Intro to LED
LED lighting - what's all the fuss about?
Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs, are semiconductors that emit light when a current is passed through them. Until just a few years ago LEDs were not bright enough for illumination and were limited to signals and signage, and earlier than a few years ago white LEDs weren’t even possible. That has rapidly changed and LEDs are now so bright that they are practical for all lighting applications.
LED lighting has many advantages over other lighting technologies. At Lightech we refer to them as the three Es: Economics, Ergonomics, and the Environment.
Economics:
LED lighting is economical for three main reasons. First, it is the most energy-efficient lighting technology. Commercially LED lighting can produce up to 100 Lumens/Watt, compared with about 15 Lumens/Watt for incandescent. Additional efficiency results from the many controls that can easily be applied to LED lighting, such as dimming technologies, occupancy sensors, etc. Second, it has the best durability of any lighting technology. LEDs for illumination are typically warrantied for 50,000 hours or more, and we offer a 5 year warranty on our LED drivers. So whereas other technologies require frequent replacement of bulbs, LED lighting lasts for many years without being replaced. Third, in some applications – mostly in the commercial, hospitality and entertainment sectors, the cost of maintaining and replacing parts can be very high. The cost of labor replacing a bulb in a streetlight, or a convention center ceiling is much more than the cost of the part. This is saved with LED lighting and its durability.
Many LED ROI calculators exist, here’s an example: http://www.ledinsider.com/ROICalculator/. The payback for LED installations is typically around the 18 months mark.
Ergonomics:
LED light sources are smaller, more robust, more durable, and electronically more readily manipulated than other lighting technologies. Smaller: LEDs are a fraction of the size of incandescent or fluorescent light sources, so new shapes and sizes, or ‘form factors’, are emerging. LEDs can be integrated into everyday items and furniture, and this integration of lighting is a trend that is facilitated by LEDs’ size. Robust: LEDs are much more robust than other technologies. They don’t shatter, they can survive considerable abuse, and they don’t burn-out. This makes them ideal for inaccessible locations, rough environments and mission-critical applications. Durable: LEDs’ longevity enables rethinking fixtures and installations. If LEDs last 70,000 hours, then in many cases that is longer than the fixture lifetime., as for example in hospitality where retrofits are more frequent. That enables fixtures to be designed without regard to replacing a bulb, access etc. As LEDs are more reliable and durable, fixture design can focus increasingly on ergonomic advantages and less on ease of access. Controllable: LEDs also enable easy to manipulate with controls and systems. The main control is dimming, and we offer a broad range of dimming drivers to facilitate unmatched dimming of LED lighting, and others include occupancy and ambient light sensors, as well as color mixing – all made possible with Lightech drivers.
Environment:
LED lighting is much more energy efficient than competing technologies, with an obvious and enormous positive impact on the environment. Indeed, it is widely believed that LED lighting adoption is the single greatest global energy-reducing step that will take effect in the coming years. Beyond energy savings, LEDs are the best lighting option environmentally since they contain no mercury. That is why the EU, US, Russia, Australia and others are phasing out incandescent technologies to make way for LED.
We at Lightech have been at the very forefront of LED illumination and signage from its inception. Our patent-protected technologies enable LEDs to be powered efficiently and economically, and our LED drivers are being used in all LED applications.
Consult us today to learn how we can power your LED products: info@lightechinc.com
