Whereas the marketplace for colored (Red, Green, Blue) RGB LEDs is more developed, the market for white LEDs continues to be growing. Why? When you think about industries that still rely on white, non-LED lighting, such as for example televisions, automotive manufacturers, computer monitors, notebook computers, LCD backlights, etc., you can understand the push to end up being the leader in white LED manufacturing.

Lots of people are surprised that a business would pass up a revenue generating opportunity that converting a home or business to LED would create. However, just because replacement white LED bulbs and retrofits are finally on the market, does not mean that they should be on your immediate shopping list. In very easy terms, the marketplace for colored and color-changing LEDs is mature. While engineers remain finding ways to make them brighter and more efficient, the ultimate goal of the LED industry is in developing volume production of high-efficiency, high-brightness white LEDs.

It may be easier to think of colored LEDs (RGB) and white LEDs with regard to another industry: Automotive. RGB LEDs are just like the internal combustion engine: Reliable, abundant, simple to operate and manufacture, and fairly well toned in terms of the prospect of new or breakthrough technologies. There are lots on manufacturers and each has their very own set of patents and “tricks of the trade” to help give themselves some marketing leverage over the competition. White LEDs are just like the alternative energy industry for transportation: Quite varied, still relatively “new”, still having to be market proven, more expensive, more challenging to control.

There are plenty of manufacturers, each utilizing a different technology or mix of technologies to achieve what they believe may be the “another big thing.” Following this analogy, RGB LEDs are mature enough to compete on cost alone and the drop in costs is what fuels new applications for colored LEDs that was not considered previously. White LEDs, on the other hand are still developing technically and really should not be shopped based on cost alone. The necessity for quality and longevity is what fuels the further research and development into white LEDs.

11 POINTS TO CONSIDER IN DETERMINING LED UPGRADES

Because there are so many variables that require to be considered, making a quick and easy recommendation about transitioning to white LEDs isn’t possible. To obtain a jump start on the near future, consider every lighting source in each room and establish what it’s primary purpose is. Once you have done this, review the following what to help determine where on the priority purchase-list each replacement ought to be. Here are some general guidelines to help you determine if an LED upgrade may be the right choice for you personally:

1.) Is the lighting located in a house where the primary resident is older or has mobility issues?

If the LED replacement produces adequate light levels, LED alternatives are perfect for use in homes where safety is a top priority. Understanding that an ill or older person will not have to change a burned-out lamp again can offer peace-of-mind.

2.) Is initial cost a primary element in determining if you are going to upgrade?

The existing nature of the white LED market implies that prices are still relatively high, especially compared to traditional lighting. Being an early adopter means paying a premium; are you more comfortable with knowing you might have paid less for the same technology if you had waited?

3.) May be the light located in bright daytime sunlight or an area of high heat?

High degrees of heat will noticeably shorten the lifespan of any LED, especially white LEDs. When considering LEDs, try to make sure that both the fixture and the positioning allow for adequate passive cooling in order to avoid color-shift and longevity issues. That is a much bigger concern when contemplating retrofit bulbs versus considering a “total package” LED fixture and lamp.

4.) Are you needing to decrease the heat output from the traditional light source?

In bathrooms, laundry rooms and small spaces, conventional lighting can produce uncomfortable heat. LED lighting is great for these areas because they produce no heat and because affordably illuminating smaller areas with LEDs presents much less of a challenge.

5.) May be the lighting located in a location of rough service or environmental extremes?

Garage door openers, unheated/cooled utility rooms and outdoor workshops place extreme demands of lighting equipment. Vibrations that can break a light bulb filament and winter that can cause a fluorescent tube to flicker are of no consequence to LED lighting, making these replacements a simple decision.

6.) May be the brightness critical to the application?

LEDs are directional by nature, so attempting to meet a specific brightness expectation over a broad area is not the very best use of LED lamps. The existing crop of standard fluorescent tubes or high-bay lighting is going to be better for these applications.

7.) Are you attempting to retrofit an existing lighting fixture to support an LED replacement?

Most current lighting fixtures are made to capture and reflect as much light as possible from conventional light sources that produce light from all 360 degrees. Because LEDs emit very directional light, there are often many compromises that must definitely be made by manufacturers in order to make LEDs “work” for the greatest number of retrofits. When possible, rather than retrofit bulbs consider a “total package” LED lighting fixture that has been designed from the ground around efficiently use LEDs.

8.) May be the light output and quality of the LED version acceptable compared to your existing lighting?

With the variety of lighting technology available (incandescent, fluorescent, LED, etc.) the only method to get an accurate idea of the way the lighting will perform would be to compare the light output or lumen and color temperature specifications rather than the wattage as is typical of most folks raised with traditional lighting in the home. THE UNITED STATES Department of Energy has devised a standardized “lighting facts” label similar in concept to the nutrition label found on foods, to greatly help consumers compare lighting.

9.) Are the bulbs you’re considering replacing difficult to access or reach?

If they are, LED replacements are great candidates because once they are changed, you will likely never have to improve them again since LEDs do not “burn out” like a conventional bulb.

10.) Are led stadium lighting replacing all the light bulbs in a particular area or just a single bulb?

Unless you know the colour temperature of all the lighting in the room, try to be consistent in whatever lighting technology you select. For instance, if your room uses primarily halogen lighting, chances are a warm color temperature and changing an individual reading lamp to LED with a cooler lighting temperature will not only be noticeable, but may also be distracting.

11.) Does the energy savings and/or return on investment (ROI) make it worthwhile at this stage?Prepare an energy audit using free web calculators to determine how much money you will put away on energy and what the potential return on investment is. Just enter your time rates, the total wattage of your conventional lighting and the full total wattage of the LED lighting you are considering and the calculator will tell you how much money each technology will cost you per year.

As you can see, every lighting situation should be considered individually against the above checklist. Doing so will assist you to determine LED upgrade plans that fit within both your budget and your expectations. Generally, LED lighting will continue to improve in both output and efficiency every year similar to the way the non-public computer market has evolved. What could be considered a “middle of the road” LED lamp today, was more than likely considered reduced product per year or two ago. Prioritizing your LED lighting purchases so the basics are covered first and delaying your more demanding lighting requirements because the technology improves will ensure a cushty transition to tomorrows lighting technology.