LEDs – anticipating the pitfalls and identifying the risks

LED lighting remains unregulated “Wild West” technology with great potential but some enormous risks.

These were poor quality LED’s that had to be taken out of a misguided hotel recently. This is one of three boxes!

Risks:

·         Buying LEDs that fail

·         Buying LEDs from specs and not witnessing the light

·         or change colour after a little use,

·         or start failing because the dimmers are neither compatible or dim

·         or the replacements are not be the same as the original batch

·         or that don’t do what the designer specified

·         or that don’t send out the right colour of light

You cannot send them back because you do not “like” them and expect a refund.

The failure of a light to deliver to the specification may also not be immediately apparent unless every detail is investigated.

This designer specified downlights with a medium beam and lumen output of 600 Lm. The contractor went for a cheaper model which purported to have the same lumen output and beam angle. Unfortunately this was being delivered at the expense of the beam angle (which was much narrower than claimed) The result is this patchy, mottled effect on the floor – not what the designer or client wants to see at all.

How then to avoid the pitfalls?

·         Start with a lighting design that suits the technology.

·         Model the lighting levels to illustrate where the light will go and how good is the light throw

·         Specify lights that you trust will deliver the light for a guaranteed period

·         Ensure trace-ability in the event of failure

·         Establish what are the options at end of life

·         Check that every component of the light will deliver every aspect of the design to the required level. Where you are considering between two apparently identical lights TURN THEM ON and then see how they perform.

If you do not have access to this expertise, use an expert LED specifier and also use an LED experienced electrician. Many claim experience in this technology, few genuinely grasp the issues. Any investment in LED involves a great deal of money. Take care.

Buy the right effective LEDs and you have great lighting for a generation using a fraction of historic energy.

Ian Peter MacDonald  -                MacDonald Tait Light -                November 2011 -  ianpeter@macdonaldtait.com