FAQs About LED Lighting

The LED basics

1. What is an LED?

   A Light Emitting Diode (LED) consists of a semiconductor that emits light when an electrical current is passed through it. This differs from traditional incandescent lamps that use heat to alight a filament which then glows.
   
   It’s predicted that LEDs are the future of lighting, with halogens facing a ban across Europe in the coming years.

2. How long do LEDs last?

   This can vary depending on the lamp. Standard spotlights and bulbs will last up to 25,000 hours.
   
   Heavy duty LED products such as floodlights and commercial lighting will last between 35,000 and 50,000 hours.
   
   On average, halogen equivalents will last approximately 3,000 hours.

3. Why are LEDs more expensive?

   The up-front cost on LEDs is more than halogens. True. But LEDs use up to 90% less energy than halogen lamps, meaning you will often recoup your investment within just 6 months.
   And the best bit is, you’ll continue saving money on your bills every month thereafter.

4. Are LEDs cost effective?

   LED lamps are highly energy efficient, using up to 90% less energy than traditional lighting sources.
   
   The average household lighting bill is $250 a year and switching over to LED could save you $220, which turns into thousands over the bulb’s predicted 15 year lifespan.

5. Why buy LED?

   LED lighting comes with a lot of big benefits. Here are some of them:

   • Extremely energy efficient
   • Eco-friendly lighting
   • Significant savings on your electricity bills
   • Much longer lifespan than halogen bulbs
   • Low temperature operation
   • Directional light
   • Low profile and compact size
   • Breakage and vibration resistance
   • Life unaffected by rapid cycling
   • Instant switch on with no warm up time
   • No IR or UV emissions

   
   

6. Do LEDs take a long time to switch on?

   Unlike CFL bulbs, which are more efficient than halogen but less-so then LEDs, LEDs switch on instantly. No warm-up time, just instant light.

7. Will LEDs fit into my old light fixtures?

   Yes. All our bulbs have been designed to directly replace your old halogens, unless it’s otherwise stated on the product description.
   In most cases, it truly is as easy as changing a lightbulb.

8. What light colour is best for me?

   Unlike incandescent and halogen lamps which only give-off one colour, LED bulbs and spots are available in 3 different colours:

   • Warm White – the most popular colour we sell, is often used in living areas and gives off a softer glow.
   • Cool White – produces a fresh, energising light often used in kitchens and bathrooms
   • Daylight – is a mix between the two and brings the neutrality of outdoors, inside.

   
   

9. What fittings should I have for my bathroom?

   Any fitting that’s placed within a bathroom/wet room/shower should not only be Fire Rated, but also waterproof with an IP65 rating or higher.
   
   Also make sure the fitting is compliant with relevant building regulations for bathrooms.

10. What is an IP rating?

    The IP (Ingress Protection) rating of an electrical product is a guide that’s used to detail the strength of an enclosure that surrounds electrical components.
    
    In relation to LED bulbs, the IP rating measures tolerance against dust particles and water or liquids. The first digit is in relation to solids, the second liquids.
    
    For example, an IP67 rating means that the LED is totally protected against dust and water to a depth of 6-39inches.
    
    Below you can see a classification table:

    Level	Solids	Liquids
    0	Not protected	Not protected
    1	Any broad surface of the body. But not protected against deliberate contact.	Dropping water
    2	Fingers / similar objects	Dripping water tilted up to 15°
    3	Tools, thick wires, etc.	Spraying water
    4	Most wires, screws, etc.	Splashing water
    5	Ingress of dust, but it must not enter in large quantities	Water jets
    6	Protected completely against ingress of dust	Powerful water jets
    7	N/A	Immersion up to 1m
    8	N/A	Immersion beyond 1m

    
    

11. Do LED bulbs get hot?

    LED bulbs run significantly cooler than other types of lighting like halogen or even CFLs as heat is dissipated by metal sinks that take heat away from the light source. This maintains the lifespan of the LED bulbs, however they will get hotter the longer they’re kept on.

12. Does an LED give the same brightness as halogen and incandescent bulbs?

    Yes. As well as having identical fittings, LEDs can also offer you the same level of brightness as your current bulbs.
    
    In fact, our new range of GU10s and MR16s come with halogen wattage equivalents to make your choice even easier.

13. Why are LED lights considered a green technology?

    Unlike traditional forms of lighting, where the majority of energy is lost to heat, LEDs use around 80-90% of electrical energy for light.
    
    Compare this to an incandescent bulb that only uses 20% of its energy for light, with the rest going to heat.

14. What does 3528 and 5050 mean?

    This is usually used in relation to strip lighting length. 3528 means the SMD chips that line the strip measure 3.5mm x 2.8mm, while 5050 means the chip size is 5mm x 5mm

15. How often will I have to replace LED bulbs?

    The beauty of LED bulbs is that they last far longer than traditional lighting sources. Take an LED product with a 50,000 hour lifespan. Depending on how long you have it on per-day, it’ll last up to 2 decades:

    • 7 years (24 hours per day)
    • 7.4 years (18 hours per day)
    • 11.4 years (12 hours per day)
    • 17.1 years (8 hours per day)

    
    

16. Do LED bulbs have any toxic materials inside them?

    No. LED bulbs do not contain any harmful materials, unlike other types of household lighting that contain substances such as mercury.

17. Do your bulbs have a warranty?

    Yes they do. Most LUMiLife products come with a 5 year warranty upon registration.

Technical help

1. What are SMDs?

   SMDs (Surface Mounted Diodes) are high-intensity chips that represent the latest generation of LED lighting.
   
   LUMiLife bulbs feature SMDs that are 3-times brighter than older LEDs and maintain the quality of the light for longer.

2. How does ambient temperature affect the performance of LED lights?

   LED bulbs are tested at an ambient temperature of 25°C, which is suited to most domestic environments.
   
   However, the lifespan and light levels of the bulb will be adversely affected by extreme levels of hot or cold temperatures. This is why there are specially designed LED lamps for hazardous conditions.

3. Which is better for LED lighting: low voltage circuit or mains circuit?

   This depends on the type of LED you buy. Most work well on either, while our MR16s and strip lighting, for example, need to work on low voltage.

4. Can I use LEDs on a 12V circuit?

   Yes you can. In fact, our strip lighting and MR16s work exclusively on 12V circuits.

5. Why do I need to replace my dimmer switch?

   Typically the majority of leading edge dimmer switches have a minimum wattage of 60W, which is far too high for dimmable LED bulbs. This is why you need an LED compatible dimmer switch when you purchase your bulbs.
   
   Please note that our lamps will not work with touch or remote control dimmers.

6. My LED bulb will not switch on

   This could de due to a number of different reasons. To see if your bulb is faulty you must:

   • Ensure that the bulb is receiving power from a switch/dimmer
   • Check the bulb is securely placed in the fitting
   • Place the bulb in an alternative fitting on the same circuit to see if it works