led-lighting-blog

GU10 Light Bulbs

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:34:58 +0000

The GU10 light bulb lamp runs from 240v and avoids the need for transformers. GU10 are now the most popular light fitting in modern installations and LED GU10 bulbs can be fitted without the need for new wiring. GU10 LED light bulbs come in many variants such as the cluster design which is many LEDs crammed together which provides a spread of light (normally 120 degrees) and are good for general use such as in kitchens or offices. Should a spot light be desirable, one can use a more focused LED GU10 which typically uses 1-3 LEDs. The spread of light can vary from 10 to 90 degrees. An angle of 45 degrees is normally sufficient for most uses.

: GU10 Light Bulb

GU10 LED lights typically use between 3 and 9 watts and have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours which when compared to a tradional halogen bulb is an impressive 80%-90% more efficient, good for the environment and wallet friendly!

MR16 Light Bulbs

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:34:31 +0000

MR16 light bulbs look similar to the GU10 but have a very different design. the first difference is that they run on 12v as opposed to the GU10 240v. This means that a transformer is required to convert the voltage. If you wish to convert to LED lights, the existing transformer will normally work with LED bulbs and shouldn’t be a problem so long as the transformer in your fixture is magnetic (not electronic). The reason for this is that electronic transformers will likely have a minimum load which it requires to operate. The LED retrofit bulbs may not pull enough current to allow the transformers to work properly. Depending on the configuration of your fixtures you should be able to re-wire them to use fewer transformers and therefore put a higher load on each one. If you know the exact model of the transformers you should be able to find a spec online that has all that info.

The second deign difference is that the MR16 has a different fitting which is two pins which are smaller than the GU10. Other than these differences the look and applications of the MR16 is identical. MR16 LED bulbs are great for all types of rooms in the home and make a tiled bathroom shine up like a show room. Like the GU10, the bulb is available with different beam angles and this is normally chosen to suite the room dimensions, ceiling hight and use. I have found the a beam angle of 45 degrees is good for most uses but a smaller angle may be more desirable for lighting pictures or ornaments. I have also noticed that many shops such as Estate Agents and Jewellery shops use these bulbs to light up shop fronts and get the sparkle that attracts customers.

MR16 LED bulbs can be fitted as a replacement to traditional halogen bulbs and as they require less energy, they also give off less heat which reduces fire risk or the chance of being burnt! All the advantages of a energy hungary halogen with no sacrifice on luminance. A truly futuristic bulb.

Sustainable lighting

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:33:55 +0000

Energy efficient lighting is quickly becoming a requirement in new buildings with regulations requiring low energy lighting as standard. A 5 watt LED lamp emits 300 to 400 lumens which is equivalent to a standard 40 watt halogen bulb. A traditional 40W incandescent bulb has an expected lifespan of 1,000 hours while LEDs can continue to operate for more than 50,000 hours. We have calculated that this works out at over 30 years for at 4 hours use per day! An astounding 50 times longer than the incandescent bulb and 90% more efficient!

B22 LED Bulbs

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:33:28 +0000

Used in more traditional lighting such as chandeliers , B22 bulbs or otherwise know as bayonet fitting can also be be changed for LED bulbs. If you have lighting that is inaccessible or requires ladders, the advantage of these bulbs is a no brainer. We have calculated that based on a 50,000 hour life time that these bulbs can last for up to 20 years. No need to hang from the chandelier or stand on wobbly chair – these LED bulbs not only use approximately 10% of an incandescent bulb but may save you from accidents involving changing them.

E14 LED Bulbs

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:32:47 +0000

The name of the E14 like the E27 is derived from the Edison screw fitting, developed by Thomas Edison which was first developed and licensed in 1909. Like the traditional E14, all new LED E14 Bulbs have a right hand (clockwise) threading and can be fitted without any new wiring or the need of replacement fittings.

E14 LED Bulbs have the following advantages:

Low cost of purchase
Low running cost
Long life span
Dimmable
Durable as there is no filament that can be damaged by movement like normal bulbs.
Good for the environment

LED Pets at Night

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:31:52 +0000

During winter months, the short days means that we can only take out pet dogs out for walks at night. This presents a danger to both pet owner and especially our beloved four legged friends due to limited visibility on unlit streets. That was until somebody came up with the great idea of using LED lights to illuminate the presence of dogs and their walkers by placing the diodes directly on the collar as shown below. Walkies!!!

UK amends building regulations to improve energy efficiency | Energy Efficiency News

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:31:13 +0000

UK amends building regulations to improve energy efficiency | Energy Efficiency News.

DIY LED Lighting

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:29:07 +0000

As LED Light Bulbs and Lamps can be fitted into existing light fittings there is no need to get the electrician around to make changes to wiring. Simple!

So – How many women does it take to change a light bulb? Just one bright spark!

LED Strip Lighting

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:27:59 +0000

Led strip lighting has been around for a while and is sometimes known as LED rope light. It is basically a strip of LED lights arranged in a line and with the ability to bend around corners or be used in curved applications. It is normally used as accent lighting or to provide a hovering effect such as below. More modern LED strip lighting is arranged on a flexible ribbon with the use of Surface Mounted Diodes more commonly known as SMDs which provide the advantage of being placed in areas where the LED rope would normally be visible and provides more discreet and subtle lighting effects.

LED Bulbs

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:26:47 +0000

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are made up of a semiconductor called a p-n junction, p for positive, this is called the anode and n for negative; the cathode. When switched on the current flows from the anode to the cathode, the current can only flow in one direction. Electrons and electron holes flow into the junction, when an electron meets an electron hole it releases energy in the form of a photon, producing light.