Do LED’s need thermal management?   On the surface of the light, it doesn’t appear so.   Placing your hand on the light itself, no heat seems to be radiating.  But that quick test is deceiving as the electronics powering the LED can approach 2 amps or more!  That power generates heat and that heat has to be managed or else problems will result.   This 10 minute webinar from Osram Sylvania gives an engineering view as to why thermal management of LED is necessary and some thoughts on how to go about it.

http://youtu.be/EyOmlrH2rAU