7 Benefits of LEDs
⦁ LEDs are extremely cost effective, have a long lifetime and have a very low energy consumption, typically using 5-10 times less energy than regular lighting.
⦁ LEDs are solid state devices that are shock proof and vibration resistant.
⦁ The LED chip is embedded in a resin so there are no moving parts.
⦁ LEDs are made from non-toxic materials and are recyclable.
⦁ LEDs do not produce infrared light and produce no UV radiation
⦁ LEDs are 'instant-on' and flicker free with no warm up time, unlike fluorescent lighting
⦁ LEDs operate at low temperatures unlike Halogen or incandescent lights which are hot enough to cause fires!
SMD LED Chips
SMD stands for Surface Mounted Diode. SMD LEDs are tiny, solid state diodes mounted directly on to the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). They are cost-efficient solutions for the low-power, compact designs found in LED Modules and Flexible Strips. They are also highly resistant to shock and vibration.
The numbers refer to the size in mm of the SMD chip - a SMD 3528 chip has a dimension of 3.5mm x 2.8mm and a SMD 5050 chip has a dimension of 5.0 x 5.0mm.
A larger 5050 chip can incorporate more diodes and thus produce a brighter light. The smaller 3528 chip is ideal for mounting in a more compact enclosure. As LED technology advances, smaller chips are producing brighter and brighter light. The newer 2835 SMD chip used in many of the latest modules, is a more efficient replacement for 5050, producing 20% more light but drawing less wattage.
Waterproofing and IP-Rating
The IP Rating classifies the degree of protection the enclosure provides against dust and water. The first digit shows protection against dust (6 is *dust tight*) and the second digit the degree of waterproofing:
IP65 - protected against water projected from a nozzle.
IP66 - protected against powerful jets of water.
IP67 - protected against immersion in water.
IP68 - protected against complete submersion in water.
Colour Temperature
Color temperature measures how warm or cool the white of an LED light appears and is measured in degrees kelvin (K). Lower color temperatures have yellow or warmer tinge. Higher temperatures have a bluish or cooler tinge. White LEDs typically have one of four colour temperatures:
Warm White - typically from 2600K to 3500K
White (or Natural White) - typically from 4000K to 4500K
Daylight (or Pure White) - typically from 5000K to 5500K
Cool White - typically above 6000K
A Daylight or Cool White temperature is the preferred choice in the majority of signage and commercial applications, For some architectural or retail applications. a softer natural or warm white might be preferred.
Safety Certificates
The CE mark certifies that the product has met all EU health, safety and environmental requirements that ensure consumer and workplace safety.
The RoHS certificate ensures that the product does not contain certain dangerous substances, including lead, cadmium and mercury, above the legal thresholds.
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is an independent non-profit organisation that writes and tests products for safety and certifies them. A product with the UL mark has passed ULs stringent tests for electrical safety.