LED technology became viable for illumination in 2007, with an initial lighting efficacy of only around 60-70 lumens per watt. It gained popularity around 2010 when its efficacy improved to 100 lumens per watt. Nowadays, Philips’ 3030 LED can achieve a lighting efficacy of up to 200-220 lumens per watt. The development of LED lighting technology signifies that people can enjoy the same brightness as before while consuming less power, leading to lower electricity bills.
While LED lighting is undoubtedly the current solution for illumination, many basic aspects of LED technology remain unknown to the average person. As LED lighting plays an integral role in our daily lives, everyone needs to learn about these fundamental concepts to understand LED parameters, so that they can know how to choose according to the parameters on the label.
In this article, we will introduce you to the basic parameters of LED lighting. Let’s get started!
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
CCT indicates the color appearance of light. The CCT range commonly used in daily life varies from 2500K to 6500K. For example, warm white(2500-3500K), natural white(4000-5000K), and day white(5500-6500K).
Lower CCT means the light looks more yellowish, while a CCT looks whiter. If the CCT exceeds 7000K, the light starts to take on a bluish tint. However, such high-CCT lights are generally not used in daily life because bluish light can create a cool and bleak atmosphere, making people feel uncomfortable.
Most homeowners prefer warm white to create a cozy ambiance in their homes, while many offices and workplaces opt for day white to foster a productive working environment.
Color Rendering Index (CRI)
Traditional fluorescent lights typically have a 70CRI. Some lower-quality ones may have even lower CRI, Under the low-quality light, your clothes will look dull or the clothes’ color will differ from how they look under natural sunlight. This is a failing of low CRI lighting.
CRI measures a light source’s ability to showcase the true colors of objects accurately.
60-70 is considered poor
>80 is very good,
>90 is excellent.
100 is equivalent to natural sunlight!
Okaymirror’s LED mirrors utilize light sources with a 90+CRI, making them ideal for luxury hospitality projects. Please refer to the Spectrum Test Report for more information.
If you’re a buyer looking for high-quality LEDs from a manufacturer, be sure also to consider the R9 parameter within the Color Parameters.
The R9 value indicates the saturation of red light; an R9 value greater than 50 is considered excellent.
Lumens (Luminous Flux)
Luminous flux refers to brightness and is measured in lumens. It represents the total amount of light emitted by an LED.
Technically, day white emits slightly more lumens than warm white when compared on the same light source basis. So, daylight LEDs looks a bit brighter than warm white ones.
Watts
Similar to traditional lighting, the power of LEDs is measured in watts, indicating the amount of energy consumed.
Efficacy (Efficiency)
It describes the LED’s ability to convert electrical energy into light output, commonly expressed as lumens/watt.
LED technology has improved significantly over the last decade, increasing light efficacy from 60 lumens per watt to 220 lumens per watt by 2025.
However, it remains uncertain whether future technological advancements will enhance light efficacy even further. Additionally, different manufacturers produce various types of LED light sources for different applications, and their efficacy can not be the same. As a result, two lamps with the same power may not have the same brightness.
Here’s a tip for choosing LED luminaires: focus on lumens rather than watts. If two lamps have the same lumen output, choose the one with lower wattage to save on your electricity bill.
Dimmable
Luminaires with LED can be controlled using dimmable LED drivers, allowing for smooth dimming from 10% to 100%.
There are three primary types of dimming control: Phase-Cut Dimming (also known as Triac Dimming), 0-10V Dimming, and DALI Dimming.
Among these, Triac dimming is the most commonly used method in the United States and around the world.
Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings
IP ratings indicate a luminary’s ability to resist water and dust.
For example, an IP65 rating is required for outdoor road lighting. In this rating, the first digit (6) signifies the level of dust resistance, while the second digit (5) represents the level of water resistance. For bathroom LED mirrors, an IP44 rating is typically required.
