LEDs have the advantage of being able to be quickly installed, which minimizes disruption and downtime. They are also prized for their return on investment since the payback period is usually less than five years. However, there are some mistakes that are commonly made when upgrading to LED lighting that you’ll want to avoid.
Failing to Evaluate Color Performance
Each light source has a CRI (Color Rendering Index), and the highest value is 100. It determines the ease with which light sources manifest the colors for various surfaces or objects in the environment. There is also another measurement called CCT (Correlated Color Temperature). It defines the actual color for the source of light and ranges from warm white (2700k) to daylight white (6500k).
Higher values are always best for CRI but it also means a higher cost. An LED tube with a maximum rating of 100 CRI provides illumination that can compete with natural light. For CCT there isn’t a specific value that is regarded as being the best, and the reason for this is because various CCT values can be suitable for numerous applications. For example, warm white is good for bedrooms whereas daylight white works best for industrial areas that require high precision performance.
Choosing The Wrong Beam Shape
When two lamps utilize the exact same power source and base type, this doesn’t automatically mean that they can be used for a single application. LEDs are defined by the flexibility of their design and as such there are multiple beam shapes. Examples of this include the A Series bulb, which is shaped like a globe and can transmit illumination in every direction, and PAR (Parabolic Aluminized Reflector) bulbs which emit the majority of their light via a beam that is narrow.
Because PAR and A Series bulbs often use similar base types, users may get undesirable results should the resulting light beam not be suitable for their application. Generally speaking, PAR bulbs should not be used for table lamps as the beam is too narrow and only points in one direction.
Failing to Evaluate The Source of Power
LEDs have three types of power sources, and these are ballast, direct, and driver. Ballasts are also used with fluorescent bulbs and though cost-effective their efficiency is slightly lower because of energy loss, and the ballasts will eventually have to be replaced. The best power source is a power conditioning style circuit which is integrated as it encourages connections direct for the voltage which are supplied via power companies.
Drivers are akin to ballasts, with the difference being that they are designed specifically for LEDs. The downside is that their installation may be challenging but once activated they are supremely reliable and efficient. It is essential to always determine your power supply needs before making a choice.
It is important to take advantage of the incentive programs which are routinely offered by power companies and the government, as they can make your LED upgrade more cost-effective.
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