Product Guide
LED LIGHTING
1. Introduction to LED Lighting
2. Benefits of LED Lighting
3. Lighting Characteristics
4. Luminaires
5. LED Drivers
LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are utilised as the source of light in LED Lamps. LED Lamps offer a number of advantages over CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) and Halogen Lamps commonly installed in commercial and domestic lighting applications throughout Australia. These advantages can provide substantial cost savings, environmental benefits, and enable new options for a range of applications.
LED Lamps have superior attributes to traditional types of lighting, most notably increased efficiency and a long service life. The high efficiency of LED Lamps yields a reduction in energy consumption and lowers energy bills. Their long service life greatly reduces the frequency at which lamps need to be replaced, reducing material costs, labour costs, and waste disposal.
Although the initial cost of installing LED lights is higher than traditional forms of lighting, the cost savings LED lighting provides can quickly pay off the additional investment and yield significant cost savings over the lifetime of an LED Lamp.
In addition to financial cost savings LED lights reduce the cost to our environment through lower energy consumption, which in turn reduces pollution such as CO2 emissions, reductions in waste, and being free of hazardous materials such as mercury, which is found in fluorescent lighting.
Energy Efficiency:
LED Lamps use energy more efficiently than conventional fluorescent and halogen lighting, which means that they can produce the same level of light with less power consumption. Up to 85% in energy costs can be saved with LED Lamps when compared to equivalent halogen lamps. Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly significant as electricity prices rise.
Service Life:
LED Lamps have a long service life of up to 50,000 hours. This is a lifetime of up to 8 times that of fluorescent lamps or up to 14 times longer than a standard halogen lamp. This means that fluorescent or halogen lamps would have to be replaced multiple times over the life of a single LED lamp.
Not only are there savings in the material cost of the halogen or fluorescent replacement lamps, but also substantial savings from labour costs required to conduct these multiple replacements. These significant saving in maintenance costs are in addition to cost savings from reduced power consumption.
Environmentally Friendly:
LED Lamps do not contain mercury nor do they emit UV radiation, both of which are characteristics of fluorescent lighting, which can pose health risks. The mercury contained
in fluorescent lamps pose an environmental hazard, especially if not disposed of correctly.
The superior efficiency of LED Lamps means they use less power and therefore lower the requirement for power generation, which leads to a reduction in pollution such as CO2 emissions. Their superior lifetime results in there being less physical waste created from numerous halogen and fluorescent replacement lamps requiring disposal.
Response Time:
LED Lamps have a response time in the order of nanoseconds. This means that LED Lamps turn on at full brightness almost instantaneously as opposed to Compact Fluorescent Lamps, which flicker on start-up and can take seconds to reach full light output. LED Lamps can also be operated frequently and are more suitable to frequent
switching unlike fluorescent lamps, which are more likely to fail when cycled frequently.
Robust:
LED Lamps are more resistant to impact and vibration when compared to fragile fluorescent lamps. LED Lamps are less likely to be damaged during transportation and installation, and are less likely to fail during operation.
Direction Control:
LED lights have good direction control characteristics. It is easy to control the light distribution, which results in higher lighting efficiency.
Colour Temperature:
LED Lamps come in different colour temperatures which are measured in Kelvin (K), which correspond to different colours of light. The colour temperature of a traditional incandescent light globe typically ranges from 2700 K to 3000 K, which we perceive as a “Warm White” colour. Warm White is used in households and areas of relaxation such as a hotel lobby. LED Lamps with colour temperatures in the order of 6000 K are termed as “Cool White”, typically used in areas such as offices, where the cooler colour temperature can aid concentration.
CRI (Colour Rendering Index):
CRI is a measure of how well a light source can reproduce the colour of an object when compared to natural light. Incandescent light bulbs have a CRI of 100 where as a good quality fluorescent lamp can have a CRI in the order of 80. A CRI greater than 75 is recommended for indoor use. Quality LED Lamps such as the 15W LT-CL19-15W Downlight Kit and MR16-A GU5.3 Lamps have a CRI equal to or greater than 85.
Efficiency:
- The luminous efficacy of a lamp is a ratio of the luminous flux (lm) that a lamp produces to its power consumption (W). The higher the luminous efficacy of a lamp the more efficient it is in its use of power to produce light.
- A good luminous efficacy is achieved through the use of quality components such as Cree LED Devices, which are used in lamps supplied in our store.
- The LED device within a LED Lamp is not the only component that dictates efficiency. An LED lamp is made up of a number of electronic components that drive the LED Device to produce light, and these components can impact the efficiency and lifetime of the lamp. We only stock LED Lamps from premium manufacturers that we have visited, so you can be confident with the design and quality of your purchase. Visit our online store for quality LED Lights.
We supply a large range of luminaires to suit your application. Should you have any product specific queries please feel free to enquire through our online enquiry form.
Recessed LED Downlights
Recessed LED Downlights come in a variety of sizes to suit a range of commercial and domestic applications. They are a perfect alternative to the halogen and fluorescent downlights currently being installed in offices and homes throughout Australia.
LED MR16 Lamps
MR16 is a standard format for halogen multifaceted reflector lamps. MR16 lamps are 2 inches (51mm) in diameter and their base is the GU5.3 standard. MR16 lamps are driven by external transformers and sit within a socket designed for the GU5.3 base.
Halogen MR16 with GU5.3 Base LED MR16 with GU5.3 Base
LED MR16 lamps are designed to directly replace existing halogen MR16 lamps, however not all existing transformers used to drive halogen MR16 lamps are compatible with LED MR16 lamps (please see section below on LED drivers).
In general LED MR16 lamps are intended for use as direct replacements for existing halogen MR16 lamps, rather than being applied to new installations in MR16 kits. This is as it is much more cost effective to install a complete Recessed Downlight unit, such as the 15W LT-CL19-15W Downlight Kit , than to install an MR16 kit comprising of LED MR16 Lamp, LED Transformer, Light fitting, and socket.
LED GU10 Lamps
A GU10 lamp is a variation of MR16 lamp, which can operate directly on mains voltage and does not require an external transformer like the GU5.3 base MR16 lamp. LED GU10 lamps are designed as direct replacements for existing halogen GU10 lamps.
Since GU10 lamps do not require an external transformer, they are a cost effective choice for new installations. They can be installed into standard GU10 fittings that come in a wide range of colour schemes and designs that can be selected to match your interior design. The GU10 fitting can be supplied and installed by a qualified electrician.
LED Globes
LED bulbs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes as direct replacements for incandescent and halogen bulbs and are a superior alternative to fluorescent lamps. They are perfect for use in a number of different light fittings such as pendant lamps, table lamps, floor standing lamps, and chandeliers. Up to 80% of energy consumption can be saved through converting to LED bulbs, and significant savings in maintenance costs can be realised over the LED’s superior lifetime. LED bulbs are much more robust than fluorescent, incandescent, and halogen bulbs that are susceptible to failure when subjected to impact or vibration, especially when in operation.
LED Tubes
LED T8 Tubes are a perfect energy efficient alternative to conventional fluorescent T8 tube lighting.
Significant cost savings can be achieved through decreased energy consumption and a marked reduction in maintenance costs, especially in applications that require high utilisation such as in car parks where lighting is run 24 hours per day.
LED tubes are more robust than fluorescent tubes, and are more resistant to vibration or impact that would otherwise fracture a fluorescent tube. LED T8 tubes also have superior directional control. Light can be distributed more accurately over the intended target area and produce a greater lux, allowing for greater efficiency. Unlike fluorescent tubes, LED tubes do not contain mercury or emit harmful UV radiation, making them a more environmentally friendly source of lighting.
LED T8 tubes do not require a ballast or starter, as required by fluorescent T8 tubes. A ballast can consume an additional 15% of a fluorescent tube’s power output in additional power consumption.
Before installing an LED T8 tube into an existing fluorescent fitting the ballast in the existing fitting needs to be shorted and the starter removed. This work should only be conducted by a qualified electrician.
LED Outdoor Lighting
A range of LED lights intended for outdoor use is available. The low energy consumption, directional control, and colour options make LED lighting suitable for a range of outdoor applications. Outdoor lamps should have a high IP (Ingress Protection) rating such as an IP65 rating.
LED drivers are self-contained power supplies that supply the LED with their required power characteristics. The majority of lamps sold on our online store include integrated drivers, so there is no need to purchase a separate driver to power the lamp.
The most common exception is with MR16 GU5.3 lamps, where an eternal transformer is required to drive the lamp. LED MR16 GU5.3 replacement lamps are designed to directly replace MR16 GU5.3 halogen lamps in their existing fittings, which are powered by existing transformers. However not all existing transformers used to drive halogen MR16 GU5.3 lamps are compatible with LED MR16 GU5.3 replacement lamps. This is clearly evident with obvious and unacceptable flickering of the LED MR16 lamp. Specific LED transformers would then need to be installed to replace the existing incompatible transformer. This can be costly and defeats the purpose of the LED MR16 lamp, which is intended for a direct replacement. If this is the case it is more economical to install a complete recessed ceiling light such as the SFT-TH801-LED6W/WW Ceiling Light, which comes with an integrated driver and can more easily achieve greater efficiency. All installations must be performed by a professional and certified electrician.
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