Led technology and evaluation of its usability in museums

As new technologies started to improve in lighting area, innovations started to take place in museum buildings. The most important one among these improvements is LED light sources. The advantages and disadvantages of these light sources must be known. Is it correct to have LED light source in museums which started to take place in market so quickly? This is a subject must be researched. Because museums are not places like houses, hotels or offices which only concerned with lighting; they also have importance in preventive conservation. In this study, problems in museum lighting and needs in conservation are explained. According to this, light sources which are generally used in museums are examined. These light sources and LED light sources are compared. By this way, pros and cons of LED lighting wanted to be shown. Examples of museums that uses LED lighting are given. Discussions and researches about usage of LED lighting in museums are mentioned. Interviewed with lighting designers and museums specialists. As much as events of museum and lighting field were attended and expert opinions were taken. The main reason for museums starting to use LED light sources seems energy saving. Instead of encandescent lamp whict is forbidden in European Union and many other countries; compact flourescent lamps are suggested. However they save energy, they are not prefered for using in museums as they radiate harmful radiation. Or they are used with filters, which is extra expense. While LED lamps do not have these kind of problems, they do not need extra component. However LED's still have problems which must be solved. They will be mentioned in thesis content.