Category Archives: Light Bulb General Information

This category contains general information about current and future light bulbs including discussion on market trends. It provides consumer information and thoughts regarding the selection and practical use of the different light bulbs.

Light Bulb General Information

Sports Lighting

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Sports Lighting 1Installing the right sports lighting creates a lasting impression, no matter the venue. It can transform an empty field into a popular destination. Whether it’s a tennis court, indoor pool, arena, playground, baseball field, football court, gymnasium, paddock, or a golf course, all sports facilities have specific needs to meet.

Lighting is essential but most people tend to overlook it. Utilizing lighting creatively can actually aid the implementation of an effective sports complex design. When carrying out feasibility studies, you may want to consider unique ways of making lighting interesting as aesthetically pleasing.

The Benefit of Switching To Efficiency Lighting

Sports Lighting 2In this modern world, where energy efficiency is extremely important, your sports lighting choices should take into consideration the amount of energy required to light an entire complex. Metal halide light fixtures are still being used at various sports grounds, but they’re quickly fading away due to their high level of energy consumption. Switching to LED lights is the easiest way to modernize lighting at your sports facility. This is because they’re readily available and produce brighter illumination whilst saving energy and minimizing costs.

Incorporate Natural Light into Indoor Lighting

Sports Lighting 3When running indoor lighting, it’s important that you take advantage of natural light. You can try installing large glass windows instead of solid walls. Plus, you can install skylight windows to leverage the sun’s solar energy. Remember, skylight doesn’t just brighten your space but they also offer scenic views of the great blue skies.

Take Advantage of Lighting Effects

Most sports complex designs feature lots of white light, which isn’t bad. However, you can add special lighting effects to up your game. This lighting technique is an incredible way to boost engagement and create excitement. Examples of modern lighting effects include explosions, strobe light, cross-fades, and ripples. However, you should make sure that the lighting design delivers uniform illumination and reduced glare/light pollution.

Pendant Light Fixtures Can Add That Extra Elegance to That Sports Complex of Yours

Sports Lighting 4Pendant lights are available in numerous configurations, and when utilized creatively, these lights can add a feel of sophistication to any space. They’re perfect for use in indoor areas as well as spaces that already feature natural light.

You can install rows of pendants in your gymnasium or along the atriums/walkways to augment the décor and make nighttime exercise safe.

Quality illumination is necessary for sports such as hockey, rugby, tennis, and football where players are required to react swiftly to a fast-moving ball. Ensure that you provide uniform light distribution as well as a color temperature that perfectly matches daylight. In addition, the lighting you choose should enable both players and spectators to safely enter or leave the sports facility.

Conclusion

Sports Lighting 5Good sports lighting maximizes athletic performance, allows fans to view the game with clarity, and makes playing after dark more fun. When it comes to sports lighting, you need to pick energy-efficient, stylish, and long-lasting fixtures. The quality of lighting should be high in terms of visual comfort, limitation of obtrusive light, as well as uniformity.

Light Bulb General Information, Technologies

Explaining the Color Rendering Index (CRI) and LEDs

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Microsoft Word - bae_3872_revised manuscriptCRI, or the Color Rending Index, refers to the quantitative measure of a light source’s ability to render known colors of materials as well as objects. The process entails measuring the light emanating from a test source and monitoring the appearance of reflected light as compared to 8 known color samples. The CRI is usually rated on a scale ranging from 0 to 100; the minimum index represents a light whose colors aren’t distinct while the latter corresponds to daylight or an ‘ideal’ white light.

Calculating CRI

The CRI of that particular source is calculated by measuring the difference between the actual color & the known color. The nature of the reference light source will also vary depending on the kind of light source that’s being tested. When it comes to testing sources featuring a correlated color temperature that’s less than 5000 0K (degrees Kelvin), it’s advisable that a blackbody radiator is utilized as the reference source. When dealing with test sources featuring a higher CCT, you should use a spectrum of daylight as the reference source. Regardless of the light source being tested, it’s always important to pick the right reference source so as to retrieve accurate CRI information from the sample colors.

For many decades, the Color Rending Index (CRI) scale has been considered as an accurate measure of how effective lighting is in reproducing expected colors through the spectrum. Regardless of which lighting type is being utilized, it’s essential that you measure the quantity of light before and after installation.

Unified Glare Rating (UGR) explained

Unified Glare Rating (abbreviated as UGR) is a measure of the amount of discomfort emitted by luminaries using a psychometric-based scale of discomfort. In other countries, UGR is used to represent VCP (an abbreviation for visual comfort probability). Glare, which can adversely affect your wellbeing as well as productivity at work, is common in settings featuring several computer monitors.

The Unified Glare Rating starts from 5 and goes all the way to 40. The lower numbers indicate less glare while the higher ones signify more glare. The UGR is usually calculated using the following strict formula:

UGR

Where,

  • Lb represents the background luminance in cd/m2
  • L represents the luminance of each part in the observer’s direction eye (cd/m2);
  • w represents the solid angle of the luminous parts( i.e. of each luminaire and it should be at the eye of the observer. It’s given in sr
  • r represents each luminaire’s Guth position index (i.e. the displacement from the sight line)

Factors that affect the UGR value

UGR 1When determining the Unified Glare Rating, factors such as measurement point, reflection, the location, as well as the lighting product operation are considered.

Quality classifications

UGR 3According to the UGR classification, there are 5 different quality based classes. They include 16, 19, 22, 25 and 28. 28 represents the maximum UGR value permissible in specific spaces. It’s also important to note that a luminaire featuring a UGR value of lower than 10 results in zero glare.

Summary of UGR values

  • Technical drawing requires a UGR value of less than16
  • Offices should have a UGR of less than 19
  • Reception areas should have a UGR value of less than 22
  • Archives, stairs as well as lifts should have a UGR value of less than 25
  • Corridors and passageways should have a UGR value of less than 28

 

 

Light Bulb General Information, Technologies

DMX Lighting Control

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DMX 1Previously, intelligent lighting systems were considered suitable for professionals only; however, the introduction of cheaper electronics as well as computer control systems, great lighting effects are now accessible to everyone. When it comes to Christmas, Halloween, or house party lighting, DMX systems can be an incredible option.

Intelligent Lighting; What Are They?

Intelligent lighting systems feature unique elements that can be controlled remotely. This may include a moving head, patterns, plus colors. Alternatively, you may just regulate the color with an LED strip or a dimmer. Whichever way you go about it, intelligent lighting is amazing.

When combined with a controller, you’ll be able to simultaneously send a signal to numerous devices.

Understanding What DMX is

DMX2DMX (Digital Multiplex) refers to a digital serial protocol that’s unidirectional and has no error checking. Though it’s highly reliable, DMX is subject to interference and unsuitable for harmful effects such as pyrotechnics.

The cable itself comprises 2 shielded twisted pairs, but only of them is utilized. Ideally, 5-pin DMX cabling ought to be used, but certain manufacturers have created 3-pin versions.

With DMX programming, you can effectively control when your lights powered up, the colors they display, where they go, how bright/dim they are, plus so much more.

DMX for Beginners: It’s Now Within your Means

DMX software makes it possible for you to control lighting right from your laptop. You can readily find a simple controller for $50 to control 3-channel effect lighting and simple uplights. However, there are other expensive units that can be used to control up to 12 fixtures, each featuring 16 channels. The professional-grade controller can be quite expensive, but there are numerous affordable options for DMX beginners.

You can Easily Learn DMX Control

It may not take you 5 minutes to learn everything, but once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s all uphill. Don’t be startled by complex words like universe, daisy-chaining, and channels. They’ve very simple meanings. In DMX lighting control, programming isn’t considered as a computer term but a technical terminology for design. The technology is user-friendly and you don’t need to learn any codes or typed commands. Plus, there isn’t a DOS to use. So once you’ve grasped the basics, nothing will stop you from achieving the best results.

The Tips and Tricks

DMX4If you’re a beginner, you may want to check out the following tips as you dive into DMX control of lighting.

  • Two lighting units can be on one control channel, and they’ll serve the same purpose. This creates more space in your universe for additional lights.
  • Don’t install different lights on a single DMX channel because various lights have various operations on each channel.
  • It’s possible to control non-DMX components with DMX through a power pack.
  • Though 5-pin DMX cabling is the professional standard, some manufacturers have designed 3-pin DMX lighting, which is quite inexpensive.

While you may find it quite intimidating learning about DMX in the initial stages, you’ll come to realize that it’s an incredible upgrade to creating a show that’ll amaze your audience. Lights work like magic when under DMX control.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design, Technologies, The Environment

An update on the Light Bulb Ban

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Ban 1Conventional incandescent light bulbs are starting to vanish from the market. Some recently formulated energy-efficiency regulations intended to kick out old-fashioned bulbs from the lighting industry.

Though most bulb manufacturers are fighting hard to get a court order stopping the regulations from taking effect, it looks like customers will soon have to choose between sophisticated light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and those oddly shaped fluorescent lights. Of course, the bulbs won’t just vanish like that, it will take some time. Vendors will be allowed to finish off their old stock, but they won’t be in a position to sell any incandescent bulbs manufactured after 1st January 2018, that do not meet the current standards.

Back in 2007, George W. Bush approved an energy bill that strengthened lighting efficiency standards. By then, this wasn’t a big deal. What the bill meant then is that manufacturers would gradually need to phase out their traditional, power-hogging light bulbs and switch to something sleeker, like CFLs or fluorescent lamps, beginning 2012.

Ban1According to law, CFLs and LEDs plus other energy-efficient bulbs help minimize power-plant emissions and also saves consumers huge amounts of money. It’s estimated that if every American household swapped out one traditional bulb for a more advanced lighting fixture, it would be the same thing as removing 800,000 cars from the road. Perhaps there are numerous ways of reducing emissions, but most Republicans oppose the idea of carbon taxes and other related stuff, which means that inept regulations and guidelines are the only things which attract political support.

The new regulations required that the screw-based light bulbs should meet certain minimum energy-efficiency standards. This would make them 3 times more efficient than conventional bulbs as of 1st January in California. And there isn’t no halogen or incandescent bulb available on the market that meets that level.

LED and CFLs will be the only option

some led lamps blue light science technology backgroundConsumers will only be left with the option of choosing between LED and CFL lighting fixtures. After selling off their left stock, they’ll have no other choice but to stock their shelves with modern bulbs that meet the new and stricter environmental standards. Those designing and selling lighting fixtures have long known about this change and they have responded by offering an extensive range of energy-saving light bulbs which conform to the new standards. They are also finishing off their production of incandescent bulbs.

The covered bulbs

These standards are mostly applicable to medium screw-based lighting bulbs that are commonly used in homes and business buildings, such as the pear-shaped bulbs utilized in tables as well as floor lamps, the candle-shaped lamps used in chandeliers/sconces, and the glob/round bulbs utilized in bathroom vanities.

Finding a replacement: Will it be easy?

Ban4A wide array of energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LED) bulbs that come in different shapes and light output levels are already available on most retail shops across the state. Such bulbs are manufactured by renowned lighting companies such as Sylvania, Philips, and GE plus other newer lighting firms like Cree, Maxlite, TCP, and Feit.  California’s regulations on light bulbs currently exempt certain bulb types, such as those commonly used in ovens.

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Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design, Technologies

An Introduction to DMX Lighting Control

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DMX1DMX lighting control is all about taking your lighting experience to another whole new level. It has revolutionized the lighting industry with intelligent technological advancements.

In the past, intelligent lighting domain was a preserve for those considered professionals. However, with the development and design of more affordable electrical, electronic, plus computer control systems, superior good lighting effects can now be realized.

Understanding Intelligent Lighting?

DMX2Intelligent lighting comprises unique elements that can be controlled remotely. At an intricate level, this might involve moving heads, patterns & colors. And on a simple level, only the color can be controlled with RGB LEDs or a dimmer. In short, intelligent lighting is amazing.

Integrating a controller, DMX lighting makes it possible for you to simultaneously send signals to multiple devices, sequencing them automatically with a pre-determined view or operating the effects live on-the-fly. If you have watched the popular Halloween house lights video set to thriller, you should know that it utilizes DMX intelligent lighting control.

So, What Is DMX?

DMX is a digital, unidirectional serial protocol without error checking capabilities. It’s very reliable but prone to interference, something which makes it unfit for hazardous effects like pyrotechnics. For instance, a stray signal/electrical interference might cause a flame tower. Like many digital cables, the quality of produced signals decreases over long distances & repeaters can be incorporated into the lighting system to increase the distance/split the signal using Ethernet switches. The DMX cabling itself comprises 2 shielded twisted pairs. Technically, 5-pin DMX wiring should be used, but certain manufacturers have designed 3-pin versions that can run over conventional microphone XLR cabling.

Are Your Lighting Fixtures DMX Capable?

DMX3A DMX-capable lighting fixture should have more than two XLR connectors (which must be marked as DMX IN / OUT) and a way to set the DMX address (i.e. either small switches arranged in a row or a control panel). Note that the XLR connectors can have three or five pins, but it depends on the manufacturer. Just refer to the fixture manual to establish the number of DMX channels the light uses.

Will your lighting system work with DMXIS or Even D-PRO?

DMX supported fixtures can be controlled using any DMX software /console. So, whether yours is a dimmer pack, a moonflower, or even a scanner, it can perfectly work with DIMXIS. Moreover, moving head, laser, and LED spot can work well with DMXIS. In fact, DMXIS & D-PRO are capable of controlling all lights, provided they have DMX connectors.

What About Sound Activated Light?

DMX4However, “sound activated” lights with no XLR connectors cannot be controlled by DMX. LED lighting has undergone massive technological advancements that have completely revolutionized the lighting industry, offering improved performance and highly efficient lighting options both for residential & commercial applications. The 0-10V and the DALI (digital addressable lighting interfaces) dimming modules are two unique components that provide true innovations for various dimming control projects. Working alongside these elements is the DMX control (digital multiplex), an important component often utilized in color mixing applications.

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Light Bulb General Information, Technologies, Uncategorised

Why Light Output Should Be Measured In Lumens & Not Watts

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Lumens vs. Watts1As light emitting diodes become the standard lighting, it is important to understand the dissimilarities between watts and lumens, as well as how to establish the right amount of lumens for achieving optimum atmosphere in a space.

Lumens vs. Watts

Let’s get to understand what lumens are: The lumen is an international scientific measurement standard for the quantity of light generated by a specific light source or its measured brightness. On the other hand, Watts measure the required amount of energy necessary for operating a light source.

The only challenge here is that there isn’t a mathematical formula to convert watts to lumens, like in converting kilograms (Kgs) to miles.

Think Lumens, and Not Watts

Lumens vs. Watts2The advent of LED technology (which is more energy efficient) has changed the lighting landscape. It has rendered the use of conventional bulbs meaningless. Unfortunately, this rapid change in technology has made the old-fashioned “Watt” light measurement less able to accurately indicate the bulb brightness. This does not allow for the different efficiency in conventional types of lights (i.e. filament bulbs, halogen & fluorescent) and LEDs.  This is why light output should be measured in Lumens and not watts.

Thus, the energy industry is now opting to use a more stable as well as widely-accurate unit to measure light intensity commonly known as Lumens.

Understanding Lumens

Lumens (abbreviated as lm) is a measure of light emitted by a lamp/ bulb (but it must be visible with the naked eye). The greater the Lumens number, the brighter the light.

Understanding Watts

On the other hand, watts don’t measure the brightness, rather the amount of electricity used.

Bulb Luminous Efficacy

Lumens vs. Watts3The effectiveness of bulbs is expressed in terms of the lumen-to-watt ratio. This is the number of lumens produced for each and every watt consumed.

The rate of conversion of watts to lumens by bulbs varies and is dependent on the technology used. Lighting bulbs producing more L/P (i.e. lumens-per-watt) are cheaper to run since they generate more light and use less power.

LEDs possess the highest L/W ratio—what this means is that they are capable of generating a higher amount of light (from the bulb in question) for relatively little energy.

Longer-Lasting and Energy-Saving LEDs

The introduction of LEDs tremendously reduced power parameter requirement for buyers. This is because you’ll be getting a bulb fixture that’ll cost you 90% less as far as your electricity bills are concerned. What’s more, these bulbs are likely to last longer. Producing less heat as compared to incandescent bulbs helps LEDs to realize a 50,000 hr. lifespan.

So, when shopping around for a replacement lighting bulb, think of lighting fixture that’s brighter, longer-lasting, as well as more energy-efficient—the LEDs.

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Lumens vs. Watts4

Lumens vs. Candelas

The two measurements can be confusing and are similar. However, they have subtle differences. Lumens are used to measure the amount of light emitted (i.e. the total visible amount of lights from a given source). This is also known as its luminous flux. On the other hand, candelas are used to measure the luminous intensity. It is also important to note that candelas are more predominant in America, while the EU prefer lumens.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design, Technologies

IP Ratings Explained

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IP Ratings Explained111The IP ratings (an abbreviation for International Protection ratings) is a two-numbered representation for protection against solids and water. The first digit represents the protection rating against certain solid foreign objects (such as dust) while the second digit is the actual protection against water.

Understanding IP rating for lights

The IP rating (Ingress Protection) is an internationally recognized method utilized to describe and measure the level of protection of electrical appliances against water and other technical components. It’s always advisable to choose the right IP rating for your exterior lights plus ceiling fans so as to prevent hazardous accidents.

For enclosures, the emblematic “waterproof” IP ratings include IP67, IP66 & IP65 enclosures.  The table below explains the meaning of each of these ratings and how they’re arrived at.

IP Ratings Explained1

IP Rating The actual Protection offered Description of the offered protection Test Method
IP65 Enclosures These ones can protect against any water jets Water entry is projected by a nozzle (which is 6.3 mm long) against enclosures from all directions and must not have any harmful effect. Test duration: The test takes about 15 minutesWater volume: It requires about 12.5 liters of water per minutePressure: The test requires a pressure of 30 kPa at a 3m-distance
IP66 Enclosures This one can offer protection against water jets Water is projected in dominant jets (i.e. a 12.5 mmNozzle) against enclosures from all directions and shouldn’t have any harmful effects. Test duration: It requires about 3 minutesWater volume: The test requires 100 liters of water per minutePressure: The test must be done at a pressure of 100 kPa and at a 3m
IP67 Enclosures These ratings can protect against an Immersion of up to 1 m It protects entrance of large volume water and when the enclosure in question is immersed in water(but under pre-defined under pre-defined pressure and time conditions) Test duration is 30 minutes The immersion should be at a depth of more than 1 m measured from the  bottom of the device and more than 15 cm measured from the top of the device

 

IK Rating: What is it?

IK ratings denote the European standard EN — the equivalent of IEC 62262 (2002) standards. This represents an international numeric classification concerning degrees of protection by enclosures for all electrical appliances against external mechanical forces/impacts.

IP rating in electrical appliances

The IP Code is an International Protection Marking that interprets the IP code as an Ingress Protection Marking. It also classifies & rates it as the level protection against intrusion, dust, unintentional contact, as well as water.

IP ratings brief history

IP Ratings Explained1111111IP ratings were first developed by the International Electro-technical Commission. They are mostly used in Europe & Asia, but find some adherents in parts of North America.  Since they’re international standards, testing and certification is done by the TUV and not UL.  Note: IP ratings were developed to address harsh environments and not ultraviolet rays (UV) protection. Thus, engineers should incorporate additional materials that offer UV protection.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design

Architectural Lighting for Buildings

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Architectural Lighting 1Light defines space. And architecture lighting is an art that entails the masterly, correct, as well as magnificent consolidation of masses in form of light. The human eye is attracted by light. Simple design additions can enhance the effectiveness of any building, turning it into a happier, healthier, & productive environment.

Architectural Lighting & Daylight

The largest impact on lighting & design is derived from the buildings’ architectural orientation and massing. Other key players include ceiling height plus the section profiles, which influence the availability of daylight in any building. Naturally, a south facing orientation, slender floor plates, raised ceilings, in addition to open divisions tend to allow more usable light into a building, thus correspondingly reducing the amount of electric lighting used. That’s why you should bring lighting designers onto any architectural project team early enough to bring an impact on the massing decisions.

Illuminating the Actual Building Architecture

Architectural Lighting2Architectural lighting is meant to illuminate your room’s actual architecture, including walls and ceilings. It’s meant to create a balanced, indirect, lighting environment that enlivens a room’s architecture. Exciting interiors, such as brick /stone veneers can go a long way in enhancing your home’s architectural lighting features.

Architectural Lighting: The Importance

Lighting can help inject more value into any architectural building. It plays a key role in the overall architecture of any building. Whether you light your building and structure naturally or artificially, you should endeavor to do it right—-since lighting allows people to see and appreciate your buildings’ beauty.

Lighting also brings an emotional value of architecture to any building. From those occupying the building to the visitors, the right architectural lighting will let your building sparkle with class and elegance. Whether yours is daytime or artificial lighting, the right design can draw attention to your textures, space, and colors, helping your lighting scheme achieve its purpose.

Think Aesthetics, Function, and Efficiency

To achieve a successful lighting-architecture balance, it’s vital to take into consideration:

  • Aesthetics
  • Function
  • Efficiency

Aesthetics

With aesthetics, designers tend to focus on the impact of emotional balance (i.e. the lighting- architecture balance). It helps people feel different when they’re in and out of the building. Ideal for retail locations; this exterior lighting aspect will help draw attention and create an everlasting impact.

Function

Function is another vital aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked. As much as you’ll want the light to look in a certain way, you should also ensure that it serves the purpose – to help people see. Illuminate spaces to guarantee the safety of the occupants who navigate through the building.

Efficiency

SONY DSCEfficiency is another key aspect architectures and interior designers should seriously consider. Create a breathtaking light layout that’s incredibly energy-efficient. And the easiest way to go about this is by installing the LEDs as opposed to fluorescent lighting—since LEDs are far much more energy efficient than other lighting sources.

The Three Elemental Types of Light

Invest in these three “elemental types of light”. They are the heartbeat of any modern lighting design.

  1. Focal glow – Also known as task lighting, focal glow points out vital elements and help draw attention to spaces. They are directive in nature, creating brighter centers. Bonus, they can effectively highlight the important element.
  2. Ambient luminescence – Also referred to as general/ambient lighting, ambient luminescence is the background lighting, which illuminates the entire space. Mostly, it should be uniform. Moreover, it shouldn’t cast shadows.
  3. Play of brilliants – Play of brilliant (accent lighting) is a dynamic & colorful architectural lighting that aims at stimulating people as well as their emotions. It excites peoples’ optic nerves, which helps stimulate their body and spirit. This awakens the curiosity and sharpens the wit.

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Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design

Buyers Guide on LED Bulbs

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LED Bulbs 1LEDs bulbs, an abbreviation of light-emitting diodes bulbs, are kinds of light sources that exhibit a high level of efficiency.  They are different from other conventional types of bulbs like incandescent & halogen lamps. Their lifespan is superior and they consume less energy and emit little amount heat.

LED bulbs: How long do they last?

A high-quality LED bulb can last for at least 20,000 hours, and serve you for around 50,000 hours. For comparison purposes, incandescent bulbs and CFLs have a lifespan of 1,000 hours 9,000 hours respectively. With consistent daily use—8 hours a day—a good quality LED bulb could serve you for about 17 years!

LED bulbs: The Advantages over CFLs

  • Durable: LED bulbs are more durable, lasting about 5- 10 years.
  • Efficiency: LED bulbs are highly energy efficient. They consume half of the electricity that conventional bulbs use.
  • Environment: LED bulbs are Eco-Friendly. They don’t use mercury like the CFLs.
  • Heat dissipation: The heat dissipation of LED bulbs is lower than the conventional ones. Their bulb filament is fairly cool and there is no heat around the bulb

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Top 9 Factors to Consider

LED Bulbs2Lighting is an important aspect of any home. So, doing it right will uplift your home. However, before purchasing LED bulbs, you should consider vital factors, including:

1. Fitting

Fitting is an important aspect of LED bulbs. Thus, you should always select the bulb that has the right fitting. For instance, if you’re replacing an old bulb, take it to the store. However, if it’s impossible to take it with you, have the fitting reference number and share it with the store technicians.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT BULB FITTINGS

2. Cost

Don’t be scared by the upfront (initial) cost of LED bulbs. In the long run, LEDs could save you big.

3. Note Color Rendering Index

The CRI is used to indicate the accuracy of colors under the LED bulb’s light. The CRI, which ranges from 0-100, is high during the day (i.e.  100). Recommended CRI for interior lighting is 80. To compare LED bulbs, observe the CRI of different bulbs with similar Kelvin temperature.

LEARN ABOUT COLOUR RENDERING INDEX

4. Brightness

LED Bulbs ReadingWhen purchasing LED bulbs, ensure you understand your brightness needs. Therefore, purchase one that quenches your brightness thirst.

5. LED Lamp Voltage

LED bulbs come in different voltage ratings. The voltage ratings vary from 6V- 240V. For searchlights, low voltage LED bulbs are preferred. However, 120-240 V LED bulbs are ideal for normal room lighting.

6. Shape & Direction of Light

The shape of your LED light bulb determines the style of the room plus its holder. So, depending on your style, you can either choose Omnidirectional, Flood reflector, or even Flame tip LED bulbs.

Finding the right LED bulb shape is part of your room’s aesthetics. So, get the right brand with the right characteristics. For instance, a golf LED bulb will spread its light in 360-degrees, making it ideal in golf courts.

7. Quality matters

Ensure that the quality of the LED bulb you buy is superior. You’ll not want to buy something and after a few days, it’s spoilt.

8. Think lumens, not watts

Don’t purchase your bulb by the number of watts. With the new technologies focusing on energy-efficiency, LED bulbs can now emit the same light amount for less power.

The Bottom-line: Lighting Your Home

LED Bulbs garden 5Most living rooms require general, ambient LED lighting complemented by unique task-explicit accent lighting.

Thus, getting ambient lighting for your room will radiate an entirely comfortable amount of brightness. Always ensure that all your rooms are supplied with a central ambient LED lighting source.

Additionally, install a task LED lighting system that is easily switched on & off –depending on your preferences & needs. For instance, bulbs for reading & sewing should have an elaborate control system. Moreover, don’t forget to include an explicit on and off switch or bulbs that give extra light over your kitchen benches as well as bathroom mirrors.

Accent lighting, when done right, are powerful at emphasizing paintings, gardens or house plants, and even collectibles.

Light Bulb General Information, Lighting Design, The Environment

Lighting Building Exteriors

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Lighting Design 1You have pulled out numerous stops–just to make that house, building, backyard and its surrounding of yours look superb. So, why let all your labored work go in vain when, with a glide of a switch plus some strategically positioned landscape exterior lights, you can confidently roll back the dimness and let the display do the talking?

When done right, exterior lightings can turn your environment into a bliss. They help highlight any home’s architectural features—something which will obviously draw attention to the backyard.

Whether you are looking for architectural or even security outdoor lighting, the right systems will definitely provide that visual oomph in addition to a safety boost to your home or business building.

Security Is a Key Factor

There are so many reasons that can prompt you to light your outdoor area. The most obvious one being safety and security. The lighting requirements for a parking lot is dependent on traffic. However, this shouldn’t worry you because recommended illumination levels can be obtained from the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). Carefully observe its suggestions to avoid possible insecurity issues.

Safety: Safety means staying safe from tripping over an obstacle or walking into a tree and the required light levels for this are actually very low. One can see quite well in the moonlight and that’s just about 0.02 foot-candles.

Security: On the other hand, security refers to protection from people and threats. To achieve a considerable sense of security for your property, you’ll need to boost outdoor artificial lighting. If you are in the garage or parking area, you need to know if someone is plotting to mug you. You also need facial recognition to choose between fight and flight. And picking such visual cues requires an illumination level of 3 foot-candles. A safe outdoor is very important to any home, building or organization, so be keen to provide sufficient lighting in the exteriors.

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 The Power of Aesthetics

Lighting Design 2The other reason for enhancing your outdoor lighting is aesthetics. Remember, lighting is an important feature of attracting renters to your property. So, it should be taken seriously. You want to ensure that your building looks open and inviting, just like a community beacon.

Exterior Spaces Require Attention

Illuminating outdoor spaces entails paying special attention to light fixture position, intensity, and color in addition to duration. When properly combined, these factors will surely realize the right lighting design that is capable of achieving safety, efficiency in terms of energy consumption, and cost reduction.

Exterior Lighting: The Golden Advice

Exterior lighting is effective at giving dimension to any building plus the surrounding landscape. However, they are not all about flooding your surfaces with light. You should highlight small. This means highlighting a few structural parts with a vivid spotlight. Showering the walls with twinkles of light can create a dramatic effect, giving the exterior a different appearance at dusk. However, when designing your exterior lighting fixtures, consider the texture, brick & stone color and steelwork.

Exterior Lighting – The Power of Going Architectural

Rather than simply lighting your exterior space with ordinary bulbs, use architectural lighting to brighten it up and add some elegance. But, take caution not to create glare or light pollution. Also, consider other users (for instance those inside) since badly placed lighting can cause glare-related problems to other building users.

Façade lighting: Making Non-engineering Decisions

Façade lighting Façade lighting 3Façade lighting is not about numbers. Of course, engineers will compute the vertical luminance, luminance plus uniformity values for your building—however, that isn’t the prime goal.

You need to make numerous non-engineering decisions. For instance, determine if you are intending to let the building blend in /stand out. Are you after a subtle or “in the face” effect? Which colors do you want?

Making your building look “wow” is down to your aesthetic judgment. In case you are unsure about your decisions, consult an exterior lighting designer, an architect, or planner about your target effect. Remember, it’s always better to highlight certain parts of the building as opposed to flooding the entire façade with uniformed light.