Specialty and Architectural Lighting — LED

Photocontrol devices use photocells to determine ON/OFF status of outdoor lighting based on the ambient light level. While generally understood as responding to visible light, some photosensors also respond to infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Normally used for roadway, area, parking, flood and security lighting, photocontrols automatically control the ON/OFF cycle to optimize the effectiveness of the lighting and maximize energy savings. In daylight harvesting applications, the photocontrol is mounted inside the occupied space...

LED light is inherently directional. Most traditional light sources - incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent and HID - emit light in all directions. For these light sources to have specific directional characteristics, the lamp is made with a reflector and sometimes a lens to modify the illumination so it becomes more focused, or directional. For example, PAR halogen lamps are available in a range of beam angles from 60°, a wide flood, to 8° a narrow...

Years ago, LED bulbs were often advertised as having 100,000 hours of rated life. However, that has largely disappeared in favor of the 25,000 hour bulb. Some manufacturers even make 11,000 hour LEDs. Learn what's changed in how we measure the rated life of LED bulbs, because of the unique nature of solid state lighting technology.

LED lighting excels in cold temperature environments. At Pegasus Airfield near McMurdo Station Antarctica, the runway is illuminated with LED lights. Temperatures range from a high of 12°F down to 0°F and lower. Large commercial cold storage facilities are often illuminated with LED lighting. Finally, one of the fastest growing sectors of LED lighting over the last few years (2014 - 2017) has been LED outdoor roadway and area lighting - a type of lighting...

A significant contributor to electrical energy use in the U.S. is outdoor area lighting. Street and roadway lights, walkway and park lighting, surface parking pole mounted fixtures and building mounted wall packs are all designed to illuminate space at night to provide safe passage and security for vehicles and pedestrians. Some of the earliest dedicated LED lighting fixtures were for outdoor area lighting applications. By 2017, LED area lighting has matured to the point that...

The number of recessed downlights in small commercial and residential environments often exceeds all other types of light fixtures in the building. Tucked neatly inside the ceiling, these fixtures manage to be both an unobtrusive and an effective source of illumination for many types of spaces. The traditional light source for these downlights has been the incandescent BR30 (3.75" diameter) or BR40 (5" diameter) reflector floods. Unlike architectural grade downlights, the typical small commercial and...

One look at the LED T8 retrofit lamp and installation options can quickly make you want to run for cover - or give up and live with fluorescent. The later approach, while not as forward-looking as LED, makes some sense especially if you are comparing the 30,000 to 40,000 hour T8 fluorescent lamps now available with 35,000 to 50,000 hour LEDs. From a low risk perspective, not to mention low up front costs, current generation...

Recessed downlights are a common lighting fixture found in most commercial and residential buildings. Lobbies, hallways and conference rooms often take advantage of the clean ceiling look of a recessed downlight to provide ambient or accent lighting in these spaces. In homes, kitchens are the most common location where recessed downlights are found, but contemporary homes may use them throughout the house. Traditional recessed downlights consist of several pieces: a housing with socket and wire...

Many LED lamps and fixtures on the market today include a dimming capability. While certainly a beneficial feature, often a necessary one, dimming LED lamps can be an adventure unless some basic steps are taken to ensure compatibility between the LED lamp and dimming control. In the world of tungsten filament lighting (incandescent / halogen) virtually every light bulb operating on AC can be dimmed effectively by simply trimming the voltage. Lower voltage produces less...

Within the lighting industry, LEDs become more popular and versatile by the month. But with the bulb-buying public, LED has forced a change in how consumers think about light. From too many options to color temperatures to the rated lives of LEDs, we look at the challenges people currently face when switching from traditional lighting to LED.