Top LED Lighting Terms You Should Know

Lighting is undoubtedly one of the most critical aspects to look at while deciding on any project, as it is said to have the power to make or break a space. But knowing LED lighting terms is paramount too. You should keep some LED and technological terms in mind before shopping to decide what works best for you and your areas. 

LEDs offer the unique ability to design custom lighting using their color temperature, brightness, warmth, and efficiency. They dominate incandescents and fluorescents, so it's critical to understand some LED terms when selecting LEDs for your projects to maximize their performance and unlock exceptional lighting perks.

As LED lighting technology advances, it is now being used primarily in residential settings rather than just commercial settings. LEDs are becoming increasingly popular as consumers realize the long-term benefits outweigh the initial costs.

Let's look at some practical LED lighting terms that can be game-changers for your spaces and projects.

Efficacy

Efficacy is measured by describing and valuing the components and qualities of a light fixture. In technical terms, efficacy is lumens divided by watts, meaning that an association with a higher efficacy will perform better. The lumens per watt of fixtures generally range from 140-180, while the lumens per watt of older fixtures can be as low as 100 lumens.

Foot Candles 

To conform to regulations, certain facilities must have several foot candles across the playing area. For instance, a facility that hosts high-level tournament play needs over 100 feet of candles across the playing area. In comparison, another facility that hosts lower-level events requires 70-80 feet of candles.

CRI

CRI (Colour Rendering Index) measures how colors appear under a light source compared to natural sunlight. In the index, the colors appear as they would in natural daylight if the light source was at 100, the highest possible score. 

LED strip lighting with high CRI offers traditional and LED lighting benefits, using less energy while delivering beautiful, vibrant color renditions when selecting lighting. It is wise to consider CRI because it provides many benefits. 

It is considered acceptable for most applications to use lights with a CRI of more than 80. High CRI lights generally have a CRI rating greater than 90.

Correlated Colour Temperature 

Depending on the bulb or fixture correlated color temperature (CCT), you can determine the hue and tone of white. Kelvin (K) is the unit of measurement for CCT, equivalent to degrees Celsius.

Various temperatures on the Kelvin scale describe diverse colors. For instance, the light at 2000K-3500K looks more orange/yellow. It is called ultra warm or warm white, and as the temperature grows in Kelvins, the color turns into a paper white or natural white between 3500K- 5100K and ultimately into a bluish-white or cool white between 5100K-20000K.

Two bulbs can keep the exact CCT but maintain different chromaticities. Chromaticity is the tint and saturation of color without illumination. If it's unattainable to get bulbs or fixtures from the same factory, one must buy them based on the CCT for testing purposes.

Line Voltage vs Low Voltage

A transformer is required to lower the line voltage from 120 volts to 12 or 24 volts for low-voltage lighting, which typically uses 12 or 24 volts. There are two types of transformers: those built into fixtures and those located remotely.

BINNING

LED binning is the approach manufacturers use to confirm that all LEDs are equivalent.

LED Binning Measures

Most manufacturers sort their production based on the subsequent binning standards:

• Luminosity- Lumens
• Colour location- Colour appearance when viewed straight
• Colour temperature- Kelvin
• Voltage- Volts

LED Binning Process

LED chips' performance is directly impacted by their binning criteria luminance and color temperature. LEDs are sorted based on their luminosity. Manufacturers usually develop binning systems to match production results. LED values are more likely to differ when the bin is larger. Containers with narrower dimensions are more expensive to sort, so LED products are more expensive.

There is no complex mathematics involved in binning light output. A prescribed lumen output range is assigned to LEDs based on their measurements. In contrast, LED suppliers create their own set of lumen bins and specify the expected lumen performance of each of those bin ranges.

By selecting the bin that best meets the light fixture requirements, luminaire manufacturers can quickly produce light fixtures that meet the criteria of lumen performance.

Warm Dim

An incandescent bulb's color temperature gets warm when dimmed. The filament glows as deep orange at the lower grounds and casts very little light. The color temperature of LEDs is held down to the dimming cutoff point. 

Many people favor the warmth of a hazed incandescent light, so LEDs mock the color tone change as it covers. Red and amber LEDs and control technology within the bulb complete this look.

Additional tangents in color temperature

• Manufacturing tolerations guarantee that the exact products do not create a separate color appearance.
• After 10,000 hours, there may still be an age-related color transformation.
• Large deviations need to be bypassed, for which LEDs will be made more precise in terms of technology and quality.
• Manufacturers will create LEDs more accurately to ignore extensive deviations in the context of quality and futuristic technology.

Dimming

Lighting control is evolving and turning prominent, and so is consumers' need for a bright, interconnected dwelling. Modifying light levels in a room is paramount, and dimmers are highly recommended. Exemplary LED lighting manufacturers will use dimmable LEDs, but it's crucial to inspect when buying.

Dimming is likewise another mode to conserve energy and lower your operating costs. Dimmers are an excellent choice for your areas as they create a remarkable ambiance and set the tone and mood just right.