Whereas the marketplace for colored (Red, Green, Blue) RGB LEDs is well established, the market for white LEDs is still growing. Why? Once you think of industries that still depend on white, non-LED lighting, such as televisions, automotive manufacturers, computer monitors, notebook computers, LCD backlights, etc., it is possible to understand the push to end up being the leader in white LED manufacturing.
Lots of people are surprised a business would pass up a revenue generating opportunity that converting a home or business to LED would create. However, because replacement white LED bulbs and retrofits are finally in the marketplace, does not mean that they should be on your own immediate shopping list. In very simple terms, the marketplace for colored and color-changing LEDs is mature. While engineers are still finding ways to make sure they are brighter and much more efficient, the holy grail of the LED industry is in developing volume production of high-efficiency, high-brightness white LEDs.
It may be simpler to think about colored LEDs (RGB) and white LEDs regarding another industry: Automotive. RGB LEDs are just like the internal combustion engine: Reliable, abundant, simple to use and manufacture, and fairly well toned in terms of the prospect of new or breakthrough technologies. You will find plenty on manufacturers and each has their very own set of patents and “tricks of the trade” to help give themselves some marketing leverage over the competition. White LEDs are like the alternative energy industry for transportation: Quite varied, still relatively “new”, still having to be market proven, more expensive, more challenging to manage.
There are plenty of manufacturers, each utilizing a different technology or mix of technologies to achieve what they believe is the “the next big thing.” Third , analogy, RGB LEDs are mature enough to compete on cost alone and the drop in costs is what fuels new applications for colored LEDs that had not been thought of previously. White LEDs, on the other hand are still developing technically and should not be shopped based on cost alone. The need for quality and longevity is what fuels the further research and development into white LEDs.
11 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN DETERMINING LED UPGRADES
Because there are so many variables that require to be considered, making a quick and easy recommendation about transitioning to white LEDs is not possible. To acquire a jump start on the future, consider every lighting source in each room and establish what it’s primary purpose is. Once you have done this, review the next what to help determine where on the priority purchase-list each replacement ought to be. Below are a few general guidelines to help you determine if an LED upgrade is the right choice for you:
1.) Is the lighting located in a home where in fact the primary resident is older or has mobility issues?
If the LED replacement produces adequate light levels, LED alternatives are ideal for use in homes where safety is a top priority. Realizing that an ill or older person will not have to change a burned-out lamp again can offer peace-of-mind.
2.) Is initial cost a primary element in determining if you’re going to upgrade?
The existing nature of the white LED market implies that prices are still relatively high, especially compared to traditional lighting. As an early adopter means paying reduced; are you comfortable with knowing you might have paid less for exactly the same technology if you had waited?
3.) Is the light located in bright daytime sunlight or a location of high heat?
High degrees of heat will noticeably shorten the lifespan of any LED, especially white LEDs. When considering LEDs, try to make sure that both fixture and the positioning enable adequate passive cooling to avoid color-shift and longevity issues. It is a much bigger concern when contemplating retrofit bulbs versus considering a “total package” LED fixture and lamp.
4.) Are you having to reduce the heat output from a traditional light source?
In bathrooms, laundry rooms and small spaces, conventional lighting can produce uncomfortable heat. LED lighting is great for these areas because they produce no heat and because affordably illuminating smaller areas with LEDs presents significantly less of a challenge.
5.) May be the lighting located in a location of rough service or environmental extremes?
Garage door openers, unheated/cooled utility rooms and outdoor workshops place extreme demands of lighting equipment. Vibrations that may break a lamp filament and winter that can cause a fluorescent tube to flicker are of no consequence to LED lighting, making these replacements a fairly easy decision.
6.) Is the brightness critical to the application?
LEDs are directional by nature, so attempting to meet a specific brightness expectation over a wide area is not the best use of LED lamps. The existing crop of standard fluorescent tubes or high-bay lighting will probably be more efficient for these applications.
7.) Are you trying to retrofit a preexisting lighting fixture to support an LED replacement?
Most current lighting fixtures are designed to capture and reflect just as much light as you possibly can from conventional light sources that produce light from all 360 degrees. Because LEDs emit very directional light, you can find often many compromises that must definitely be made by manufacturers in order to make LEDs “work” for the greatest amount of retrofits. When possible, rather than retrofit bulbs consider a “total package” LED lighting fixture that has been designed from the bottom around efficiently use LEDs.
8.) May be the light output and quality of the LED version acceptable in comparison to your existing lighting?
With 100 watt high bay led lights of the lighting technology available (incandescent, fluorescent, LED, etc.) the only method to get an accurate idea of the way the lighting will perform would be to compare the light output or lumen and color temperature specifications rather than the wattage as is typical of most folks raised with traditional lighting in the home. THE UNITED STATES Department of Energy has devised a standardized “lighting facts” label similar in concept to the nutrition label entirely on foods, to help consumers compare lighting.
9.) Are the bulbs you’re considering replacing difficult to access or reach?
If they’re, LED replacements are excellent candidates because after they are changed, you will likely never have to change them again since LEDs usually do not “burn up” such as a conventional bulb.
10.) Are you currently replacing all the light bulbs in a particular area or just an individual bulb?
Unless you know the colour temperature of all lighting in the area, try to be consistent in whatever lighting technology you choose. For instance, if your room uses primarily halogen lighting, chances are a warm color temperature and changing a single reading lamp to LED with a cooler lighting temperature will not only be noticeable, but may also be distracting.
11.) Does the energy savings and/or return on investment (ROI) make it worthwhile at this point?Prepare an energy audit using free web calculators to find out how much money you will put away on energy and what the potential return on investment is. Just enter your energy rates, the total wattage of your conventional lighting and the total wattage of the LED lighting that you will be considering and the calculator will tell you exactly how much money each technology will cost you per year.
As you can plainly see, every lighting situation is highly recommended individually contrary to the above checklist. Doing so will assist you to determine LED upgrade plans that fit within both your allowance and your expectations. Generally, LED lighting will continue steadily to improve in both output and efficiency each year similar to the way the non-public computer market has evolved. What could possibly be considered a “middle of the street” LED lamp today, was very likely considered reduced product per year or two ago. Prioritizing your LED lighting purchases in order that the basics are covered first and delaying your more demanding lighting requirements as the technology improves will ensure a cushty transition to tomorrows lighting technology.