10 Things to Consider When Choosing LED Lights
LED lighting has many advantages over traditional incandescent bulb-based lighting. LED Luminaires are as much as 90% more efficient and offer up to 25 times longer life span. This could lead one to think that the decision to upgrade to LEDs would be an easy one. However, comparing LED-based lighting to halogen lamps is like comparing apples and oranges.
Anyone looking to upgrade to or build new with LED lighting must consider the substantial cost involved as well as the best lamps for the intended purpose and that they provide the best value and return on investment. They should last as long as promised and provide the light performance desired. here are the 10 most important things to consider when deciding to invest in LED lighting.
1. Light Output
The amount of power a lamp uses (wattage) is usually a good indication of how bright it will be. LED technology and light output have increased over the last few years. There are large differences between LED luminaires in light performance for the power consumed (lumens per watt). Lumens are a common measurement used to describe the amount of light a lamp produces. This measurement is too often based on the LED’s manufactured rating.
Raw Lumens can be misleading and not the actual measure of useful light emitted by a LED lamp. Factors like the power used to drive the lamp, thermal losses and optic and lens losses as light rays travel through the lens all contribute to a possible 20-50% decrease of the light lumens emitted by the LED. Good optic skills, circuit design and material selection are required to minimize internal lumen losses. Another more accurate measurement of actual light output is lux.
Quality lighting manufacturers, using state-of-the-art photometric equipment, can provide accurate lux or candela charts so consumers get a fair representation of the expected Luminaire performance. Lux and candela ratings refer to the actual light intensity from the lamp at given distances and direction. This way, a user knows what light levels to expect when designing a lighting layout. Other aspects to consider when reviewing luminaire performance include beam angle, evenness of illumination and color temperature and color rendering.
2. Beam Angle
Stare directly into a LED luminaire and it will appear bright and dazzling. Looking directly at some of the high-power LED chips for extended periods can be hazardous to the eye. Hella marine LED lamps use efficient lens and optic designs to reduce glare and eye strain while still projecting the light in an evenly distributed pattern.
For example, downlights will often have a widespread optic to fill a room and by overlapping the widespread beams from several Luminaires, shadows are reduced. Alternatively, other lamps like spotlights or courtesy lighting may be designed to focus or direct the light in a specific direction to achieve a specific effect.
3. Power Consumption
As mentioned earlier, LED lamps can save up to 90% of power compared to traditional incandescent lamps. It is a common misconception that all 4W LED lamps to produce the same light performance. A well-designed 3-watt LED lamp could produce more light than a 4-watt lamp. Much of the performance greatly depends on the LED used and the quality of the optic, thermal management and electronic. Because LED technology is steadily advancing, manufacturers have been able to produce LEDs with a much greater lumen per watt performance.
This means lamps are getting brighter and power consumption from lighting is reducing. So efficacy, which is the measurement of lumens per watt, is an important consideration. If possible, try to compare the lumens per watt to get an accurate measurement of what percentage of power is being used to effectively generate light. The more lumens per watt, the more efficient the lamp is, meaning less power is being used to generate the equivalent amount of light.
4. Color Temperature (Kelvins) and Rendering Index (CRI)
When white LED lighting first became available it quickly gained a reputation for creating cold or blue color tones. As technology has developed, LED color temperatures have advanced and today LED lights are available in a wide range of colors and temperatures, from similar to natural daylight or the warm tungsten glow of traditional incandescent lamps. Cooler white colors (5000K) usually suit white gel-coat boats and exteriors while lush upholstery or varnished timbers look and feel better with a warmer (3000K) light.
As LED technology continues to develop, so does the color rendering ability of the lights. The higher the CRI rating the better and truer the color reproduction. For example, sunlight has the highest CRI rating of 100. LED lamps with a CRI rating of 80 or higher will reproduce the color scheme of the interior with good accuracy.
5. Thermal Management
LED lamps run cool when compared to incandescent lamps, but LEDs and the electronics inside a lamp do heat up. If not cooled effectively, an LED light’s performance will be adversely affected and the life expectancy will be shortened. A hot running LED light can also cause issues when interacting with the surrounding materials, particularly in recessed lamps, which prevents heat dissipation.
High-power LED lamps generate heat so the lamp needs to be designed to efficiently transport this heat away from the LED itself. LEDs that overheat, meaning the junction temperature of the LED rises above a set threshold, will permanently degrade, significantly reducing their luminous efficacy.
6. Materials
Maritime environments have salt, high humidity and strong UV rays. Lamps manufactured with low-grade, corrosive metals or poorly coated alloys soon degrade and rust. This can cause unsightly rust stains on the vessel and blemish the appearance of the lamp.
Eventually, the housing and sealing systems will break down allowing moisture to enter the lamp. Once this happens, it’s only a matter of time until the electronics fail. Continuous exposure to UV can cause LED lamps to become brittle and crack which eventually enables water or moisture inside.
Hella marine products are manufactured using corrosion-resistant materials that have been tested and proven in the marine environment. For exterior and high-impact areas, Hella uses a new ceramic polymer with outstanding thermal performance. Less metal also means less weight: Lamps with thermally conductive plastic are up to 60% lighter than comparable metal bodied lamps.
7. Sealing Rating (IP Rating)
Because LEDs are electronic devices, it is important to protect them from moisture and other contaminants that will degrade or harm the lamp. In a marine environment, this is even more important because the chance of getting water, condensation or salt spray around the lamp is likely even in interior applications. All commercial and leisure Hella marine LED lamps are at least IP 67 rated, meaning the same luminaire can be fitted to the interior and exterior on your vessel. With the same sealed LED light fitted on the interior and exterior, a consistent lighting scheme can be kept and the vessel can be safely cleaned without fear of water ingress into the lamps.
8. Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI)
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is an increasingly relevant safety concern, especially for many emergency and industrial applications. As electronic devices such as LED lamps become more common, so does the risk of unintended electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can have adverse effects on other sensitive devices like radios or communication equipment. Hella Marine has introduced a new RF Comm Safe range of products. In these situations, the limits prescribed by regulatory requirements and as defined in international standards such as EN 60945, IEC 61547, EN 55015 (CISPR 15) standards may not be sufficient to ensure there is no interference with sensitive radio communication equipment.
9. Warranty
Depending on the brand of LED lamp purchased, expect between a 12-month and 7-year warranty and this commitment of the manufacturer will be an indication of the confidence it places in the long-term durability of its product.
10. Cost
Cost is the final consideration when making a purchase decision. Quality LED lamps are usually more expensive than incandescent lamps and there are price differences among LED products as well. As explained, there are different material choices, construction methods and standards a manufacturer designs too. It is important to consider the initial expense and life expectancy of an LED light. The power-saving and longer life span usually offset the initial price paid. How well an LED lamp is designed, engineered and made will help determine the life span. Astute purchasers will prefer to pay for a quality lamp with increased output, efficiency, light patterns and a 5-year warranty.