LED lighting is the most energy-efficient and economical lighting option but it is not without issues. One of the most common issues is that one doesn’t always have the same brightness and color as the next - even when made under the same specifications. This can pose problems, particularly in settings that require a consistent and well-maintained look, such as high-end retail stores or galleries, where it is essential for presenting products or artifacts in the best light.
Knowing how much wattage you need, how many lumens you want, and what color temperature you’d like is key to creating the exact lighting theme you have intended. Once you know exactly what you need and why, you would be able to make the right choices before rolling out the budget for new lights. With a wide variety of wattage, lumens, and color temperatures available, you can create the perfect atmosphere in any room. From energy-saving modes to dynamic scenes, explore all the possibilities at Duralec!
Choosing Wattage and Voltage
The different wattage and voltage ratings are used to ensure compatibility with the existing power supply setup of the home or building. By offering different wattages and voltages, LED light manufacturers make sure their products will be compatible with a wide variety of applications.
Knowing the Voltage AC (Alternating Current) rating indicated on LED product specifications helps determine the appropriate wattage to use. Wattage (W) refers to the power rating of a particular LED light bulb and indicates how much power is required to light the LED to its maximum brightness. Normally, a high-wattage LED bulb would be recommended for use in a high-voltage power setup. Using a high-wattage bulb in a low voltage socket can be dangerous as they draw more power than the wiring it is designed to safely handle and can cause wires to heat up and spark, potentially leading to fires.
It's imperative to always match bulbs to the watts listed on the socket and never exceed that number. If you're unsure about the wattage is best for your setup, make sure to consult an electrician.
AC 100V to 240V to 277V is commonly used in split-phase power systems and is the voltage supplied to most of the US and Canada households and retail outlet applications. LED bulbs recommended for this setup can range from 10W to 120W.
AC 277V to 347V to 400V+ is commonly used in three-phase power systems and is the voltage supplied to many industrial, commercial, and residential buildings. LED Bulbs recommended for this setup can range from 150W to 320W.
You can optionally use LED drivers (built-in or external) to provide power, regulate current, and protect against voltage spikes and surges, which can damage LEDs. Some LED strips and bulbs are self-contained and do not require an external driver.
Choosing a Lumen Output
Remember that the Wattage rating on a bulb indicates how much energy it uses - not how bright it is. The brightness of an LED light is determined by its lumen (lm) rating. Lumens measure how much light the bulb produces; and is what you need to look for on your bulb packaging. A higher lumen rating means brighter light and greater visibility. By looking at the lumen output of different LED lights, you can make sure that you are selecting the right lighting for your space. While having a higher lumen output may mean a higher input wattage, this is not necessarily true for all LED products.
As an example, an older LED 12W bulb might produce the same amount of lumen output as a more modern 9W LED bulb. An LED bulb with the same output lumens and lower wattage is always the better option.
Choosing a Color Temperature
LEDs are also available in different color temperatures that determine the shade of color that the bulb emits and whether it leans towards warm (like golden hour), white (like daylight), or cool (like a cloudy day). To make sure you get the perfect light for your space, always look for CCT rating of the fixture.
CCT (Correlated color temperature) is a measure of the color appearance of light, measured in degrees Kelvin (K). It is used to describe the temperature of a light source and its ability to appear white or neutral.
Warm fixtures are typically used in residential installations because they create a softer, more comfortable ambiance, often used in bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, and other areas that require a cozy atmosphere. Whiter and cooler fixtures are more suitable for commercial environments. Cooler lighting creates an efficient and productive atmosphere ideal for office settings or retail spaces.
Contrary to popular belief, LED lights set to warm colors do not require more energy than whiter and cooler ones so there's really nothing to worry about when choosing a warmer colored light in any setting. In fact, LEDs have an even longer lifespan when used in warm light settings and will last much longer making them perfect for a variety of applications.
Tuning Your LED Lights
How do you make sure that the brightness and color of your LED lights are consistent? LEDs tend to vary in intensity over time, so if a particular area requires consistent lighting, this could cause problems down the road. Since different manufacturers produce LEDs with different color temperatures and levels of brightness, it can be difficult to find LED lights that match each other perfectly without test-fitting them all first. Consider the following when selecting LED lights for any project.
1. Use quality LED lights: Invest in high-quality LED lights to ensure that it is consistent and reliable.
2. Regularly monitor and replace bulbs: Over time, LED bulbs can become less bright, so regularly monitoring the hours they are on and replacing them as needed can help ensure consistency in output.
3. Inspect diffusers and fixture covers: Make sure that included or added diffuser materials on enclosed LED lights are UV-treated and will not cause dimming or yellowing over time.
4. Utilize dimmers: Utilizing dimmers when possible can help to regulate the output of the LED lights, allowing users to get the most out of them e.g. adjusting the brightness to match the current brightness of a set of LED lights where it is added.
5. Choose the right color temperature: Different types of LED lights are available with different color temperatures, so choosing the same color temperature is essential for achieving a consistent look.
6. Choose dimmable, CCT-Selectable, and watt-switchable LEDs: With modern dimmable, color-selectable, and watt-switchable lighting products available at Duralec, you can make adjustments to the energy intake, temperature, and light output with a single installation. Many of these lights are retrofit, and can be easily installed in existing standard fixtures.
CCT-Selectable LED Products
Duralec's dimmable and CCT-selectable LED products are dimmable from 1-10V and are able to produce up to 5 different tones (2700K, 3000K, 3700K, 4000K, and 5000K color temperatures). This means you can customize the light temperature and the brightness level all in one bulb. With the wide range of lighting possibilities, you can use it for any occasion - from creating a cozy atmosphere for nights indoors or providing bright illumination for work tasks!
Switchable Wattage LED Products
Duralec's switchable wattage LEDs have the ability to be switched between two or more different wattages. This type of LED is used in a variety of applications, such as ambient lighting for residential and commercial spaces, and industrial lighting for warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Switchable wattage LEDs provide the user with the ability to adjust the intensity of the light output from their LED fixtures based on their current selected wattage input, offering significant energy savings in the process.
Shop Switchable Wattage Fixtures at Duralec.