How to Choose LED Lamps?

Release date: 2017-11-15 Source: External station Sharing: Share to QQ friends Share to QQ space Share to WeChat Share to Sina Weibo

LED lighting is widely recognized as the fourth generation of illumination technology, and its popularity continues to grow. It offers numerous advantages such as energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, long lifespan, no stroboscopic effect, and reduced eye strain. Additionally, LEDs do not attract insects, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

The key to ensuring a long lifespan (up to 3-5 million hours) lies in proper heat dissipation design. As a semiconductor component, the light output of an LED decreases over time due to temperature effects. When the luminous flux drops to 30% of its initial value, the LED is considered to have reached the end of its useful life, even though it may still emit some light. This makes thermal management a crucial factor in choosing high-quality LED lamps.

One common misconception is that LED lighting lacks color in the spectrum. However, modern LED technology uses blue chips to excite phosphors, producing white light. This method allows for a wide range of colors and better color rendering than traditional lighting sources.

Another concern is color casting on objects. This can be attributed to two main factors: low color rendering index (CRI) and improper color temperature. A CRI of 80-85 is considered excellent for indoor use, while color temperature should be chosen based on the environment. Warm white (2700K-4000K) creates a cozy atmosphere, natural white (4000K-5000K) is ideal for offices, and cool white (5000K-6700K) provides a refreshing feel.

Brightness is measured in lumens per watt (lm/W). Higher efficacy means more light for less power. For example, an LED with 70 lm/W can match the brightness of a 100W incandescent bulb using only 50-60W.

When purchasing LED lamps, pay attention to light efficiency, color temperature, CRI, and light decay. The latter is unique to LEDs, as their brightness gradually fades over time.

There are several common misunderstandings when selecting LED lights:

1. **Expecting too long a service life**: While manufacturers often claim 100,000 hours, this refers to mean time between failures (MTBF), not actual usable life. Light decay is inevitable, and once brightness drops below 50%, the lamp becomes unsuitable for illumination.

2. **Confusing effective angle with actual illumination angle**: The effective angle is where the light intensity is at least half of the maximum, while the actual angle is the full spread of light. Knowing the real angle helps in determining how many lamps you need for a space.

3. **Thinking higher power equals brighter light**: Brightness depends on luminous intensity, not just power. A lower-power LED can produce the same brightness as a higher-power one if itâ€™s designed efficiently.

4. **Choosing white LED modules carelessly**: High-brightness white LEDs are sensitive to static electricity. Proper circuit protection, such as anti-static resistors, is essential to prevent damage.

In conclusion, when buying LED lamps, focus on quality parameters like CRI, color temperature, and light decay rather than just power or price.