Looking At Your Lighting Options

 

We need lighting for so many reasons today, right from being able to sit in our office at the computer to driving our car at night to making sure we have proper illumination in our homes too.

Lighting, in the first place, is necessary and used for practical reasons, but often it goes beyond that to also include aspects related more to the aesthetics and the ambience we are looking to create when we touch the light switch. Also, most people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of saving energy and cost in terms of their own electricity account.

Therefore the drive towards LED as the preferred option for the modern user is delivering results as more and more people all over the world are turning to this option: even though LED is more expensive to acquire initially, it puts back the pounds in your pocket since LED uses less energy and LED bulbs last much, much longer than the older incandescent and halogen – even CFL – options.

This means you also help save the earth and contribute towards clean living. The effects of LED are felt everywhere right from the office and all commercial and industrial outlets that are changing to LED, to the individual that is aware of the world around them. Millions of home owners too, are opting for LED. In many homes, office foyers, shopping malls and retail spaces it is about more than the practical use of lighting and the options offered to us by LED.

Aesthetics play a big part. Whether you hang six vintage filament bulbs above your kitchen counter or whether you opt for an interesting display of ceiling lights, decor and aesthetics matter to most. Therefore many homeowners and commercial outlets choose an interesting display of the different possibilities, and very often this starts right at the beginning when the home or building is designed.

Orders are placed with the best retailers – either in their shop or with online marketers that often offer great discounts if one buys bulk – to ensure you get the display you want, whether that is a ceiling panel of LED lights or separate AR111 lights at, say, 12v to be installed in the pattern one most prefers to offer great light. The AR111, for example, is often a favoured choice for retail shops, various other commercial premises right from gym foyers and areas where you would want strong, bright light to illuminate spaces.

Very often round LED panel lights are equally popular in these circumstances. These are normally installed by a professional right at the start when a building goes up; however, very often these are installed too when buildings are renovated or when an owner feels it is time to replace older light systems such as CFL or even halogen. These lights, for example the AR111 LED, are long lasting rated bulbs that last for 30 000 or more, which offers, in the long run, wonderful cost savings as one of its benefits.

Some homeowners may want to switch to this type of bulb when they are looking at the options for their kitchen or bathroom ceiling, or even in a passage in the house or apartment. Best is always to call in a good, qualified electrician with the know-how in terms of which these bulbs are installed, and also to make sure what the correct volt AC or DC supply is and what LED drivers may be required. Few individuals may want to take this on as a DIY project, but there are indeed some that understand what is needed, what accessories are required and where to find the best examples of such lights. The internet – and leading websites – often leads you to the best retailer for quality and choice.

About Us

Saving Light Bulbs is a family run business which brings the public the best high quality bulbs at the most affordable prices. The service is mainly run online to bring the products to a wide range of people and to keep running costs down which, in turn, will have financial benefits for the customers. At Saving Light Bulbs we work with only the best manufacturers to ensure that a quality product reaches our customers, and because we have many years’ experience in dealing with the lighting industry we have great knowledge about all the products we bring to our website. All customers are important and we pride ourselves on the products and service we deliver. For more information, please visit https://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk/

About Reducing Our Carbon Footprint And The Influence It Has On Cost Saving

 

We live in a world where there is growing concern for the environment. Therefore more and more groups and societies are starting to look at what can be done to help reduce our carbon footprint; in other words, what can we do to help save or conserve the earth.

Some people refer to this as supporting a greener, i.e. more natural, lifestyle void of relying too much on the introduction of chemicals – and also the over-use of electricity and other sources to provide power and energy. Of course it is not possible to totally live without modern technology, but there is a strong case to be made to reduce over-use and in doing so, cause great damage.

Ways to help achieve these goals is to look at how we use, for example, electricity. Nobody can live without proper lighting in their home or the office environment – or in any commercial and industrial environment right from hotels and restaurants and shopping malls to factories. This means we need electricity in most cases, even though some are moving towards sun energy and solar systems.

Lights, light fittings and a choice of different bulbs ensure that we can carry on our daily tasks and enjoy all social get-togethers. We can no longer imagine a life without modern lighting. Of course years ago communities relied on candle light and fire to provide light when it was needed. Then, in 1879, Thomas Edison produced the first light that was operated by touching a switch on the wall and so changed the way we look at lights and lighting options forever.

That first form of lighting for bulbs is known as the incandescent bulb, and it has been in use ever since, except many users have started to look at other alternatives, mainly keeping in mind that the less electricity one uses, the less you pay and you start saving – in addition to helping keep the environment greener because of reduced power usage.

Since the incandescent bulb that started it all, there has been great development in technology, also insofar as lighting and bulbs are concerned. In the late 1950’s the halogen bulb was introduced into our lives, which was, at the time, a tremendous improvement on the older incandescent type. It also recorded savings of up to 30% on the previous generation of lamps and bulbs simply because you use less energy. This became possible because of the new technology that was introduced by halogen. So you save on the electricity bill, but also on energy, which makes its own contribution towards reducing man’s carbon footprint.

It has to be mentioned, too, that the use of the CFL technology (compact fluorescent lamp) that was introduced for the first time in New York in the 1930’s has helped tremendously in saving people and companies great amounts of money over time, especially since the 1980’s when it was estimated that this technology offers a 75% savings over the incandescent bulb. Once more: it helps to reduce our carbon footprint.

CFL is popular over a wide front right from commercial outlets, government buildings, in industrial settings. The CFL is still popular and used in kitchens today, in bathrooms, in cupboards in the home. And then, of course there is the latest technology of the LED that was introduced in the early 60’s.

It is used widely these days for the cost savings it guarantees. This technology uses much less energy than previous lights and bulbs and has also become a great player in our efforts to conserve energy and maintain a healthy, greener environment. It also lasts much longer than the older bulbs and they do not have to be replaced all that regularly. Many of the LED bulbs last for 30, 000, 40, 000 hours and more.

LED is starting to lead the way in terms of bulbs and lighting. They are used everywhere now, you can buy them in the shopping mall, at the corner shop – from your local supplier. LED has become the preference for millions world-wide and is starting to overtake all other bulbs and lamps in terms of popularity and preference for use.

About Us

Saving Light Bulbs is a family run business which brings the public the best high quality bulbs at the most affordable prices. The service is mainly run online to bring the products to a wide range of people and to keep running costs down which, in turn, will have financial benefits for the customers. At Saving Light Bulbs we work with only the best manufacturers to ensure that a quality product reaches our customers, and because we have many years’ experience in dealing with the lighting industry we have great knowledge about all the products we bring to our website. All customers are important and we pride ourselves on the products and service we deliver. For more information, please visit https://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk/

How to become more Energy Efficient at Home

 

How to become more Energy Efficient at Home

The popularity of building bigger homes also indicates that homeowners must install more lighting fixtures which can escalate the electricity consumption. However, over the last few years energy saving, efficient lighting solutions can assist you to become more energy efficient at home.

Since childhood, individuals were told to turn out the lights when leaving a room. At this moment in time, there are some solutions available on the market that can reduce your electricity bill and make your home save energy.

Energy-efficient lighting solutions have gained itself an impeccable reputation to light up housed more effectively and affordable the last couple of years. The market has seen a transformation where standard bulbs and lighting solutions are now being replaced with LEDs that include products such as 4 pin energy saving light bulbs, LED ceiling lights, LED downlights, and smart lighting products like dimmer switches and controls.

These products are designed to stay on and uses much less electricity than the standard lighting products that were on the market a few decades ago.

Homeowners have become more conscious of the influence they have on the planet than in previous decades. But, then again, they also have some alternative solutions that can not only reduce their energy consumption and bills but decrease their carbon footprint in the environment.

Reducing your electricity bill can be done by implanting small changes over time. Below you will discover some factors to consider.

The normal household in the United Kingdom dedicates five per cent of its electricity to lighting solutions. To reduce this figure, residents can just form a habit of turning the lights off when leaving a room. Incandescent lights and Halogen light bulbs consume the same amount of electricity and should rather be turned off whenever the occupants leave the room for extended periods of time.

At a glance, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) might look like a great investment since they are more affordable to purchase. However, LED lighting solutions such as downlights for the living room, LED strips for underneath the kitchen cabinets, and exchanging your lamp lights with 4 pin energy saving light bulbs are more ideal for your home. Even though they are more expensive than CFLs they have a longer life span and consume less energy, making the ideal lighting solutions, despite their added cost.

The development and design of light bulbs have improved a lot in recent years. Here are some facets to think about when picking the proper lighting solution for your home.

It is important to pick out a light bulb with the proper fitting and since they come in different sizes. For instance, the Compact Fluorescent Lamp light bulb comes in different designs such as the 4 pin and 2 pins. You want to make sure you pick the correct one, so you do not have to go back to the store or waste money on additional lighting fittings.

It is worth noting that 4 pin energy saving light bulbs come in different designs. Find the right colour, brightness and shape for your lighting fittings that suit the aesthetic appeal of the area you going to use it for.

Energy efficient lighting is considered as both LED light bulbs and CFL, which can make it difficult to pick between the two. However, they both reduce electricity consumption. Then again, electricity use fluctuates from property to property, but it is always best to switch your standard lighting products to energy-efficient products since it will reduce your carbon footprint and cut back on energy expenses.

About Us

Saving Light Bulbs is a well-respected family-owned company based in the United Kingdom that specialises in LED lighting and energy-efficient solutions. We are passionate about helping domestic, commercial, public as well as social enterprises to reduce their carbon footprint by providing energy-efficient lighting services and products. With more than 1000 products catalogued on our online platform, we stock only the most reliable and highest quality products and can support you whatever you budget. If you want to reduce your energy consumption, upgrading your lighting and intergrading smart solutions, our highly dynamic team is dedicated and friendly to assist you with your requests. For more information visit http://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk

Reasons Drivers are Important For LED Lighting

 Reasons Drivers are Important For LED Lighting 

A lot of property owners are now switching over to energy-efficient lighting solutions to lower their power consumption and reduce their carbon footprint.

You might have considered to change your standard lighting to LED lighting and returned from the hardware store with a trunk of LED strig lights and a big dream, but you are not sure how this lighting works and how to turn them on.

LED lights are a good choice for business and home settings, however, the key to accomplishing the ideal light-balance in your environment is by using the correct power supply.

At this moment, there are 2 domineering power supplies available when installing LED lighting in your setting namely electronic transformers and 24v LEDdrivers. In this article, you will obtain information regarding 24v LED drivers.

Installing LED lights, you will need a unique device called a 24v LED driver to operate and turn on your lights. LED drivers act in a similar way to what a ballast achieves for fluorescent lighting. The LED drivers administer line voltage into power fit to operate a LED. Furthermore, since the electrical properties of LED alter due to temperature changes, the driver maintains and regulates a constant 24 volts.

LED drivers have three major functions. The majority of residential properties consume 120-277V AC electricity, however, LED work on low voltage DC electricity. Therefore, the driver switches the higher voltage ACC into a lower voltage DC current to equal the 24v what LED lighting requires to operate correctly.

It is worth noting that the voltage to the driver must be similar to the voltage needed by the driver. If this is not the case, the voltage difference can cause flashing or flickering.

A general tactic for regulating light productivity is pulse-width modulation. If you dim your LED bulbs, specifically at the lower end of light output, it may result in it flickering.

The majority of LED lighting need a 24v driver, a small number of them are designed to operate on AC current. Even though the LED bulbs you purchase on the market may not look like they have drivers, that feature with an internal driver.

When doing kitchen improvements and installing LED strips, you will require a driver to operate the lighting. These 24v drivers can be purchased separately and one driver can deliver electricity to more than one LED strip.

For those property owners that already have LED lights, if you discover that your LED lighting is getting dim, it is most likely that the driver is faulty and not your LEDs.

LED drivers run at high internal temperature and can reduce the lifespan of the LED bulb when used in a hot garage or enclosed fixture.

The driver may not function optimally and can stop working before the LED seize up.

LED lighting operates much better in cold temperatures CFLs since they are faster than incandescent, whilst CFL bulbs may need a dim light, warm-up before reaching full output potential.

For those individuals that have just purchase a handful of LED strips to install in their kitchen, it is best to buy a driver for your lighting renovation.

In the past, LED lighting products were very expensive to purchase. However energy-efficient lighting solutions such as LED bulbs, 24v drivers, dimmer switches, and more are becoming more affordable for consumers. Reducing your power consumption and lighting up a room can be accomplished when you purchase the proper lighting products and installing them correctly. If you need help to choose the correct LED lighting solution for your kitchen or bathroom area, ask the help of a lighting and energy-efficient solution specialist to assist you and give you informed advice.

About Us

Saving Light Bulbs is a well-respected family-owned company based in the United Kingdom that specialises in LED lighting and energy-efficient solutions. We are passionate about helping domestic, commercial, public as well as social enterprises to reduce their carbon footprint by providing energy-efficient lighting services and products. With more than 1000 products catalogued on our online platform, we stock only the most reliable and highest quality products and can support you whatever you budget. If you want to reduce your energy consumption, upgrading your lighting and intergrading smart solutions, our highly dynamic team is dedicated and friendly to assist you with your requests. For more information visit http://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk

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CFL Choice- Full or Semi Spiral or Linear ?

There are a number of different designs of compact fluorescent lamps CFL on the market which can make it quite confusing to decide which is design is the best one to go for. Here we will look at the major types and review the advantages and disadvantages of these energy saving light bulbs.


Linear Tube CFL

The majority of the early CFL bulbs introduced in to the UK market were of the linear tube design as shown in the picture. . The linear CFL is just a long thin fluorescent tube which goes up vertically and then is looped back and this pattern can be repeated several times for high wattage light bulbs. These light bulbs are the cheapest to manufacturer and work well as an energy saving light bulb. The disadvantages of the linear CFL are two fold. Firstly, the look of the light bulb is rather cumbersome and quite odd certainly when compared to the traditional incandescent GLS bulb. It is not that the bulb is inherently gross from an aesthetic point of view but I think it is more the fact that the light bulb looks very different to what people generally expect a light bulb to look like and for this reason it is not rated highly from a visual perspective. The second issue is that because the design is thin and tall the bulbs are quite long in length and for this reason can be difficult to physically fit into a number of light fittings where there is a height restriction.


Semi Spiral CFL

The semi spiral light bulb has always been fairly common in the US market and has recently been introduced to the UK. The design of the CFL is shown in this picture. Again the semi spiral CFL is simply a long thin fluorescent tube which is looped around in a spiral shape but the first portion of the fluorescent tube just goes up vertically. Accordingly the semi spiral name is derived because this CFL is half linear and half spiral and therfore designated as a semi spiral. The overall look of the bulb is more akin to the traditional bulb and because of the fact that the fluorescent tube swings outwards it has a larger diameter than the linear CFL and accordingly the overall height can be reduced and the bulb will still produce a similar level of lumens output.



Full Spiral CFL

The final choice considered here is the full spiral CFL which is shown in this picture.

With the full spiral CFL the fluorescent tube spiral starts right at the base of the bulb and continues in a tight spiral to the top of the bulb. The benefits of this design is that because the spiral design is inherently more compact and because of the fact that the spiral starts lower, the overall dimensions of the bulb are less than the semi spiral CFL which gives it an overall more compact design. This is invariably important for the fitment into a number of closed light fittings or lanterns where there is a bulb height restriction. The aesthetic angle is clearly subjective and dependent on peoples individual views but I think that the compact proportions and shaping of the full spiral CFL make its looks more appealing than the semi spiral of linear CFL.

So from our perspective the Full Spiral CFL is the clear winner.

Click below to buy from our wide range of energy efficient CFL Lights

Source (Copyright © 2018 Saving Light Bulbs) — https://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk/blog/cfl-choice-full-or-semi-spiral-or-linear/

A Guide to LED Emergency Lighting

LED Emergency lighting is usually meant for emergency situations where the primary power supply gets disconnected and every normal illumination fails. This could result from a power cut or a fire outbreak. It’s essential that LED emergency lighting automatically operates fully and provides sufficient illumination to enable all occupants to leave the premises safely.

So, if you are considering LED emergency lighting system, here is all you should know:

LED Emergency Lighting: The basics 

Most buildings nowadays incorporate sophisticated LED emergency lighting fixtures installed during construction; the design of equipment being chosen by the architect as per the current local authority requirements as well as Building Regulations. Emergency LED lighting is often sub-divided into standby lighting and emergency escape lighting.

Cost Matters

Generally, the decision to utilize a self-contained LED Emergency Lighting system or a central battery will probably be determined by cost. If an installation is durable and has low maintenance requirements, then central batteries, though quite expensive, might be ideal for larger projects. Typically, costs and luminaries are major issues of concern, especially on smaller jobs, and it’s this criterion that makes the self-contained systems more popular.

LED Emergency Lighting Driver Temperature

Ensure that your LED emergency lighting has been subjected to aging plus electronic load tests. This helps to ascertain whether the LED emergency lighting panels can withstand excessive temperatures. This guarantees performance, safety, and stability.

Emergency Escape Lighting

Emergency escape lighting refers to that part of the emergency lighting system, which supplies illumination for the safety of persons vacating a location or attempting to end a potentially hazardous process beforehand.

Standby Lighting

Standby lighting is often provided to allow normal activities to continue substantially without being changed.

Consultation and Design

The first thing to do when installing LED Emergency Lighting escape illumination is consultation and design. Both the fire risk assessor and the designer should meet and make comprehensive decisions on where the system is required and chalk up a plan illustrating the type of power supply, the locations to be covered, facilities, duration, and mode of operation.

Contact us for survey and consultaion service

The next step…..

Having decided on the type of LED emergency lighting system you’d like to install, then go ahead and choose specific positions for the lighting signs and units within specific premises. This will then help you choose the right equipment. Remember, emergency LED lighting signs should be carefully sited in order to create clear exit routes that lead to the ultimate exits from the building. Where the exit isn’t identifiable, a visible sign should be utilized instead of a lighting unit. Special concern should be paid to directional changes, individual stairways, floor level changes, corridor intersections, plant rooms, and toilet areas. Access to firefighting equipment as well as fire alarm call stations should be properly illuminated.

Mode of Operation

Mode of operation is a vital factor to consider when choosing LED Emergency lighting systems. Thus, you should take into considerations principle factors like maintained or non-maintained. The use of the premises in question determines whether to go for a maintained or non- maintained LED Emergency Lighting system.

LED Emergency Lighting Advantages

• Installation is extremely fast and affordable
• Low hardware material costs
• Standard wiring material might be used
• Reduced maintenance costs
• Burn-through will automatically fulfill the need for luminaries to be lit
• No unique sub-circuit monitoring requirements
• Increased integrity and efficiency

LED Emergency Lighting: Disadvantages

• Testing requires isolation
• With varying environmental conditions throughout the system, the batteries might be severely affected by high or low ambient temperatures
• Battery life is often limited to four years, depending on the application
 
Bottom line

LED Emergency Lighting systems have become very popular these days- thanks to their low energy consumption, efficiency, and flexibility. However, before you rush into getting your LED Emergency Lighting system, it is vital to understand the basics (what they are and how to choose the best). The above guide will help you in getting the best.


Source (Copyright © 2018 Saving Light Bulbs) — https://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk/blog/a-guide-to-led-emergency-lighting/

LED Drivers - All You Need To Know

An LED driver refers to an electrical device that regulates the power supply to a string or LED. It responds to the changing needs of the LED device by providing a consistent amount of power as its electrical properties vary with temperature.

With outputs that are compatible with the electrical features of the LED, a LED driver may offer dimming through pulse width modulation circuits and may include several channels for separate control of various LEDs/LED arrays. Without the right drivers, LED fixtures may become extremely hot and unstable, thus causing poor performance or even permanent failure.

Different Types of LED Drivers

There are many different types of LED drivers categorized by the output voltage, output current, maximum switching frequency, form of packaging, and supply voltage.

Each channel’s output can range between 250 µA and 50 A, with common chips carrying an output current of 20, 25, and 100 mA per channel. The commonly available voltage sizes are 2.3 to 5.5 V and 3 to 5.5 V. However, you can readily find LED drivers bearing a supply voltage of up to 630 V.

1 - Constant Voltage

Constant voltage LED drivers can be obtained in numerous manufacturing standards and are designed to meet high specifications for quality and efficiency.

2 - Dimmable LED Drivers

By dimming your LED lights, you get the freedom to enjoy different scenes. You can create a romantic atmosphere in the dining room, or establish a spectacular viewing experience for your guests during office presentations. You need a dependable LED driver that meets all electrical requirements if you want to dim your LED lighting system.

Dimmable LED Drivers: Understanding LED Driver Dimmer Controls

LED drivers with dimming capability offer the flexibility of dimming the lights from 0-100% while maintaining color and temperature. Remember, dimming an LED light can also reduce the operating temperature of your fixture, ultimately boosting LED efficacy as well as lamp life.

In the olden days, LEDs and dimmers weren’t always so expedient. But as technology advanced, powerful dimming controls entered the market to add more definition to their performance. To effectively control your LED light intensities, you’ll need to fix a dimmer that’s compatible with the LED driver you intend to use.

3.0-10V Dimming Drivers

LED technology is virtually taking the market by storm. Complimenting a 0-10V dimmer with an already power-efficient LED lighting is not only efficient but also effective. A LED lighting high-quality dimmer (powered by ERP LED driver) can help users save big on costs associated with energy consumption. Moreover, they assume a superior control capability when compared to other lighting applications.

LED Drivers: Their Applications

LED drivers can be used as:

- Industrial, outdoor, residential, and commercial lighting
- Automotive interior, tail lights, and portable flashlight
- Signage and LED backlighting
- Garden and elevator lighting

LED Drivers: How to Select the Right LED Driver

When you’re searching for reliable LED drivers, you should take into consideration several attributes, including Output Voltage, Supply Voltage (-0.3 to 20 V, 2.7 to 5.5 V, and 3 to 5.5), as well as Maximum Switching Frequency ( between 200 Hz and 200GHz). You’ll be able to get the right chip that’s suitable for use as a high-power LED driver, dimmable LED driver, constant current LED driver, RGB driver or 24v LED driver on an integrated circuit or any other circuits that might require such driver chips. 

Now we hope you are familiar with LED drivers, so shop your own LED driver with SLB.

Click below to see our catalouge of Standard as well as Dimmable LED Drivers (Both Contant Current and Constant Voltage).

Source (Copyright © 2018 Saving Light Bulbs) — https://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk/blog/led-drivers-all-you-need-to-know/

Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Illumination

 
The effectiveness of illumination is usually affected by several factors, including light quantity & quality, contrast, amount of flicker, shadows, and intensity of glare. To optimize illumination in security, emergency, and safety situations, consider adjusting each factor differently. Lighting standards also play an important role in the design, installation, durability, and efficient distribution of illumination.

Measuring and stimulating Light Level – Illuminance

Illuminance is measured in foot candles (ftcd, fc, fcd) or lux (in the metric SI system). A foot candle is actually one lumen of light density per square foot; one lux is one lumen per square meter.

• 1 lux = 1 lumen / sq. meter = 0.0001 phot = 0.0929 foot candle (ftcd, fcd)
• 1 phot = 1 lumen / sq. centimeter = 10000 lumens / sq. meter = 10000 lux
• 1 foot candle (ftcd, fcd) = 1 lumen / sq. ft. = 10.752 lux
 
Calculating Illumination

Illumination is calculated using the formula = Ll Cu LLF / Al (1). In this formula, I denotes illumination (measured in lux, i.e. lumen per m2), Ll represents lumens/ lamp (i.e. lumen), Cu is the coefficient of utilization, while LLF is light loss factor and Al is the area/ lamp (measured in m2).

Light Planning: The Steps

Light planning is a five-step process. The actual process involves:

 - Planning objective analysis
 - Planning conditions analyses
 - Overall planning
 - Detailed planning
 - Documentation

Understanding Glare

Glare can be categorized into two groups: discomfort and disability glare. The level of discomfort glare can be measured by determining the glare index in accordance to the UGR method. This is often graded on a scale, which ranges between 13 and 28 where the greater the glare index the greater the degree of glare. The smallest variation in the glare index designating a significant difference is three.

Reflections from reflective glare or materials can usually be avoided by adopting the following strategies:

· Choosing convenient luminaire positioning
· Using materials for all reflective surfaces
· Selecting fixture with effective screening and low luminous intensity
· Picking out luminaires with a bigger surface area
· Choosing light colors for your ceilings and walls

Balance is key

A well-balanced luminance is essential to boost visual clarity, effectiveness of the ocular functions of the eye, and contrast sensitivity. You should always avoid high luminance which can cause glare, intense luminance contrasts that may cause visual tiredness, and low luminance contrasts, which trigger a staid atmosphere that doesn’t stimulate.


Source (Copyright © 2018 Saving Light Bulbs)

How to Calculate LUX Level & Number of Lights Required in a Room

Basis of LUX and Lumens

The measurement for the light level encountered in a room or for an exterior space is LUX. The measurement of the light output from a lamp is lumens. Although 1 lumen will theoretically produce 1 LUX of light over an area of 1 square metre this is only in the perfect world as there are other factors to consider. For instance the decor and colouring in the space will undoubtedly result  in some loss of light unless the room was had perfectly reflecting mirrored walls.

The Calculation of LUX level in a room

The LUX level in a room is calculated from the following formula

E(LUX) = F(lm) x UF x MF / A

Where

- E is the the LUX level achieved

- F is the average lumens value form the light source

- UF is the utilisation factor for the space which takes into account the colouring of the surfaces in the space together with the geometry

- MF is the maintenance factor for the lamp which allows for a level of light depreciation over time.

It is clear to see from this formula that the light level experienced is reduced by the 2 factors which are the maintenance factor of the lamp and the utilisation factor of the space.

Clearly these values are situation dependent but typical values for these would be 0.4 for the utilisation factor and 0.9 for the maintenance  factor. This means that in a real situation you would achieve typically 35% of the light level that could theoretically be achieved in an optically perfect space.

What LUX levels are needed in a Room?

The level of LUX needed in a space is obviously subjective but here are some examples to provide some indication of what is needed.

Areas for relaxation for instance lounge or TV rooms would typically have 120 LUX. For an area which where it is necessary to read in it would be advisable to increase this to 200LUX. A domestic office environment of office for occasional use could be illuminated to a level of 250 LUX. It would be advisable to illuminate a commercial office area to a level of 400-500 LUX but where the majority of work is computer based a lower level is acceptable. For a retail environment where people are purchasing goods then a level of around 500 LUX is typically used. In a work shop area or area where detail work is undertaken then a LUX level of between 500 and 700 is desirable. Within an operating theatre in a hospital a LUX level or around 1000 would typically be used.

Recommended Lux Levels by Application and Age:

Application	Recommended Lux Age 25-65	Recommended Lux Age 65+
Warehouse	100	200
Work area	150	300
General assembly	1,000	2,000
Detailed assembly	2,000	4,000
Fine inspection	5,000	10,000

Recommended lux levels for general work conditions. Source: IES Handbook.

Calculation of how many lights are needed in a room?

Simply by turning the formula around it is possible to work out how many lights are needed for a room. This is particularly useful when working our how many spot lights or ceiling lights are needed in a space.

N = Ex A/(FxUFxMF)

So be example for a large space which is 10x 10m with 700 lumens ceiling lights , taking a maintenance factor of 0.9 and a utilisation factor of 0.7 then 45 lights would be needed to provide a LUX level of 200.

For a Kitchen which is 5 x 3 metre and using downlighters which produce 430 lumens output then for 180LUX you would need 10 downlighters taking the same factors as before. 

If you are not comfortable with mathematical calculations, then please use below calculator to calculate the number of lights required based on your Lux level requirement.

Number of Lights Required

Lighting Calculator by Omni

I do hope that helps, but if you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with us at SLB for some advise.

Source (Copyright © 2018 Saving Light Bulbs) — https://www.saving-light-bulbs.co.uk/blog/how-to-calculate-the-lux-level-in-a-room/

Why Light Output Should Be Measured In Lumens & Not Watts

As light emitting diodes become the standard lighting, it is important to understand the dissimilarities between watts and lumens, as well as how to establish the right amount of lumens for achieving optimum atmosphere in a space

Lumens vs. Watts

Let’s get to understand what lumens are: The lumen is an international scientific measurement standard for the quantity of light generated by a specific light source or its measured brightness. On the other hand, Watts measure the required amount of energy necessary for operating a light source.

The only challenge here is that there isn’t a mathematical formula to convert watts to lumens, like in converting kilograms (Kgs) to miles.

But still below chart will help you in choosing lights based on output Lumens:

Think Lumens, and Not Watts

The advent of LED technology (which is more energy efficient) has changed the lighting landscape. It has rendered the use of conventional bulbs meaningless. Unfortunately, this rapid change in technology has made the old-fashioned “Watt” light measurement less able to accurately indicate the bulb brightness. This does not allow for the different efficiency in conventional types of lights (i.e. filament bulbs, halogen & fluorescent) and LEDs.  This is why light output should be measured in Lumens and not watts.

Thus, the energy industry is now opting to use a more stable as well as widely-accurate unit to measure light intensity commonly known as Lumens.

Understanding Lumens

Lumens (abbreviated as lm) is a measure of light emitted by a lamp/ bulb (but it must be visible with the naked eye). The greater the Lumens number, the brighter the light.

Understanding Watts

On the other hand, watts don’t measure the brightness, rather the amount of electricity used.

Bulb Luminous Efficacy

The effectiveness of bulbs is expressed in terms of the lumen-to-watt ratio. This is the number of lumens produced for each and every watt consumed.

The rate of conversion of watts to lumens by bulbs varies and is dependent on the technology used. Lighting bulbs producing more L/P (i.e. lumens-per-watt) are cheaper to run since they generate more light and use less power.

LEDs possess the highest L/W ratio—what this means is that they are capable of generating a higher amount of light (from the bulb in question) for relatively little energy.

Longer-Lasting and Energy-Saving LEDs

The introduction of LEDs tremendously reduced power parameter requirement for buyers. This is because you’ll be getting a bulb fixture that’ll cost you 90% less as far as your electricity bills are concerned. What’s more, these bulbs are likely to last longer. Producing less heat as compared to incandescent bulbs helps LEDs to realize a 50,000 hr. lifespan.

So, when shopping around for a replacement lighting bulb, think of lighting fixture that’s brighter, longer-lasting, as well as more energy-efficient—the LEDs.

Lumens vs. Candelas

The two measurements can be confusing and are similar. However, they have subtle differences. Lumens are used to measure the amount of light emitted (i.e. the total visible amount of lights from a given source). This is also known as its luminous flux. On the other hand, candelas are used to measure the luminous intensity. It is also important to note that candelas are more predominant in America, while the EU prefer lumens.

Now since you have fair idea about Lumens, therefore please check out our LED Lights with high Lumens output

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