LED LIGHTS BUYER'S GUIDE

You can go green with LED lights and save money while also helping the environment. Who doesn't want a better way to improve their home and become more eco-friendly? The recent innovations of LED lights make them even more efficient and beneficial to anyone looking to go green in their homes, offices, cars, bicycles and more. Once you learn more about how LED lights are helping people go green, you'll wonder why you didn't make a switch sooner.

Here are some of the ways that LED lights help you go green:

• They use less energy.
• They last longer and thus don’t need to be replaced every few months.
• They can replace most CFLs and high powered lights installed in your home.

LED Lights are now more affordable and more readily available than ever before, making it easier to get exactly what you need today. You can find them in a variety of colours and styles as well as shapes to meet your needs and even your personal décor style. It's that easy!

This buying Guide will cover the following topics:

1. How do LED Lights work?
2. Selecting the correct size.
3. What colour is best for me?
4. Types of LED Lights.

How do LED Lights work?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and this is a light source that is used in solar powered products. You've probably seen these before even if you did not realize what you were seeing. There are many advantages to LED lights over incandescent and halogen lighting sources. To understand what these advantages are, you need to understand how the LED works.

First, the LED contains a semiconductor diode. This means that it has a material that is capable of conducting electricity. With an incandescent light, it would operate differently. The current is sent through a filament which is different from the LED principle.

If you are new to the world of electronics and LED lighting, you may be wondering what a diode is and how it works? To put it in layman’s terms, a diode is a one-way route for electric current to flow. Basically a diode is a one way valve that allows the current to run one way but not in the other.

The way a diode works can seem confusing to someone who is not familiar with electricity. But to keep it simple, a diode has two electrodes that work like semiconductors. There is a P or positive electrode which is called an anode and an N or negative electrode which is called a cathode. The cathode receiving a negative charge compared against the anode allows the current to flow. If the electrodes are similarly charged, the current will not flow.

Diodes serve a few different purposes in electronics. One way to think of a diode is as a check valve or switch for the electric current. If you think of electric current as water and the diode a ball check valve, it makes it easy to understand a diode. When a diode is used, the “water” can flow upstream but not downstream, or downstream but not upstream. Diodes can be reversed but will remain a one way path. Simply put, the water can flow but if it tries to flow the wrong way the diode will block the path.

Diodes can be used to convert an electric current from Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current (DC). This process is referred to as rectification and requires a rectifying diode. This is generally used with low voltage electric current applications. To increase the voltage flowing through, you can bridge diodes to create more power.

Diodes can also be used to turn a circuit off or on, using a switching diode. Did you ever wonder how different radio station bands are reached and kept separate? A band diode is used to switch between high frequency band signals.

Diodes are also used in producing signals, light and microwave frequencies. Light emitting diodes are known as LED, and probably most commonly used in computers, clocks, solar lighting and electronic panel displays. These days there are LED televisions and even modern Christmas lights as well.

Simple electronic diodes are used in so many areas of modern life that you would be surprised at the many applications of diodes you will find as you move through a normal day. When you flip a light switch, you have used a diode. A digital clock shows you the effect of a diode. How about your cell phone, iPod, laptop, remote control, and big screen television? Each and every one of these devices uses diodes.

Now that you know what a diode is, understanding electronics is probably going to be a much easier task. Electricity is all about current and the route it takes to bring the voltage to the necessary device. When you understand the basics of what the diode does, it helps you to understand LED lights and other uses as well.

Selecting the correct size

The general rule of thumb, when selecting the wattage of your LED light is to calculate ten percent of your current light bulb wattage e.g. 60W = 5/6W LED Light

Fittings:

B22 and E27 are most like normal househould fittings.

1. B22 – Bayonet 22mm diameter 220V input
2. E27 – Edison Screw In 27mm diameter 220 volt input
3. E14 – Edison Screw In 14mm Diameter 220Volt input
4. GU10 – 2 Pin Downlighter Fittings 220V Input
5. MR16 – 2 Pin (thin) Downlighter Fittings 12V AC
6. MR16 – 2 Pin (thin) Downlighter Fittings 12V DC

What colour is best for me?

LED Lights are available in a variety of colours. The reds, blues and yellows etc, are self explanatory but there are two white options that may be confusing. Pure white refers to a stark white colour similar to fluorescent tubes, while warm white refers to the colour normally found in household bulbs.

Types of LED Lights

• Fairy Lights
• Fluorescent Tubes
• Indoor Ceiling Lamp
• LED Lamps
• LED Spotlights
• LED Strip Lights
• LED Downlighters

What are you waiting for?

Don’t be left behind as LED lighting grows from a trend among the purely eco-conscious to widespread adoption internationally. 

If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We have professional consultants at hand to advise you on exactly what you require and what type of system will create maximum benefits for you.