Choosing the best designed LEDs for clients

When Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs, became the main form of lighting, many architects and interior designers thought that the future of lighting was not just bright, it was infinitely variable. So why does it so often happen that the LED lighting they choose for their clients is a disappointment?

There are a number of reasons. Rush to market, design weakness and poor manufacture are just three of them.

Rush to market

Governments around the world have legislated to outlaw incandescent light bulbs. As a result, many manufacturers retro-fitted their workshops to handle LED systems. But that doesn’t mean they have the capacity, understanding or skills to create really great LED light. To ensure that your lighting meets the highest standards, look out for innovative approaches to LED structures, created by specialist designers who understand both lighting technology and interior design.

As an example: the BB LED floor standing LED micro spot has been designed from the ground up to be a perfect example of how LED lighting can work at its best. From the best use of LED (more than 500 lumens at color temperature 27,000K for just three watts consumption) to create an ideal reading lamp that combines slimline style with light efficiency through to the purpose designed spherical push switch that makes turning the lamp on and off a dream, this is a design led approach to adjustable lighting which is a world away from your average angle-poise.

How design weakness lets down your average LED lighting

Color, character and lumen maintenance all influence the effect of LED. Sourcing well balanced, consistent and reliable LEDs is essential to getting the perfect effect. The color and character of the light is by delivering layers of semi-conducting material. Tiny variations in these layers can alter the color of the LED’s output.

Phosphor, an ingredient used to create white balance, must be laid equally on all the diodes or some will look bluer than others, creating an uneven light source. LEDs convert half the energy they use into light – compared to between five and ten percent for incandescent bulbs. That’s good news for electricity bills and the planet. But where incandescent bulbs get rid of the rest of their energy through dissipating it into the environment as heat, LEDs need a heat sink to move the heat away from the LED. If the heat sink is not carefully designed to move the heat away and disperse it, the LEDs will begin to break down rapidly.

If you’ve ever bought or installed LED lighting that deteriorated way too quickly, you’ll know how disappointing this can be. Always work with designers and manufacturers who focus as much on effective heat dispersal as they do on physical appearance, this helps to guarantee a long lifetime for LEDs.

Why craftsman built LEDs are the best investment

It’s vital that for LED lighting to work well in the long term, it has a balance between diodes, heat sink and the circuits that convert electricity to the voltage the LED can use. This requires trained personnel, with a craftsman’s focus on construction. The lifetime of a good LED installation can be many tens of thousands of hours, and every element in that installation needs to be designed and constructed with longevity in mind.

So, in conclusion, not all LED lights are made equal. To ensure your complete satisfaction, make sure you’re working with a designer led, craftsman constructed, supplier and your lighting will thrill for years to come.