, who would like to reduce their cost of lighting quickly, this is the solution they were looking for.