Feel free to review some of our Frequently Asked Questions below:
How do LEDs Work?
LEDs are comprised of 3 main components: the LED‘s (the chip set that produces light), the driver (converts AC to DC) and the heat sink (to keep everything cool). LEDs take DC power from the driver and create light. The heat sink captures heat from the LEDs and the drivers. Although LEDs produce significantly less heat than the light bulbs we have been used to over the past century, the heat they produce must be managed. The better this is done, the longer the life of the product.
LED‘s also performs the job of converting electricity to light more efficiently than other light sources, that is why we can replace a 400W metal halide bulb with a 120W LED high bay.
How much money can you save when converting to LED?
It all depends what you are converting. Incandescent to LED, fluorescent to LED, Metal Halide to LED. Fortunately, we built a very simple and informative Energy savings calculator. Enter in a few fields and select one of our existing LED lights, and let it calculate your energy savings. We tried to make it simple and easy to use. But it is not uncommon to see at least a 70%+ savings on your energy consumption.
Can LED lights be used with dimmer controls?
Yes and No. First, not all LEDs are dimmable. The driver must be designed to allow dimming. Secondly, you must purchase the right type of dimmer. Most retail stores now carry dimmers specifically designed for LED lights. Please note, if you purchase a non-dimmable LED bulb and try to dim it, it will cause the bulb to fail and also void the warranty.
Some of our industrial and commercial LED fixtures (high bays, low bays, panel lights) work with a 0-10V dimming system. 0-10V dimming requires special wiring and a special type of dimmer.
The two most common types of dimming is: 0-10V low voltage and Triac dimming.
What is the main difference between 1~10V dimming and 0~10V dimming?
With 1~10V dimming, the lighting unit can be dimmed down to 10%; with 0~10V dimming, it can be dim down to 0%, or say, dim to “off”.
When I buy LED, should I buy based on watts or lumens?
Always buy based on lumens, watts is a number that is used to determine how much energy it takes to produce those lumens. It is important to pay attention to lumens per watt, or lm/w. The higher the number, the less energy you will need to produce the light. You will notice that some lights take less energy to produce the same amount of light, and this is something you should watch for. Typically, the higher the ratio, the better.
Can LEDs be used in outside lights?
Yes. Some bulbs are designed with water-proof fittings. Others need to be kept in a water-tight fixture. Read all instructions and manuals before using a LED light outdoors.
What component of the LED system is typically the first to fail?
Almost always, it is the driver. That is why it is important to know who makes the driver in the LED fixture or retrofit you purchase. Brand names like Meanwell and Philips are good. A LED product with a 1 or 2 year warranty is an indication of how good the driver is in that product. Typically a good driver should last more than 50,000 hours.
What is the most common reason LEDs fail?
Heat. Heat is the enemy of electronics, the hotter it is, the shorter the light. However, with good design, you can create a light or fixture that can withstand some high heat environments. Typically a fixture with an external driver will last longer than an integrated fixture that has the LEDs and driver as one unit.
What is DesignLights Consortium (DLC)?
DLC is DesignLights Consortium, the governing body that certifies the quality and efficiency of LED Lights. It is a standard similar to Energy Star. Where as Energy Star is for home owner type products, DLC is for commercial grade LED products. A DLC Qualified product may be eligible for rebates. Your local utility designates whether you are eligible for rebates or not, and it varies between utility companies. Currently there are two standard, DLC Standard and DLC Premium. DLC Premium is more efficient and will save you more money in terms of operating costs.
What’s the difference between UL listing and ETL listing?
UL and ETL are both what is called Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL). NRTLs are in place to provide independent safety and quality certifications on products. Electrical appliances typically require their certification (especially 240V appliances). UL develops the testing standards and tests to them. ETL tests to UL standards. Aside from the body that issues the listing, there is absolutely no difference between a UL listing and an ETL listing.
What color temperatures are available with LED lights?
Color temperature for light bulbs is measured on the Kelvin scale. LED Bulbs come in a variety of colors, but the most common are in a range from 2700K to 6500K. The unfortunate thing is that the only consistent measurement is the Kelvin scale, Many manufacturers like to use terms like Day White, Natural White, Warm White and Cool White, but there is not a standard that defines a Kelvin temperature to associate with those terms. The general rule is WARM (2700K) to COOL(6500K+). The warmer the light, the more yellow tones, the cooler the light, there are more blue tones.
Here are the typical range of color temperatures on TGLIGHTS:
* 2700-3200 - WW - Warm White
* 4000-4500 - NW - Natural White
* 5000-5500 - DW - Day White
* 6000-6500 - CW - Cool White
What are IP ratings (i.e IP65, IP67, etc.?)
A two-digit number established by the International Electro Technical Commission, is used to provide an Ingress Protection rating to a piece of electronic equipment or to an enclosure for electronic equipment. The first digit indicates protection against ingress of solid objects. The second digit indicates protection against ingress of liquids. IP65 indicates a lamp is totally protected against dust and protected against low pressure jets if water from all directions - limited ingress permitted.