More and more businesses and industrial buildings are switching out their old lighting systems and retrofitting with a highly efficient and far more productive LED lighting system. Some of the issues they are running into involve the old ballasts which were put in place to accommodate the fluorescent lighting previously used. A ballast essentially acts as a mini transformer of sorts which is necessary to light the lamp. Most heat the electrodes and in this manner start the lights. The question is, should you utilize these ballasts when integrating new LED technology? The overwhelming answer is no…

For one, it is not necessary. LED tubes have their own internal driver. So while bypassing the ballast may require a bit more work as far as installation goes, connecting directly to the line voltage is certainly the smarter thing to do. Ballasts generate unnecessary heat, and they subsequently wear out before the actual LED tube does. So maintenance costs should definitely be taken into consideration if you do not intend to bypass the ballasts.

Additionally, when replacing fluorescent tubes with LED’s you need to understand the nature of the ballasts you currently have in place. Connecting an LED lamp to an incompatible ballast will certainly cause issues. While some have argued that plug-n-play LED lights ultimately save time and money over the ballast bypass LED’s this is not necessarily the case. Often, companies experience a very costly trial and error process trying to retrofit LED lighting as they are unaware of the exact type of ballasts currently installed, whether instant start or programmed start, magnetic or electric.

In the end, bypassing the ballast just makes more sense. Primarily, you are implementing a system which is quite a bit more efficient than if you opted not to bypass. The ballast itself wastes anywhere from 15-30% of the total electricity used. Over time this equates to lost energy which translates to lost money. So although initially the work may be a bit more labor intensive, in the end, as far as efficiency, maintenance costs, and overall productivity, it looks like the best solution when retrofitting with LED lighting is to bypass the outdated ballasts.

Not sure of where to start. LEDRadiant is invested in your happiness and so we are dedicated to helping you with all of your lighting needs. Contact us and we will certainly be there to assist you!

LED corn bulbs are much more efficient than Incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) halogens, metal halide and HPS; Proving their efficiency in test after test, LED corn bulbs have certainly emerged as the cadillac of light bulbs. Using about 1/10 the power of an equivalent incandescent, these bulbs blow the competition away when it comes to efficiency and productivity.  Let’s start with the basics…those unfamiliar with LED lighting and its subsequent terminology, may ask the question: what exactly is a corn bulb? Simply put, a corn bulb is so named because of its shape and appearance. Very much resembling an ear of corn, the bulb itself is shaped like a cob if you will. Fitting into standard incandescent receptacles, the LED corn bulbs are rated for a lifespan of more than 50,000 hours, this means that if used 8 hours every single day they will last more than 17 years.  Thus, replacing old subpar bulbs with the latest in LED lighting technology is just about the best thing you can do for your home or business.

How do LED corn bulbs perform against CFL’s and Halogens…

There really is no question of the supremacy of the LED corn bulb over both Halogens and CFL’s. Utilizing only about half the power of the CFL bulb, the LED corn bulb proves its superior performance time and time again. Capable of replacing a metal halide and HPS of nearly five times the wattage, the corn bulb is ideal for areas requiring a great deal of light (since this is a general article is better to link to the category page http://ledradiant.com/led-lights/led-corn-bulb ). And when it comes to a comparison with halogen bulbs, the LED corn bulb is the clear winner, boasting an efficiency rating that is 6 times better than the halogens.

Is the LED corn bulb safe to use?

Just about anywhere…In fact, this particular bulb is often prized for its “green” properties. For one, unlike a number of other such products in the lighting industry, the corn bulb does not emit mercury or any other noxious gases for that matter. Safer for the environment = safer for you. Additionally, CFL’s are infamous for the amount of heat that they generate and consequently give off. This can certainly cause damage and potentially, be dangerous. In comparison, LED corn bulbs emit almost no heat, creating a much safer and overall healthier atmosphere in the long run.

When it comes to lighting technology, the LED corn bulb leads the pack. Safer, more efficient and greener, these bulbs are certainly worth investing in.

Yes, you will pay more for LED bulbs (perhaps three to five times more per bulb); not to mention a revamped lighting plan that calls for the removal of your “old school” system in favor of a more energy- conscious, longer lasting LED based plan is not necessarily cheap. However, looking at the big picture and the overall results, you are actually making a sound investment in your company and its future, as this new LED plan will give you extraordinary ROI--usually greater than 50% per year. People often ask us about LED payback. When will I see an ROI…one year, two years, five? In fact, considering the extreme efficacy and affordability of LED lighting, given a standard 8 hour day usage, payback is generally less than one year.  How much will I actually save if we replace the more traditional fluorescent lights with LED? Great question certainly, and LEDRadiant is deeply invested in all of your lighting needs. The future is LED, no doubt about it. And yet, it is understandable that there may be some concerns as to budget, costs and savings when implementing LED. That is why we are here to guide you every step of the way, hold your hand if need be, and walk you through this transition into the future of commercial lighting.

So how do we save by replacing fluorescent lighting with LED?

Longevity for one…Life span when speaking about bulbs is critical. Fluorescent (the previous go-to workplace bulb) tends to have an approximate 10,000 hour life span. LED’s  range from 50,000 to 70,000 hours. Given the incredible differential here, the fact that LED’s last 5 times longer makes them cheaper than fluorescents; not to mention, you also need to factor in manpower costs to constantly re-lamp the rather vapid CFL bulbs.

Additionally, when paired with any type of sensor or control, the old standby fluorescent bulb panics; thus burning itself out a lot faster than the calm and collected highly dimmable LED (in fact most CFL’s don’t even have this dimming capacity). LED’s, developed much more recently than their fluorescent counterparts, know how to handle working with dimmers, timers, motion sensors, and so forth. Whilst fluorescent bulbs experienced their heyday when technology did not necessarily reign supreme—certainly not the case in 2016, and so they are insufficient when it comes to reaction time and ability to sustain. GE is even in the process of phasing out a segment of its fluorescent product line as it is simply not meeting the needs of current software and technology. The long of the short of it is…LED bulbs versus fluorescent in terms of lifespan = no contest

And then there’s all of the technical stuff…Kwh, or kilowatts per hour directly relates to the amount of energy used. LED on average uses approximately 50-75% less kwh than CFL’s (CFL's life span in practice is less than 8,000 hours). Adding all of these factors together, it becomes quite simple: with LED bulbs you save money. On a monthly basis this equates to a huge cost reduction when you pit LED against fluorescent's. Break out your LED cost savings calculator and, in the end, you will discover that depending on the size of your operation and the scope of the new lighting plan implemented, your savings could be quite significant. Businesses have seen upwards of $100,000 per year savings when retrofitting their structures with a new LED based lighting system, with typical ROIs greater than 50%.

It’s a no-brainer really. LED is here to stay. The question isn’t when will I experience a payoff, but more like, when I can retire on that payoff... LEDRadiant is here to help. Showing you the most effective and efficient lighting solutions possible, we will ensure that you are absolutely thrilled with your choice of switching to an environmentally-friendly, budget conscious LED lighting plan.