When light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were first introduced in the mid-2000s for general space lighting, they were mostly a disappointment because they were too dim to be useful, they were expensive, and weren’t any more efficient than traditional fluorescent technology. Obviously that has changed because LED-based lighting products successfully compete with rival technologies on the basis of light quality, efficiency, dimmability, and almost any other important metric except for price – which is falling rapidly. According to a recent report from Navigant Research, revenues from LED lighting products (including lamps and luminaires) in commercial building markets will grow from $2.7 billion in 2013 to more than $25 billion in 2021. The report, “Energy Efficient Lighting for Commercial Markets” (http://tinyurl.com/mvfdo4r), examines the worldwide market for energy-efficient lighting in commercial buildings, including LED, fluorescent, halogen, and high-intensity discharge lamps and luminaires. As for price, another forecast, from IHS (www.ihs.com), says that more companies are getting into the development and manufacture of the precursor material (such as trimethylgallium – the most common material, trimethylindium, trimethyl aluminum, and triethylgallium) used in the chemical vapor deposition process for making LEDs. This will intensify competition among precursor manufacturers and probably lower the end product price of LEDs. The following are only a few of the products that demonstrate the technology gains and price reductions we’ve seen recently in the LED market.
The Vero series of LED array products from Bridgelux (www.bridgelux.com) features an industry best 122 lm/W nominal efficacy. The Vero platform enables plug and play connectivity for lighting manufacturers, enabling leading solid state lighting product performance capabilities while streamlining production processes for lighting manufacturers. These capabilities lead to shorter product development times, lower inventory requirements, reduced costs and more light with less energy.
The Vero platform provides customers with a standard option of choosing either 2SDCM or 3SDCM MacAdam color control. This advancement in color control options enables consistent lighting installations with both high quality color rendering and appearance. Vero arrays are compatible with a wide variety of standard drivers (350-mA increments) and optical components, providing manufacturers with greater flexibility and a wide range of options, shortening product development times, lowering inventory requirements and reducing costs.
Wilbrecht (www.wilbrechtledco.com) introduced the 100/600 series, CR/BR/CC and CRM/BRM panel mount LEDs that target front or rear panel mounting. The pre-wired assembly of a red, green or yellow bipolar LED and a resistor work directly from 120 or 240 Vac, as an LED power indicator or as a drop-in replacement for neon indicators.
The front-mount housing options include the 100/600 series domed cylindrical and flush plastic lenses, or the CR/BR/CC series screw on metal housings for 0.312-in. holes. Rear mount housings include the press fit L61 series for 0.250-in. holes or the screw-on CRM/BRM metal housing for 0.315-in. holes. Most of the panel-mount LEDs are available with IP66 sealing and can be supplied with wire leads or LED pin terminations. All the indicators can be customized with a variety of resistors to meet specific ac-voltage requirements, including 120 Vac. Options include custom lead lengths and custom symbol printing on flat lenses as well as various connector options.
The waterproof LED down light, GL-DL06-IP from GlacialLight (www.GlacialLight.com) is a compact 6-in. down light that that is IP54 rated and targets wet spaces including bathrooms, spas, and yachts. It consumes 12 W and features non-dimmable, ac-triac dimmable, and 3-in-1 dimmable functions. All three configurations have three color temperature options.
The LED down light is a slim circular lightweight fixture. It installs in ceilings by mounting or placing it in a ceiling board. A light fixture trim extension that hides the driver is available as an option for ceiling mounting needs. It has a 110° beam angle and is available in a color temperature of 3000K (warm white), 4000K (neutral white) or 5700K (cool white). The light cast smoothly fades around the edges of the fixture thanks to luminosity reflecting on the edges and the special paint solution on the surface. This provides for an atmospheric and aesthetic effect ideal for spaces such as bathrooms or spas. The non-dimmable and 3-in-1 dimmable options are suitable for a wide range of input voltages (100 to 240 Vac), making them effective solutions for almost all worldwide locations. The ac-TRIAC dimmable option is available in either 100 to 120 Vac or 200 to 240 Vac input.
Cree (www.cree.com/lighting) introduced the VG series parking garage luminaire that deliver optimal, low-glare illumination by eliminating direct view of the LEDs with an optical system. The luminaire series helps create a pleasing appearance while delivering high-performance lighting. The innovative product lowers total cost of ownership and can deliver payback in less than two years. The payback is calculated compared to metal halide and based on commercial usage of 24 h/day and the national average of $0.11/kWh for electric costs.
With typical parking garages operating 24/7, managing energy costs is critical for facility managers and owners. The VG series delivers energy savings up to 73% compared to metal halide fixtures. These LED, while simultaneously delivering high illumination quality, can help create a safer feeling in garages. The low-glare luminaire features a composite optical system combining an efficient internal reflector and a precisely designed prismatic lens. The luminaires deliver up to 10% uplight, reducing the ‘cave effect’ that is typical with existing LED luminaires.
The Larson (www.larsonelectronics.com) EXP-LED-HL-DFX explosion proof dual function LED headlight can be worn on a hardhat or directly on the head, allowing hands-free illumination for most hazardous locations. The headlamp features 120-lm brightness, an LED lamp fitted with a Luxeon emitter, and dual operating modes with high output for maximum brightness or low output for longer operating times. It suits mining, utilities, petrochemical and industrial manufacturing operations.
The explosion-proof headlight suits task lighting and general work operations. The work light provides 120 lm for 4.5 hours in high mode and 70 lumens for 13.5 hours in low mode. The housing of the unit is constructed of impact resistant resin and has been drop-test verified for proven durability, and a high intensity LED protected by an unbreakable polycarbonate lens provides extreme reliability and performance with up to 50,000 hours of operational lamp life. Power for the light is provided by 3 AAA alkaline batteries.
The MicroSideled 3806 LED from Osram (www.osram-os.com) meets the requirements tablets, ultrabooks and smartphones that need high brightness levels and good color rendering without draining the batteries too rapidly. It is efficient in white and blue, offers consistent brightness throughout its lifetime of 15,000 hours, and can withstand high temperature and high current.
The white version of the backlight LED is a standard LED with chip and converter, achieving 150 lm/W efficiency. The blue version offers an efficiency of 55%, measured as the external quantum efficiency. It is designed for a special display technology that uses quantum dots as conversion material. System efficiency with this conversion technology is 10 to 15% greater than with mainstream white LED solutions. Both versions measure 0.15 x 0.03 x 0.2-in. and have a thermal resistance of 66 K/W.
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