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LED LIGHTS EXPLAINED

WHAT DOES L.E.D. STAND FOR?

What does LED stand for? Starting with the acronym LED itself, it stands for Light Emitting Diode and is the name for an electronic component which gives off light. These diodes are assembled into lamps, called luminaires, for use in a range of commercial and domestic applications. LED bulbs are far more energy efficient than conventional incandescent light bulbs, and have a much longer operating life.

For an extremely detailed description of what LED stands for, have a read of the lengthy Wikipedia article.

WHAT DOES LUMEN MEAN?

When asking “what does LED stand for” you’ll often find other terminology popping up that needs explaining. Lumen is one of those terms. With LED lighting, the watt is no longer an indication of brightness as most people are used to with traditional bulbs. Though wattage is still shown on LED bulbs, this is purely an indicator of their power consumption. The measurement to look out for is the lumen (lm), and the higher the lumen, the brighter the bulb. 230lm is equivalent to a traditional 25W bulb, and at the opposite end of the scale, 1340lm is about as bright as an old 100W light bulb.

See our technical article on lumens here.

WHAT IS AN L.E.D. DRIVER?

As LEDs operate on DC power, they require electronics in the luminaire to convert mains electricity and power the light source. This is called the driver.

Take a look at our article on LED Drivers.

WHAT IS LUMEN DEPRECIATION?

Unlike conventional light bulbs, LED lighting doesn’t simply ‘burn out’ like old-fashioned bulbs when it reaches the end of its useful life (except in the case of driver failure). Instead, its light output gradually decreases over a long period of time, known as lumen depreciation.

The widely-accepted standard is L70, which is the point at which light output falls below 70% of its original level. This measurement shows the number of operating hours you can expect from the LED before its output falls below a useful level.

WHAT IS LUX?

When asking “what does LED stand for” Lux is a term that often appears. While a lumen is used to express how much illumination a source of light provides, the lux measures the intensity of light as seen by the human eye. The lux is measured by luminous flux per unit area and one lux is equal to one lumen per square metre.

Check out our technical article on Lux.

WHAT IS GLARE?

Glare is the term used to express the visual discomfort experienced by excessive brightness and is calculated using a precise formula. UGR (Unified Glare Rating) measures the luminance of a lamp divided by the background of visible luminance from the room. The number calculated is the UGR and the lower, the better. Low levels of UGR will go unnoticed whereas higher levels will definitely cause a distraction.

WHAT IS COLOUR TEMPERATURE?

Frequently referred to simply as LED colour, this is a measurement which indicates the warmth of the light emitted from the luminaire. It is measured in degrees Kelvin and, put simply, the higher the number, the whiter the light. The most common colour temperatures are as follows:

2700k – Often called Warm White, it emits a colour about equivalent to a conventional light bulb
3000k – Slightly less warm in appearance, roughly corresponding to halogen lamps such as those used in floodlights for exterior lighting solutions
4500k – Sometimes called Natural or Neutral White, this colour temperature is similar to natural daylight
6000k – A bright blue-white sometimes termed Cool White which is similar to the flash of a camera

This is our great article on LED Colour.

MAINTAINED Vs NON-MAINTAINED LED LIGHTING

Maintained lighting is designed to be lit continuously and will continue to work even in the event of a power failure. This type of emergency lighting or maintained lighting allows a unit to act as a standard light fitting while still supplying the necessary backup in the event of a power cut.

Conversely, non-maintained lighting is designed to turn on in the event of a power failure. Linked to the lighting circuit, it reacts to a power cut by ensuring emergency exit routes remain illuminated.

WHAT IS IMPACT PROTECTION (IK) AND INGRESS PROTECTION (IP)?

An IK (Impact Protection) rating measures the degree of protection provided by electrical equipment enclosures against external mechanical impacts. The higher the rating, the greater the protection provided by the enclosure.

Similarly, an IP (Ingress Protection) rating measures degrees of alternative protection. The rating constitutes the characteristic letters IP, followed by two numerals which indicate conformity with stated conditions. The first number indicates the level of protection of persons against contact with live and moving parts and protection of the equipment against ingress of solid foreign bodies. While the second number indicates the level of protection of the equipment against harmful ingress of water. From zero protection to being dust and water tight, the higher the rating, the better protected the light fitting.

WHAT IS A PASSIVE INFRARED SENSOR (PIR)?

A PIR sensor (Passive Infrared Sensor) radiates wavelengths to detect heat energy in nearby objects. As such, when a PIR sensor is incorporated in lighting, the device is able to capture movement and trigger the light accordingly. PIR sensors are ideal for use in outdoor security lighting.

OTHER COMMONLY USED LIGHTING TERMS:

• Watt is a unit of electrical power. Lamps are rated in watts to indicate the rate at which they consume energy.

• LPW (Lumens per Watt) is a measurement of how effective the light source is in converting electrical energy into lumens of visible light. (Modern lighting embraces the concepts of efficacy and efficiency, with the overall aim of providing energy-saving solutions.)

• LOR (Light Output Ratio) is a figure that shows how much light gets lost inside a luminaire.

• Dimming Control is another popular energy-conserving device. It is used to lower the light output of a source by reducing its operational wattage. Lamps will state whether they are dimmable and hence, whether the lamp lumens can be varied while maintaining reliability.

• Floodlight is a luminaire used to light a scene or object to a level much brighter than its surroundings.

• Accent lighting is directional lighting, employed to emphasise a particular object or to draw attention to a display.

• Ambient lighting is the general lighting in any given area. While it excludes task and accent lighting, it incorporates room lighting and the level of available daylight.

• Daylight harvesting is the term employed when an interior lighting design incorporates daylight as a way of reducing energy consumption.

• Task lighting describes the use of supplemental lighting provided to assist in performing a localised task. Table or inspection lamps are obvious examples.