Whereas the marketplace for colored (Red, Green, Blue) RGB LEDs is more developed, the market for white LEDs is still growing. Why? Once you think of industries that still rely 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.
Many people are surprised that a business would avoid a revenue generating opportunity that converting a home or business to LED would create. However, just because replacement white LED bulbs and retrofits are finally on the market, does not mean that they should be on your 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 them brighter and more efficient, the holy grail of the LED industry is in developing volume production of high-efficiency, high-brightness white LEDs.
It may be easier to think of colored LEDs (RGB) and white LEDs with regard to another industry: Automotive. RGB LEDs are just like the internal combustion engine: Reliable, abundant, convenient to use and manufacture, and fairly well developed with regards to the potential for new or breakthrough technologies. There are lots on manufacturers and each has their very own set of patents and “tricks of the trade” to greatly help give themselves some marketing leverage on the competition. White LEDs are like the alternative energy industry for transportation: Quite varied, still relatively “new”, still having to be market proven, more costly, more challenging to manage.
There are various manufacturers, each utilizing a different technology or combination of technologies to attain what they believe may be 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 was not considered previously. White LEDs, on the other hand are still developing technically and really should not be shopped based on cost alone. The necessity for quality and longevity is what fuels the further research and development into white LEDs.
11 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN DETERMINING LED UPGRADES
Because you can find so many variables that need to be considered, making a quick and easy recommendation about transitioning to white LEDs is not possible. To have a jump start on the future, consider every lighting source in each room and establish what it’s primary purpose is. After you have done this, review the following what to help determine where on the priority purchase-list each replacement ought to be. Here are some general ideas to help you determine if an LED upgrade may be the right choice for you:
1.) May be 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 used in homes where safety is really a top priority. Realizing that an ill or older person won’t need to change a burned-out lamp again can provide peace-of-mind.
2.) Is initial cost a primary factor in determining if you are going to upgrade?
The existing nature of the white LED market means that prices are still relatively high, especially compared to traditional lighting. Being an early adopter means paying reduced; are you more comfortable with knowing you might have paid less for exactly the same technology in the event that you had waited?
3.) May be 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 contemplating LEDs, try to ensure that both the fixture and the positioning allow for adequate passive cooling in order 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 decrease the heat output from the traditional light source?
In bathrooms, laundry rooms and small spaces, conventional lighting can produce uncomfortable heat. LED lighting is ideal for these areas since they produce no heat and because affordably illuminating smaller areas with LEDs presents much less of a challenge.
5.) Is 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 cold temperatures that can cause a fluorescent tube to flicker are of no consequence to LED lighting, making these replacements a simple decision.
6.) Is the brightness critical to the application form?
LEDs are directional by nature, so trying to meet a particular brightness expectation over a wide area is not the very best usage of LED lamps. The current crop of standard fluorescent tubes or high-bay lighting is going to be better for these applications.
7.) Are you attempting to retrofit an existing lighting fixture to support an LED replacement?
Most current lighting fixtures are made to capture and reflect just as much light as possible from conventional light sources that produce light from all 360 degrees. Because LEDs emit very directional light, there are often many compromises that must definitely be made by manufacturers in order to make LEDs “work” for the best amount of retrofits. When possible, instead of retrofit bulbs look at a “total package” LED lighting fixture that is designed from the ground up to efficiently use LEDs.
8.) May be the light output and quality of the LED version acceptable compared to your existing lighting?
With the variety of lighting technology available (incandescent, fluorescent, LED, etc.) the only method to get a precise 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 all folks raised with traditional lighting in the house. THE UNITED STATES Department of Energy has devised a standardized “lighting facts” label similar in concept to the nutrition label found on foods, to help consumers compare lighting.
9.) Will be the bulbs you’re considering replacing difficult to gain access to or reach?
If they are, LED replacements are great candidates because after they are changed, you’ll likely never have to change them again since LEDs do not “burn up” such as a conventional bulb.
10.) Are you currently replacing all the lights in a particular area or just a single bulb?
Unless you know the color temperature of all lighting in the area, try to be consistent in whatever lighting technology you select. For instance, if your room uses primarily halogen lighting, it is likely a warm color temperature and changing an individual reading lamp to LED with a cooler lighting temperature can not only be noticeable, but can also be distracting.
11.) Does the power savings and/or return on investment (ROI) make it worthwhile at this stage?Prepare a power audit using free web calculators to determine 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 one’s conventional lighting and the full total wattage of the LED lighting that you are considering and the calculator will tell you exactly how much money each technology can cost you per year.
As you can see, every lighting situation should be considered individually against the above checklist. Doing so will help you to determine LED upgrade plans that fit within both your budget and your expectations. Generally, LED lighting will continue steadily to improve in both output and efficiency each year similar to the way the personal computer market has evolved. What could possibly be considered a “middle of the road” LED lamp today, was more than likely considered a premium product a year or two ago. Prioritizing led high bay emergency lighting 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.