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Lighting Trends - Product Insight - Industry News

Six Common LED Lighting Mistakes to Avoid

3/19/2019

10 Comments

 
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With LED lighting becoming the norm, more people are becoming aware of the benefits of upgrading outdated lighting. However, this does not mean the switch is always straight-forward; there’s room for error. To avoid these issues, check out these common mistakes first-time LED users tend to make.

​Assuming your fixture accepts LED bulbs.
Think of any light bulb imaginable; chances are there’s an LED replacement. There are numerous terms to describe the usability of these products. You may see terms like “ballast compatible”, “plug and play”, "instant fit" or “direct wire”. Ballast compatible, plug and play and instant fit all essentially mean the same – remove your current bulb and simply replace it with its LED counterpart. If you have a direct wire LED bulb, you will need to remove the ballast, or power supply, and hard-wire the LED bulb and socket. Always read the manufacturer’s specifications and your fixture’s guidelines to ensure the proper use and acceptance.

​Not taking light output into account.
When replacing standard light bulbs, we are accustomed to comparing the wattage and finding one that matches the light output we are looking for. With LED bulbs, the comparison is not always so simple. To get a more accurate LED replacement, you must check the lumen output, or the amount of visible light a bulb emits. For example, a 60 watt A19 bulb – think the standard light bulb in your home – produces about 800 lumens. Its LED counterpart that produces the same number of lumens will use, on average, only 10 watts. Learn more about lumen comparison here.

​Choosing the wrong color temperature.
Identifying the right color temperature, measured in Kelvin, is important when lighting a room. Color temperature has nothing to do with the actual heat a bulb produces, but rather the color tone of the bulb – ranging from warm to cool to daylight. For some bulbs, it’s simple to figure out their color temperature as it is stamped on the bulb itself. However, some will not be so obvious. For example, if you are replacing an incandescent bulb with an LED and want it to emit the same warmness, choose a bulb with a Kelvin rating of 2200K-2700K. For halogen bulbs, choose a color temperature around 3000K-3200K, as most halogens have a warm color tone.

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​Not considering the light pattern the bulb will produce.
When choosing an LED replacement bulb, be sure to check the beam angle and light pattern. Not all light bulbs are omni-directional; meaning the light shines in all directions. Also, not all bulbs will project the same light pattern you’re aiming for. For example, an A19 bulb is omni-directional and is great for general lighting purposes. Whereas a PAR-shaped bulb is highly directional and is ideal for highlighting landscape elements in front of your home. Bulbs can also have different beam spreads that can vary from narrow to wide, depending on their application.
 
Not using a compatible dimmer.
Incandescent and halogen bulbs are fundamentally dimmable with any dimmer switch as long as the voltage and wattage requirements are met. However, not all dimmer switches are compatible with LED bulbs and not all LED bulbs are dimmable. If you experience flickering, strobing, unresponsive bulbs, or bulbs that turn off before reaching the lowest dimming range, it’s likely that your dimmer is not compatible with your LED bulb. Ensure that you are using an LED dimmer so the bulbs function properly.
 
Not doing your research.
With the demand for LED products on a steep incline, it seems there are new companies popping up each day with the “latest and greatest” technology. However, many of these products are made in foreign countries with no direct customer service – making returns of damaged or defective products nearly impossible. Many of these new companies are not reputable and may be producing low quality products that will fail quickly. Research the brands and companies you are ordering from and be aware of their history, return policy, warranties and customer reviews.

With so many LED options on the market, it can be hard to make the right decision. Let us give you a hand. Lighting Supply been around for 35 years and we're focused on strong customer support and selling trusted brands. Our knowledgeable Customer Service Representatives are here to help guide you in the right direction. Give them a call at 877.231.2852 or leave a comment below.
10 Comments
Bill
4/6/2019 11:16:18 pm

My wife has. Matching set of 3 way 50 100 150 incanden table lamps
Which 3way led bulbs do I need to best replace the old bulbs with. Light that most cclearlrly matches the old

Thanks

Reply
Brittney @ Lighting Supply
4/8/2019 02:06:28 pm

Hi Bill,

We do offer a few LED 3-Way Bulb options. We don't currently stock one that directly compares to the 50/100/150 watt incandescent bulb you have but do have some that are equivalent to either 30/70/100 watts or 40/60/100 watts.

Visit our website at LightingSupply.com and search for Item No. A19FR5/9/14/830/3-WAY/LED or A30/100/927CA. Both of these bulbs could work well for you.

If you have any further questions, please give us a call at 877-231-2852. Thank you!

Reply
TV Repair link
8/9/2019 04:56:38 am

You are Right!
Thanks for sharing this blog with us.

Reply
TV Repair link
8/9/2019 08:02:37 am

Thanks for sharing this blog with us.
A LED is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it. The light is not particularly bright, but in most LEDs it is monochromatic, occurring at a single wavelength.

Reply
Andy
2/20/2020 04:15:08 pm

One more thing to add to your list of fails. Lumen equivalent is often understated. Optics are key to getting the light to travel distance. Cheap LEDs can produce lumen equivalent yet bad optics keep the light from getting to its destination, say the floor, the picture on the wall. Foot candles is a long forgotten measurement of light. If todays manufactures had to state the foot candles of thier LEDs the wattages would go higher and the optics better!

Reply
Brittney @ Lighting Supply
2/27/2020 02:14:12 pm

Hi Andy -

Thanks for the additional information. You may be interested in another article on our blog regarding lumens: https://blog.lightingsupply.com/blog/lumens-their-impact-on-replacing-old-technology

Reply
Ben link
4/9/2020 11:39:44 am

Really refreshing list to see. I can never believe how many people never take output into account

Reply
Brittney @ Lighting Supply
5/18/2020 10:20:01 am

Hi Ben -

Thanks for your feedback. Glad you found it useful!

Reply
Bryson Owens link
7/14/2020 01:43:35 pm

I really appreciate your touching on how you need to look at the kelvin of the lights to figure out what kind of temperature they will have. My spouse and I are trying to get a lot of new lights to put up around our home and yard. We are thinking about doing LED lighting because it's so efficient and will last a long time.

Reply
Brittney @ Lighting Supply
7/21/2020 08:28:30 am

Hi Bryson! LED is the way to go. They offer such a range in color temperature, light output, the ability to dim, etc. With LED lights, you can achieve the exact look you're envisioning!

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