An LED lamp is a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the source of light. Since the light output of individual light-emitting diodes is small compared to incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps, multiple diodes are often used together. In recent years, diode technology has improved. High-power light-emitting diodes with higher lumen output are making it possible to replace other lamps with LED lamps. One high-power LED chip used in some commercial LED lights can emit 7,527 lumens while using only 100 watts. LED lamps can be used interchangeably with other types of lamps. Diodes use direct current (DC) electrical power, so LED lamps must also include internal circuits to operate from standard AC voltage. LEDs are damaged by being run at higher temperatures, so LED lamps typically include heat management elements such as heat sinks and cooling fins. LED lamps offer long-service life and high-energy efficiency, which make the initial cost of LEDs higher than fluorescent lamps.
A fluorescent lamp is high-efficiency and utilizes an electric discharge through low pressure mercury vapor to produce ultraviolet (UV) energy. The UV excites phosphor materials applied as a thin layer on the inside of a glass tube which make up the structure of the lamp. The phosphors then transform the UV into visible lights.
Recommended illuminance values vary depending on tasks, size, layout, and other factors. LightCorp has the tools to help you with your lighting layout based on your needs. For more information on illuminance values, contact us directly.
Task lighting is specific, directional lighting that is focused on a particular area for a specific purpose. Unlike ambient lighting—which illuminates an entire room—task lighting concentrates light on a particular area where a task is being performed. The benefits of task lighting reside in its many applications in both commercial and residential environments. It is not intended to replace ambient lighting, but rather to complement existing lighting with aimed, focused light.
LightCorp’s specialty is in utilizing modern LED lighting technology in ergonomically-flexible designs. LEDs are already five times more energy efficient than the outdated incandescent lightbulb, and the cost-per-lumen in LEDs continues to decrease nearly every decade. For LightCorp, leapfrogging to this new technology was an easy choice of innovation, because of its efficiency, drastically longer lamp life, and very small form factor that provides easy customization for a variety of fixture designs. LightCorp also has many products with fluorescent lighting options, such as our linear task and ambient line, as well as in our super-efficient T5 and T8 industrial high-bay fixture solutions.
Use the energy-savings calculator to determine the cost savings of switching from an HID system to a fluorescent lighting system in your workspace. You will need to know the annual burning hours of the system, the energy costs in your area, your estimated labor rate, if your system will be dimmed (% of time and brightness), fixture quantity, total wattage, and lamp cost.
Fluorescent light bulbs carry a small amount of mercury and should be recycled properly. For more information on how to recycle them, go to lamprecycle.org.
Mercury is a highly-persistent and toxic chemical that is currently building up to dangerous levels in the habitats of fish, wildlife, and human beings. By choosing high-efficiency lamps that contain less mercury, you can help reduce the environmental impacts and health risks of lamp breakage during use, transport, and disposal.
A fluorescent lamp ballast is an electrical transformer. Fluorescent lamps require different voltages at different places in the lamp in a standard rapid start system. There are small filaments at the end of the lamp that require low voltage (approx. 4 volts) to aid in starting the lamp; this is called cathode voltage. The lamp also requires a higher voltage (200 volts or higher depending on lamp type) from end-to-end on the lamp to operate; this is called arc voltage. The ballast transforms line voltage 120 volts to these requirements. The ballast limits the amount of current that the lamp can draw. This prevents the lamp from drawing too much current and failing.
A magnetic ballast uses coiled wire and creates magnetic fields to transform voltage. A magnetic ballast does not change the frequency of the power to the lamp — it remains the same as the input power, which is 60 Hz in the United States.
An electronic ballast uses solid state components to transform voltage. It also changes the frequency of the power from 60 Hz to 20,000 Hz or higher, depending on the ballast. Because the electronic ballast doesn’t use coils or electromagnetic fields, it can function more efficiently and on a cooler level than magnetic. The frequency change also greatly reduces any flicker in the lamp due to improper power.
Most standard lamps are marked with the following label: F32T8 35K. The F meaning that the lamp is fluorescent; the 32 is the lamp wattage; the T designates the shape of the lamp (T = tubular); the 8 is the diameter of the lamp in 1/8 of an inch. A T8 lamp has an 8/8 diameter or one inch diameter. A T12 lamp has a 12/8 diameter, or 1-1/2”. The last designation is the color of the light the lamp emits, in this case 3500º Kelvin. You may see other color designators such as CW cool white, WW warm white, or other numbers in degrees Kelvin. The higher the number, the cooler the color of the lamp. The lower the number, the warmer the color.
Switching from HID lamps to HO T5 fluorescent lamps is now a common strategy for increasing energy efficiency in warehouses and other high-bay lighting situations. HO T5s are capable of instant-on and instant re-strike, can be used with energy-saving occupancy sensors, and can be adjusted through dimming (with a dimmable ballast). They also have lower average mercury content than metal halide HID lamps.