Specialty and Architectural Lighting — LED
How to Evaluate LED vs. HID Horticulture Lighting
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
A 2018 study by the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensallear Polytechnic provides detailed guidelines for comparing LED and HID light sources for use in commercial greenhouse and other horticulture facilities. The report is also a cautionary advisory on transitioning to LED based only on the criteria of improved energy efficiency and longer lamp life compared to HID. Scope of LRC Study Commercial environmentally-controlled greenhouses in the U.S. account for nearly 900 million square feet...
- Posted in HID & Metal Halide, Horticulture, LED
That UVC LED You Bought on Amazon Probably Doesn't Work
Posted by Nick on for ProLampSales
- Posted in LED, Ultraviolet Light
LED Downlight Retrofit: Questions to Ask Before You Buy
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
One of the most common light fixtures found in both commercial and residential applications is the ceiling recessed downlight. The clean, smooth ceiling look of recessed downlights makes them popular in office entryways, lobbies, hallways and conference rooms. In homes, recessed downlights are common in kitchens and are often found in rooms throughout the house. Realizing the significant potential for both energy and maintenance cost savings, manufacturers have developed a large range of LED retrofit...
High Bay LED Lamp Retrofit: Case Study Demonstrates Benefits
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
High bay fixtures that use metal halide lamps are common in warehouses, shops, sports facilities and big box retail stores. Wattages for metal halide lamps in these applications typically range from 175 watts to 400 watts. Manufacturers are, in 2020, many generations into their lines of LED lamps designed to replace high wattage metal halide. The wattage for equivalent illumination from LED lamps designed for high bay is generally in the range of 50 watts...
- Posted in HID & Metal Halide, LED
LED Tubes: Which is Best, Glass or Plastic?
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Many manufacturers offer both glass and plastic tube construction for LED replacement lamps. So which is best, glass or plastic? The answer depends on the application. Here’s a brief guide. Application LED Tube Material Damage Protection Comments Office & General Lighting Glass Minimal Protection Least expensive for large scale retrofits Grocery & General Retail Glass PET Coated Shatter Protection NSF Rated Mid-range expense Food Processing & Industrial Plastic Best Protection NSF Rated Most expensive Lamp...
- Posted in LED
LED Upgrades May Not Work As Intended If Existing Controls Are Not Compatible
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
When new LED lamps are used to replace traditional light sources or LED fixtures are part of a retrofit project, an important but often overlooked issue that must to addressed is the compatibility of existing controls. Lighting is a system. The light source is one component. Ballasts, transformers, dimmers, occupancy and photo sensors must be compatible or the new LED light source upgrade will not function properly. It’s not uncommon, after LED lighting has been...
When Does It Make Sense to Upgrade Linear Fluorescent Systems to LED?
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
By a considerable margin the most common lighting job in North America is general space lighting for commercial and institutional occupancies provided by fluorescent tubes mounted in troffers, direct / indirect pendants and strip lights. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) estimated there were over 300 million fluorescent troffers installed in the country. The installed base of fluorescent lamps (primarily T8) is measured in the billions. Five years ago another USDOE study reported...
- Posted in Fluorescent, LED
Why Install LED Lighting in Institutional and Commercial Operations?
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
If you are a business or institution and are not yet using LED light fixtures and bulbs in your operation, you should be. At the very least you should be installing sample product to evaluate it. In 2020 we are at generation 5 and 6 of LED product and the technology is well on it's way to being the dominant light source for buildings. Lower LED Prices Eight years ago, the primary reasons that make...
- Posted in LED
Simple Method of Evaluating Illumination of LED Compared to Existing Light Source
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
When determining whether or not an LED lamp or LED fixture will provide the equivalent lighting that is provided by traditional light sources such as halogen, fluorescent or metal halide, lumens is one of the numbers you need for your evaluation. Spec sheets for most light bulbs and light fixtures include a value for lumen output or, simply, lumens. If the LED lumens are close to the fluorescent lumens, for example, you know that the...
- Posted in LED
What You Need to Know About LED Rated Life and Lumen Depreciation
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
When LED fixtures (or lamps) are installed in a building, thinking about replacement is likely the last thing on the minds of staff. With LED rated life ranging from 25,000 hours (for lamps) to over 50,000 hours (for fixtures) the typical time to replacement is measured in years. However, facility managers should be aware at the outset of LED installations of the different requirements for maintaining and monitoring LED lighting compared to fluorescent, halogen or...
- Posted in LED