Led lighting installation is a great way to completely change the feel and look of any space. Not only do LEDs provide more lumens/brightness then Halogens, they also use far less electricity. In this article we will outline the benefits of switching to LEDs and also answer a few common questions.
What Does LED Stand for
LED stands for, Light Emitting Diode. A diode is an electrical component with two terminals which conduct the electricity only in one direction. The above image is the symbol for a Light Emitting Diode. With an electrical current, the diode emits a bright light around the small bulb.
LEDs used to be an exciting but very expensive way of providing a light source, only high-end homes and display houses would utilise them. As the demand for LEDs grew and the technology improved the price dropped dramatically. These days the majority of new homes come with LED downlights included in the base package.
LED vs Halogen and Incandescent
What are the benefits of LEDs over halogens? Here are just some of the reasons LEDs are by far the better choice.
One of the biggest advantageous of LED lighting is the safety aspect. Have you ever tried to take out or replace a halogen bulb after it has been on for a few minutes? You can barely touch it. The heat that halogen bulbs and light fittings generate is far greater than the LED alternative. Only 20% of the energy used produces light, the other 80% is heat. If the halogen bulb is too close to timber beams or insulation it can cause a massive fire risk.
I have seen timber in roof spaces that are black from the heat produced. Many fires have been caused from insulation on top of halogen light fittings, no recessed light should have insulation covering it but the risk of fire with a covered halogen bulb is far greater than any LED fitting.
Another advantage of LED lighting is the lumens per watt they produce. LEDs generally use 80% of their energy to produce light, only 20% is heat. With incandescent bulbs, 90% of energy consumed is heat and only 10% produces light. This is why when choosing an LED light to replace an incandescent bulb you can get a 6-7 Watt LED that will produce the same lumens (brightness) as a 40Watt incandescent light.
Most quality 90mm LED downlights produce between 500-950 lumens using under 10W of power. To get that amount of light from an incandescent bulb you would need between 60-75W. This leads us to the next advantage of LEDs, MONEY SAVING.
This is the part most people get excited over and the pushing factor to swap to LEDs. The amount of money that can be saved switching to LED lighting. With the prices of LEDs so low now, it’s really worth swapping out all other lighting.
LED Power consumption is the lowest compared to all other lighting technologies—80 percent less than incandescent bulbs and 75 percent less than halogen bulbs.
The power saved in 1 year generally pays for all the LEDs installed. LEDs can last over 40 times longer than incandescent lighting and 14 times longer than halogen lighting. This is another massive saving over a longer period of time.
LED lighting options
So, you have decided to choose LED lighting for your home, office or workshop. Great choice, not only are you saving money, you will have great quality and practical lighting. Now comes the fun bit, choosing the style of LEDs you want to go with. There are literally thousands of options, from lighting colour, style, size, shape and brightness. Here are just a few LED lighting options that SORTED ELECTRICAL can supply and install.
- LED downlights in tri colour temperatures and many different sizes all dimmable
- LED Batten lights to replace fluorescent tube battens also in tri colours and W/P
- LED oyster lights in varies sizes and tri colour
- LED deck lights and step lights
- LED strip lighting for under benches or features
- LED high bay lighting for sheds and workshops
- LED panel lighting for offices
- LED floodlights
- LED spotlights
- Led sensor lights
- LED light attachments for ceiling fans
- LED bulbs for existing light fittings
Sorted Electrical have solutions for any lighting needs, they can supply and install for great prices and provide the perfect lighting for your space. Call for a quote, or answers to any questions you may have.
