Global LED

13/05/2013

A few Questions one Should Pay Attention to When Purchasing LED Lighting

Obvious energy saving effectiveness, long lifetime, no radiation, no RF interference, no white noise, soft light rays, and a wide operating voltage range are all special features of LED lighting, and becoming well received daily.

As a consumer, how are you able to pick the best product to satisfy your needs with a wide range of LED lights spread out before you?

First is through packaging and trademark. LED lighting products are forced by the country to include the following information on the outside packaging label: voltage rating, voltage range, efficacy rating, and frequency rating. Normally, the trademark of high quality products are printed in excellent quality with clear and distinguished labeling that is not easily wiped away with a damp cloth. There are also manufacturer’s trademark and certification marks.

Second is through the outward appearance of the fluorescent light. On the outside there must be no cracks or traces of flexibility and interface trace of being pried open. During the installation and dismantling process, the base of the light cannot be flexible or crooked. The outer shell of the light, one must choose one that is plastic flame retardant, with a distinguishing feature of the outside having a frosted glass like texture. Lights with the ordinary plastic outside are more smooth and lustrous, but are easier to change shape and com bust, so are prohibited for energy saving light bulb (CFL) manufacturing.

The third is through operating condition. LED lighting in a normal operation condition should have a low rise in temperature. If the requirement for heat radiation is not good, the bulb at a high temperature will have a large lumens depreciation and the lifespan will greatly decrease. Also, if when the lamp when being turned on and off, there is rapid flickering, then it means there is a problem with the quality.

Finally, the fourth is through sound. Electromagnetic compatibility is something that electronics must go through. On the outside of LED lighting products, there must be printed the country EMC test. We can also perform a small test to easily determine this. Place a dual range receiver near the light while it is working. If the amount of noise that interferes with the dual range receiver is low, then this means that the bulb’s electromagnetic compatibility is good. When listening to the LED lamp while it is on in a quiet environment, if the sounds of the lamp is very obvious, then this means that the lamp’s power source is not good.

For consumers that do not have a wide knowledge of electronics, how to quickly, easily, and efficiently purchase a suitable LED product to suit ones needs, one should focus on the following two indicators.

The first indicator is the power and light efficiency. LED lamp comprehensive luminous efficiency refers to the unit of watts/lumens for luminous efficacy. The high the number, the better the energy saving efficiency, so one should purchase a high w/lumen LED lamp. Based on the use of the environment to buy a suitable power sized lamp, the 16W lamp currently on the market can reach up to 200W incandescent light luminous flux, which is enough to fill a 10 ping room with light.

The second indicator is the color rendering index and the temperature color. The color rendering index is an indicator for the light evaluation for an objects color rendering ability, with the perfect standard color rendering index for a light source being about 100. The higher the color rendering index number, the closer the light source is to the actual color.

It is generally known that 80-100 color rendering index is good, 50-79 is average, and anything lower than 50 is considered poor. The unit for temperature color is K. Red colored light rays have a temperature color of between 800K to 900K, yellow with around 3000K, white about 5500L, and light blue being between 8000K and 12000K. The temperature color light source depends on consumer preference. So for example, if a consumer like a warm temperature lamp, they can pick a 3000K temperature color lamp.

Shared from LEDinside.com
http://www.ledinside.com/knowledge/2013/4/purchasing_led_lighting_20130401

Obvious energy saving effectiveness, long lifetime, no radiation, no RF interference, no white noise, soft light rays, and a wide operating voltage range are all special features of LED lighting, and becoming well received daily. As a consumer, how are you able to pick the best product to satisfy yo...

11/03/2013

New BCA (Building Code of Australia) lighting requirements
- a careful balance of lux and watts

In 2011 May, the Building Code of Australia (BCA) introduced significant changes to what was allowed in terms of energy consumption from lighting per square metre in all new building projects. The regulations allow only 5 W per square metre, as opposed to the previous 25 W per square metre.

The new BCA regulations assist the gradual phasing out of 50 W halogen and incandescent globes and cause business managers and property owners to find suitable replacements. Compounding this situation is the fact that while the wattage per square metre has changed, the regulations for lux levels have not, and commercial properties are still required to meet the minimum lux levels based on the Australian Standards Lux Levels (AS 1680 series) for commercial settings.

As a result, building projects must now install lights that comply with the new energy-efficiency codes while maintaining the required lux levels as part of Australia’s occupation health and safety (OHS) guidelines. Poor or defective lighting can cause problems such as eyestrain, general vision problems and headaches. This can lead to employees having time off as well as increased workers compensation premiums. The rapidly evolving light emitting diode (LED) technology offers a solution to this issue. Many LED products are now able to reproduce the same lighting quality and brightness as the common 50 W halogen globe, effectively becoming a direct replacement. It is important to choose the right LEDs that meet the specifications required for a commercial property.

One important specification in maintaining lux levels will almost always be the luminosity of the LED. LEDs have the ability to produce high luminosity from a low wattage, making them a desirable option for the new BCA requirements. In fact, some high-quality LEDs can produce up to 720 lumens while only running off 10 W of power, making them a direct replacement for 50 W halogen.

Electricians should read the specifications of all LED lights to see whether it meets the new requirements and lux levels. They should ensure that any LED they choose can produce a minimum of 720 lumens without exceeding 20 W. They should also check out the colour temperature and colour rendering index (CRI) of the light - these two factors determine how well the light is capable of reproducing vibrant colours. This is important in workplaces where visual clarity is essential. Lastly, electricians should also make sure builders are educated on the new regulations as buildings that don’t meet the new requirements may fail their final inspections.

Ref: http://www.electricalsolutions.net.au/articles/50536-New-BCA-lighting-requirements-a-careful-balance-of-lux-and-watts

The new BCA lighting requirements restrict lighting to 5 W per square metre, as opposed to the previous 25 W per square metre.

26/02/2013

LED lighting outshines rivals from SMH

(The author is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own.)

The LED lighting industry is set to dominate the global market more than a century after its discovery, benefitting from a widespread ban of conventional incandescent bulbs and as the market share of competing green replacements fade.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have a vital edge in that they have superior energy efficiency and longer lifespans compared with rivals, while a global glut in LED chips means they are becoming more competitive.

A forecast explosion in LED sales by more than 40 per cent annually will see the technology eclipse high-efficiency rivals such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

Meanwhile, the main LED market challenge of high upfront costs is eroding.

And, while concerns remain of a potential manufacturing bubble stemming from a boom-bust cycle of over-capacity - which has been seen in other clean energy technologies sectors such as wind and solar - freedom from subsidy programmes may see demand rise more smoothly than with fickle government support.

Market share

LEDs will surge in the U.S. lighting market, to a 36 per cent share in 2020 and 74 per cent in 2030, a U.S. Department of Energy report forecast last year, implying $30 billion in annual energy savings by 2030.

The study, "Energy Savings Potential of Solid-State Lighting in General Illumination Applications", forecast rapid gains after 2014 as prices continue to fall.

McKinsey is even more aggressive for the global 55 billion euro ($68 billion) general lighting market (which excludes automotive and specialist backlighting), forecasting a 45 per cent LED market share in 2016 from 9 per cent in 2011.

LEDs would usurp traditional efficient light bulbs such as CFLs, the consultants said in their "Perspectives on the global lighting market" study in August.

Banned

Developed countries are banning incandescent light bulbs on the basis that they are inefficient and contribute to global warming and energy insecurity, while governments chase building efficiency programmes.

The International Energy Agency reported that 26 of its 28 member countries had policies in place to phase out incandescent bulbs as of 2011, except in New Zealand and Turkey.

The European Union (19 EU countries are IEA members) last year phased out all non-directional, clear incandescent light bulbs usually used in household illumination.

The United States banned 100-watt incandescent light bulbs from October last year, followed by 75-watt bulbs this month and with 60-watt bulbs to follow.

Among emerging economies, China said it would ban 100-watt incandescents from October last year, with other varieties following through 2016.

Incandescent light bulbs produce light when an electric current runs through a wire inside the bulb's glass globe, causing the wire to heat up and glow. Halogen lamps are similar but add a gas which extends the product lifespan and allows them to operate at higher temperatures.

LEDs generate light when electricity flows through an electronic component called a diode.

CFLs and fluorescent tubes emit light when electricity excites a mix of gases inside the bulb, creating invisible ultraviolet light that is absorbed by the bulb's fluorescent coating and transformed into visible light.

Edge

LEDs are an old technology but will now become the dominant technology in the wake of the incandescent ban.

Britain's H.J. Round is credited with being the first person to publish the light emitting diode effect, in 1907.

Modern LEDs are superior to CFLs in terms of total environmental impact including the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture, transport, operate and dispose of light bulbs, concluded a report published in September by the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and UK-based N14 Energy Limited.

It compared the most typical and widely available light bulb in each technology class: LEDs, CFLs and incandescents.

With regards to operating efficiency, LEDs and CFLs were neck and neck: the bulbs each created about the same amount of light (800-900 lumens) but the incandescent bulb consumed 60 watts of electricity, followed by the CFL's 15 watts and LED's 12.5 watts.

But LEDs beat CFLs on overall environmental performance, including the energy and resources needed to make them.

Payback

LEDs cost more but have a longer life span: the PNNL report assumed its standard LED bulbs to last 25,000 hours for 2012 models, compared with 8,500 for CFLs and 1,000 for incandescents.

McKinsey forecasts a less than two-year payback by 2016 in the residential market and around three years in offices, from around 10 years now.

Environmental buyers are already converted, such as investors Climate Change Capital whose Tim Mockett reported on Wednesday a rapid 18-24-month payback on a recent LED lighting retrofit, replacing conventional fluorescent strip lighting.

A bigger test of demand will be adoption in large-scale public procurement programmes including street lighting projects which are gathering steam.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/led-lighting-outshines-rivals-20130110-2chew.html

The LED lighting industry is set to dominate the global market more than a century after its discovery as competition from rivals fades.

14/01/2013

BBC News - The LED lighting revolution

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9782116.stm?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=linkedin&goback=%2Egde_1845964_member_202936936

Ian Hardy looks at the latest improvements to LED lighting technology and discovers why the future could be bright for the industry in 2013.

19/12/2012

Shared from EcoSmart Electricians

Ref: http://www.ecosmartelectricians.com.au/index.php?page=pros-and-cons-of-leds (19/12/2012)

“The Pros and Cons of LEDs”

Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs have been a topic of much conversation as people begin to hear of the environmental and economic benefits associated with this form of lighting. LEDs have come a long way from once being used in small electronic devices, to now being used to create extraordinary effects at events and concerts. This technology has now advanced to the point where this form of lighting can be used for everyday purposes around the home.

There is a lot of misinformation regarding LEDs in the market place. This article will endeavor to explain the terminology and benefits of LEDs, expose the common myths and provide potential customers with information to make an educated decision when purchasing LEDs for the home.

LEDs are a lot more complex than the traditional incandescent light globes that we have grown up with. Incandescent globes were cheap and easy to install but they were not energy efficient and did not have a very long life span. So to understand LEDs we first of all need to understand some of the technology and the terminology.

Terminology
Often specialists in certain fields use terms which the general consumer does not understand. This has traditionally been the case in the computer, telecommunications and home entertainment industries. It is now the case with LED's. LEDs are not like traditional incandescent lighting and can often require a transformer to operate at low voltage. Increasingly LED fixtures are being manufactured for line voltage and thus do not require a transformer while still being incredibly energy efficient.

There are many terms which can be used to explain how LED technology is used and applied. The following terms are just a few which will help when looking at LEDs.

Lifetime: The lifetime of a traditional light source refers to how long it will take to burn out. When speaking about LEDs it explains how long the light will last above 70% of its specified light output.

Directionality: Unlike traditional lights LEDs do not emit light in all directions. They require lenses and reflectors to direct light onto the desired surface. Thus, it is important to know what size area or surface you want to illuminate before purchasing any LED fixture or globe.

Colouring: LEDs have an amazing ability to show a surface or items in its true colour or in a colour of your choice. This means the light emitted can be a white light, warm white (yellowish), cool white or a mixture of the three primary colours. There are three main indexes which are used when discussing the colouring properties of an LED
• - CCT - Correlated Colour Temperatures
• - CRI - Colour Rendering Index
• - RGB - Red, Green, Blue

Benefits
There are many benefits of installing LEDs but like any technology the benefits are only realized when the product is suited to the application. The main benefit of LEDs is that they can be five times more energy efficient than traditional incandescent and halogen lights and they can have a much longer lifespan. This means they are much better for the environment. Not only do they use less power and don't have to be replaced as often, they do not contain mercury like fluorescent lighting which require specialist recycling.

Two other benefits which are not often communicated are that they are very durable and can handle vibration as well as extreme environments. They also do not emit infrared or ultraviolet radiation which can cause household furnishing to fade.

Common Myths
Consumers are used to determining the brightness of the light by the wattage of the globe. However it is a mistake to compare these to LED lights or even one LED to another. When wanting to know the brightness of an LED it is important to find out the light output and light extraction efficacy.

A myth that is often circulated is that LEDs don't generate heat. LEDs do not radiate infrared heat but do produce heat when converting electricity into light. It is important to note that if the heat is not removed appropriately that it will damage the light. The heat that is generated is removed by a part of the fixture know as the heat sink and dispersed into the surrounding air.

As consumers we are used to paying a rather insignificant amount to replace light globes in our homes and as such could think that LEDs cost too much. It is true that initial purchase of LEDs does cost more but the return on your investment could be as soon as two years.

Consumer Advice
As with many other new technologies that have come onto the energy efficient market it can be hard to discern whether the product on offer can deliver what it promises. It is important to question the claims of the product, such as 'LEDs last forever'. LEDs like other light sources and do not maintain the same level of brightness for their entire life.
Other questions what may be of help are:
• 1. How does the manufacturer define lifetime?
Reputable manufactures will provide a lifespan that equates to 70% of the original brightness.
• 2. What is the maximum temperature that the fixture can operate at?
• 3. Does the lifetime of the LED include the electronics and other components?
• 4. What warranty is offered by the manufacturer?
• 5. Does the LED fixture require a transformer and if so is it included in the price?
• 6. Does the fixture have any special features that have to be allowed for to assist the heat sink process?

Where to start
There are a number of products on the market that can replace existing lighting in your home. It may be a good idea to trial some of these before commit to one product. There are LED replacements for outside spotlights, candle like globes an even one that looks like an old fashioned incandescent globe. There are also many companies making LED replacements for halogen down-lights.

When choosing lighting for your home it is worth considering a range of fixtures not just the standard down-lights. New buildings have to comply with lighting energy efficiency standards. Installing down-lights throughout the home will make it difficult to meet these standards. This is where LED pendent or wall lighting can assist in meeting the new standards while adding a real decorative feature to your home.

While there are an ever increasing number of LED manufacturers we recommend you source your new lighting from a major lighting manufacturer who is established in the industry. These companies have tested manufacturing procedures and have spent significant time researching and developing quality LED products.

Although LEDs may seem confusing to begin with, they do provide some real advantages for the environment, your hip pocket and the technological features.

Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs have been a topic of much conversation as people begin to hear of the environmental and economic benefits associated with this form of lighting. LEDs have come a long way from once being used in small electronic devices, to now being used to create extraordinary effects...

13/12/2012

LUX Magazine: 29/11/12

"Authorities seek to root out shock risk LED tubes."

http://www.luxmagazine.co.uk/news/17/led-tubes?goback=%2Egde_3003087_member_191069459

29 November 2012

LED tubes from five manufacturers have been banned or recalled by authorities in the EU this year because they posed a risk of electric shock.

Finnish authorities ordered recalls on three LED tube products in the space of five weeks, while Germany banned one in April and the UK ordered a temporary ban on another in August.

The brands affected were Limic, Ledtek, Eneltec, Winled (which also had another LED tube recalled last year) and Iled. All were made in China.

The safety concerns arose mostly from inadequate insulation between live and accessible metal parts. In the case of the Limic product, both ends became live when just one was inserted into a fitting.

Additionally, Havells-Sylvania voluntarily recalled 705 units of its ToLEDo LED tube product in the UK in October, due to a fault that introduced a risk of electric shock. All were recovered.

Various other LED light products were also subject to compulsory recalls this year, including four lamps from LED Energie.

Visit the Lux Magazine website - official publication of the Lighting Industry Association

17/09/2012

17/09/2012

(Wollongong largest asian grocery store)

14/09/2012

Global Platinum Group Pty Ltd is trading as GLOBAL LED

10/09/2012

What really driving electricity price increases.

Check the following link and the slides from Total Environment Centre


http://www.slideshare.net/totalEC/deck-1-d8?ref=http://www.tec.org.au/ge-latest-news/991-how-it-works-slide-pack

Energy Market For Smart People

10/09/2012

10/09/2012

IPART approved confirmation letter from Green Energy Trading (The reputable independent Accredited Certificate Provider)