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faq
LED LIGHTS
The LED downlight beam angle is dependent upon the lighting requirement (highlight or uniform) and roof height. Ecoglow has found LED downlight beam angles between 50 and 90 degrees to be the most appropriate beam angle for providing uniform light coverage in rooms with standard floor to ceiling height and existing halogen down light spacing. LED downlight beam angles less than 50° focus light in a defined area creating uneven light and dark sections across a room (spotting) while beam angles greater than 90° focus light across the ceiling rather than providing sufficient and uniform light where it’s supposed to be delivered, i.e. between 1-2m above the floor.
Ecoglow recommends 60° beam angle when lighting a typical room.
Ecoglow recommends 90° beam angle for an even light dispersion.
Ecoglow recommends 50° – 70° beam angle for higher than average ceilings.
Warm white creates a comfortable feel.
Cool white is fresh and clean.
Daylight is ultra-bright.
Lighting colour is a personal choice but as we are all accustomed to the warm tone of halogen downlights and incandescent bulbs, Ecoglow recommends the following:
Warm white (3000-3200k) in all living areas: bedroom, lounge room, dining room etc or areas where mood lighting is necessary.
Cool white (4000-4500k) or daylight (6000-6500k) in all work areas: kitchen, bathroom, laundry etc.
Please note, many customers choose one colour throughout the entire home, office, café etc.
When replacing 50W halogens, the best option is the 9W GU10 LED downlight. The 9W LED downlight has a 60 degree beam angle & when accompanied by 2 or more, is perfect for dispersing light in any particular room. Whilst it replaces a 50W halogen, it is also suitable for installation in higher than average ceilings or above work benches.
We recommend the 9W LED downlight to replace the 50W Halogen, considering it is suitable for most areas of the home.
The 10W, 12W and 15W LED downlights are available in ultra-bright options and can be used in high ceilings or areas such as offices and other task areas such as above work or kitchen benches.
LED stands for light-emitting diode. LEDs are small light sources that become illuminated by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material. LED’s have been around for many years and have been used in various applications for a long time. New technology has made them available for everyday commercial and domestic use.
LED lights are the most efficient lights available on the market today and require very little electricity to operate because they are extremely efficient. LED’s convert approximately 90% of the electricity they consume into light. Conversely, incandescent lights use only 10 – 15% of electricity to generate light, with the rest of the electricity effectively wasted in lost heat. Ecoglow LED down lights, for example, draw only 4-8 Watts of electricity to emit light, compared to 50 Watts drawn by a traditional halogen downlight. That is a saving in electricity consumption of 80-90% thus making the switch to Ecoglow LED a no brainer when the cost of electricity is continually rising.
As well as LED lighting being highly energy-efficient, some LED lights are suitable for retro-fit installation and new building developments. This means existing lights (especially inefficient halogens) can be replaced and/or installed into buildings being designed for the future. Ecoglow LED downlights are also an environmentally friendly option as they are free from mercury and toxic gasses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also meet all critical Australian safety standards. Ecoglow LED downlights can be truly relied upon for longevity and for performance and have a 2 or 3 year warranty depending on the product. (Please see each product’s individual specification sheet to view warranty period and conditions.)
The usual low-energy light technology on the market today is CFL – standing for Compact Fluorescent Lamp. These tend to be curly in shape and give off a bluey-white light. In effect they are the same technology as the neon fluorescent tubes often found in offices or kitchens, simply engineered to fit into smaller fittings (hence “compact”). CFL technology is classified today as being energy-efficient, as it uses less electricity than traditional lighting however CFL is now old technology and should no longer be classified as energy efficient as LEDs are now the new benchmark of energy efficiency. CFLs also contain mercury and other toxic materials in measurable quantities – they need these materials in order to work. They also tend to be made of glass and if they break they are a health hazard from both the glass fragments and the mercury; this makes them expensive to handle and send to waste. In addition, CFL lights tend to flicker and usually take time to reach full brightness. LEDs have none of these issues.
LED lighting technology is the greenest form of lighting technology today. Ecoglow’s LED lights comply with Restriction of Hazardous Substances legislation and will not explode like incandescent bulbs or shatter and spread powder throughout your kitchen like fluorescent tubes and CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Lights) have been prone to.
Unlike the fluorescent lights, lifespan of LED lights is NOT affected by frequent switching.
In converting 240V to 12V, transformers can draw up to 9% more power than the down light alone. Transformers only last approximately 3 years, consume more power, generate high heat and aren’t very good at controlling power flow making them generally unsuitable for use with LED down lights.
The LED Downlight spacing is determined by the height of the roof. For use of 90 degree beam angle LED downlights in home developments, we recommend spacing of approximately 1.5 metres for even light distribution. Whereas, we recommend approximately 1 metre spacing for a 60 degree beam angle LED downlights, considering they are a more focused source of lighting.
(Your electrician will install your LED downlights according to building codes.)
Ecoglow includes both non-dimmable and dimmable downlights within its range. Clipsal or HMP utrailing edge or universal dimmers are recommended for use with all Ecoglow dimmable lights to avoid flickering and other compatibility issues.
We recommend a 25mm clearance from the side of our heat hood to any typical combustible.
We also recommend 100mm clearance from the top of our heat hood from any combustible.
Induction Lights
Induction high bay lights are ideal for area lighting. They are suitable for areas such as:
- Car parks
- Service stations
- Roadways
- Tunnels
- Under passes
- Bridges
- High Ceilings
- Warehouses
- Factories
- Indoors sporting centres
Induction high bay lights use approx. half the power of traditional lights such as Metal Halides, Sodium vapours and Mercury vapours.
Induction high bay lights switch on and off instantly and do not required a warm up or cool down period.
Ecoglow’s Induction high bay lights have a 90 degree beam angle which provides an even light dispersion.
Induction light provides a non-glare, ultra-bright light which is non-intrusive to the human eye.
The comparison chart below is a guide to compare the light output between Induction lights and traditional lights.
e.g. 40W Induction is comparable to an 80W metal halide lamp, 80W-100W high pressure sodium lamp and a 150W halogen lamp.
Induction lamp | Metal halide lamp | High pressure sodium lamp | Halogen lamp |
40W | 80W | 80W-100W | 150W |
80W | 160W | 150W | 300W |
120W | 250W | 200W-250W | 450W |
150W | 350W | 350W | 600W |
200W | 400W | 450W | 750W-800W |
250W | 500W | 500W | 950W |
300W | 600W | 700W | 1200W |
400W | 800W | 850W | 1500W |
500W | 1000W | 1100W | 1900W |
Induction lighting is the best choice for area lighting. The main reasons are: Induction technology is much more competitively priced and more resistant to extreme temperatures. Please view comparison chart below.
Induction | LED
|
Reflective technology, wide beam angle produces great light ditribution. | Directional light, issue of creating dark spots/ shadowing. |
Excellent heat dissipation – long lifetime. | Generates high heat, reducing lifetime. |
Cooler to operate- low heat produced; heat sink not necessarily required. | Hotter to operate – high heat produced affecting LED longevity. Larger, expensive heat sinks required to dissipate heat. |
Can be installed in cool environments and when installed in air-conditioned area, unlike LED’s will not produce heat to add pressure to cooling system. | To reduce failure rate, must be installed in cool or air- conditioned environment. |
Broad operating temperature: -30°C to 70°C. Withstands harsh Australian temperatures. | Restricted operating temperature approx. -20°C to 40°C. High failure rate during Australian summer period where ceiling temperatures can rise to 60 °C+. |
Affordable purchase price – fast payback period. | High cost, prolonged payback period. |
Up to 100,000 hrs life time- twice as long as LED’s. | Up to 50,000 hrs lifetime. |
Lower light depreciation over time, superior lumen maintenance. | Higher light depreciation over time, inferior lumen maintenance. |
Parts are easy to change and replace if damage/ issue occurs. | Generally whole unit must be replaced if damage/ issue occurs. |
Generated light is non-intrusive on the human eye. | Generated light is intrusive to the human eye. |
Payback period is usually 12-18 months. View our Savings Calculator
8 reasons why Ecoglow Induction High Bay lights are superior to other suppliers:
- Sourced from a reputable supplier.
- Superior design for efficient removal of unwanted heat from key components.
- Specifies high quality globe materials i.e. gas and phosphor coating.
- Improved globe stability- increased protection during transport.
- Electronic power supply re-engineered to suit harsh Australian conditions.
- Passed thermal testing- AS/NZS 60598.1.2013.
- Passed surge testing- AS/ NZS 61000.6.1: 2006 – Part 6.1.
- Passed transient voltage testing – AS/NZS 61000.4.5:2006 .
The tempered glass lens is cheaper than the polycarbonate lens type and can be used in most areas. The Polycarbonate lens type must be installed in the food industry, indoor sports centres and any other area where broken glass can be hazardous.
Ecoglow’s Magnetic Induction High Bay lights switch on instantly and do not require a cool down period, therefore can be used on a sensor system. Consistent fast switching of the light can affect its lifetime.
Induction High Bay lights should be spaced according to the lux level required.
Please call Ecoglow today to discuss creating a lighting plan based on the lux level required for the area.