Integral LED Drivers

LED strips (also known as LED tapes) are a fantastic way to add attractive accent lighting to almost any room. They are inexpensive, easy to install and can alter the look and atmosphere of a space immediately. This type of lighting has proven to be equally popular in residential, retail and hospitality environments. Its adaptability and variety of aesthetic possibilities means that it can provide attractive effects such as wall-washing, edge-lighting and under-cabinet lighting. Before you hop on board the LED strip bandwagon, you should consider a few things: what types do you plan to use? For what purposes will the strip lighting be utilised? Are they really essential for how and where you plan to apply them? Sparks will endeavour to answer all these questions in this article. The LED strip light - its primary purposes and the abundance to choose from Hundreds of lighting manufacturers make LED strip lights, and the different kinds of tape have dozens of applications. This may provide a head-scratcher to the average member of the public who is looking to simply buy some LED strip lighting. There are two main purposes for LED tape, either functional or aesthetic (although of course, they may be a mixture of both). Functional lighting will amplify the illumination in any given space, whilst aesthetic lights are intended to lend some decorative ambience. LED strips can be installed indoors or outdoors depending on the IP rating of the strip and any accessories. This previous blog post from Sparks explores some of the imaginative appliances of LED strips. Key choices to make on lumen output with LED tape Some LED strips manage to emit more light per metre than fluorescent lighting. This is made all the more impressive as the light is focused, rather than dispersed in all directions as with a fluorescent tube. So high output tape is readily available on the market, and we sell many varieties of it here at Sparks from esteemed manufacturers such as Teucer LED. The 1438mm Cool White LED offers an incredible 1730 lumens and can be connected to other strip lighting. The linkable, slim LED light is ideal for kitchen lighting, cove lighting, cabinet lighting, under-shelf lighting and retail applications. Alan Tulla, the technical editor at Lux, states that LED tapes emitting 2,000lm/m or more would be considered among the highest end of the spectrum. However, such high output would risk wasteful energy output especially if they were to be mistakenly left on. So it is important that you find a balance between the right light output that will illuminate your room as you wish, without wasting electricity. If you are looking for a lower output LED tape, then there is the IP20 2700K Dimmable LED from Foss LED. This nifty LED tape produces only 420/500 lumens per metre, meaning that it is perfect to use as decorative or mood lighting - in your bedroom for instance, or in the living room. Key choices to make on colour rendering with LED strip lights You get more lumens per watt with cool-colour-temperature LEDs (around 4000K) and therefore more lumens per metre. This may mean more value for money to some. However, the disadvantage is that at low levels of illumination (maybe from dimming) the light from cool-light LEDs can look dull, with a ‘greyish’ tint. This is especially important when considering what your priorities are in lighting an area. For retail, hospitality and residential applications, colour rendering is considered more important than maximum light output. Generally, for indoor applications, you should aim to use tape with a CRI of 80 or more. This 3000K warm light LED Strip is a brilliantly efficient strip light from Teucer LED, which has a CRI rating of >80. The colour temperature of LED tape is important for aesthetic reasons. Warmer colour temperatures, such as 2700K - 3000K, works well for residential and low-illumination locations. Designers believe that such colour temperatures makes people’s skin appear more attractive, with the R9 red in the light being of particular importance. You can find the amount of R9 on the technical specifications for any given LED tape. There are obviously many cases where the appearance of peoples skin will not factor into your light choice. If you are back-lighting a sign or trying to imitate daylight with a false skylight or window, then a 4000K+ level will be more acceptable. Final tips on working with LED Strips Think about what surface these strips will be mounted on. LEDs aren’t suited for high temperatures, and so the LED tape should be fixed to a good ‘heat sink’ like a U-shape aluminium extrusion. Low wattage tapes aren’t so demanding in terms of dissipating heat and you may not need a heat sink. Still, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you are considering using an LED strip, ask for independently verified test data. Try a working sample. Ideally, do a small trial in the actual application. If you are using a lot of LED strip lights, make sure you are not using inefficient ones. Also, make sure the LED driver has a high power factor to avoid blackouts and malfunctions. Most of the suppliers we recommend make both high output and high colour rendering tape, so it is not always going to be a choice between the two. Some successfully combine the two with great results. One final point is to check the distance between the LEDs. The smaller the distance, the more uniform is of the line of light. Using the help given in this article, we here at Sparks hope you can wisely choose the LED strip light with all the knowledge you require to get the job done right!

Modern lighting controls are commonly associated with office buildings, which seek to create ‘work-friendly’ lighting for their employees; it is necessary, however, to take a look at smart lighting control for larger buildings. Advocates of lighting controls insist that the use of modern lighting should not be restricted to office buildings. Key figures in the lighting industry such as CP Electronics say that smart light systems are suitable for a variety of large buildings, such as warehouses and schools. A key factor to be considered when lighting large buildings are motion detectors. For instance, in a warehouse, an indoor loading bay may only be used for an hour during the day. If the lights were to remain on for the entire day afterwards, it would be a complete waste of energy and money. A key argument for smart lighting control in warehouses: functionality When a warehouse has varying shift patterns with different lighting requirements, a networked solution (whether it be wired or wireless) could be advantageous. A major advantage that comes with a wireless network, such as the CP Electronics An-10 system, is the ease of installation. Furthermore, it is flexible as you can move and scale it as you see fit. However, a wired system may be preferable in very large installations. These environments are sometimes hostile to electrical interference disrupting wireless connections. In terms of smart light functionality, there are other factors to account for, such as the minimum amount of light needed in an area for safety. For instance, in an unoccupied outbuilding you may want minimal lighting to ward off potential intruders. One of the important considerations in regards to functionality is ‘ease of use’ that will all but eliminate the need for end-user intervention. The ultimate goal with systems such as these is for them to be hands-free, in order to save time. A core argument for smart lighting control in warehouses: lower costs Warehouses are similar to office buildings in numerous ways. There needs to be multiple control scenarios to suit different areas of the warehouse. Light may be in constant use during standard working hours in one office, and used barely at all in other areas (such as loading bays). Advances made in lighting control technology allows users to have more oversight of their energy consumption. At present, lighting can account for over half of the total energy budget used in warehouses annually. This is an exorbitant amount that can only be explained by energy wastage. Many manufacturing companies provide smart light systems that make use of modular light controls. CP Electronics, for example, have manufactured the Vitesse Plus system, which has a range of features that will drastically reduce costs. How do smart lighting control save money? The PIR motion detector PIR (Passive Infrared) detectors are a lifesaver when it comes to controlling light usage in warehouses. They operate by detecting moving heat; in a warehouse this may be caused by the workers or machinery in motion. It is essential that the correct form of detector is used - in large spaces such as warehouses long range detectors are necessary. They should be placed at a decent height and without obstruction of their line-of-sight. Alternatives to PIRs come in the form of microwave or High-Frequency (HF) detectors that use low power radars to detect moving objects. However, one downside is that warehouses contain other moving objects that may trigger the microwave or HF detector unnecessarily. Even some loose packaging may cause a ‘false trigger’. PIR detectors also incorporate lux sensors to ensure that areas are only lit if there is not sufficient daylight present. This provides an intelligent way of making use of natural light to ensure energy savings. Why your warehouse should use an LED smart light system The use of smart lighting provides a number of advantages to warehouses, the key one being in energy-efficiency. Smart lighting allows for better optimisation of lighting during critical working hours. It would also be wise to use a system that utilises eco-efficient LED bulbs. You will be saving even more money. There are other advantages provided by most LED light systems, as outlined here. 1. Better dimming capabilities LED lights that are compatible with dimming controls are an important aspect of achieving energy efficiency. Unlike with traditional lights, dimming the LEDs won’t affect the lifespan and long-term quality of light emitted by them. 2. Energy-efficiency LED drivers use very little energy. The combined power consumption of both the light and controller is still significantly lower than those of traditional lighting systems. 3. Minimal heat emission Conventional lights get hot after extended use, while LED lights emit minimal heat. LED lights have become very efficient with minimal heat output which can benefit working environments. Traditional light bulbs emit heat which can negatively affect the efficiency of air conditioning. LED lights do not have this problem. 4. Consistent light with no wait time The illumination that LEDs provide is constant from the moment they’re switched on until the moment they’re turned off. Good quality LED lights and drivers never flicker and don’t require minutes of waiting time to get to their full capacity, unlike traditional light bulbs. You can constantly turn LEDs on and off without affecting their brightness and lifespans. 5. Low maintenance LEDs usually have long lifespans and are robust enough to withstand heavy-duty use. They don’t use electronic ballasts (unlike conventional warehouse lighting) which require regular replacements. The lack of maintenance needed for LED bulbs reduces overhead costs for companies. It also ensures that operations will not get interrupted by scheduled maintenance. Factors to consider when installing a smart lighting control system Control devices used - One of the first things you should consider when implementing a large scale lighting plan is what control device you intend to use. Compatibility - If you are investing a large amount of money into the system then it may be wise to contact the light manufacturer. You should ensure the controls you plan to buy are compatible with the lights. Type of environment - You should take care when siting control devices dependent on ambient temperature, and how likely it is to affect their operation and range. Number and positioning of devices - Position your lights so that there are no ‘blind spots’ in the warehouse. It is important that operators of heavy-duty machinery, such as forklifts, are able to easily hit the control device when required. Be assured, smart lighting is the solution for large-scale buildings, which have more complex requirements than regular buildings. If you introduce the appropriate control regime, not only will installation costs be reduced but savings will be made immediately. This is an incentive which is difficult to overlook for any company. If you have any further enquiries regarding the Vitesse Plus system and the smart lighting control systems from CP Electronics, please leave a comment or email us.