A Beginner’s Guide to LED Lighting
LED lighting is known for its energy efficiency and long lifespan, but what are the options and how can it be used to stylish effect?
Melanie Shaw
16 March 2015
Houzz Contributor. Partner and Design Director at Brilliant Lighting.
LED (light-emitting diode) uses advanced semiconductor technology to generate light. Unlike conventional incandescent light sources – the good old light bulb or the halogen lamp – LEDs don’t have a filament that will burn out, so they should last a lot longer. They’re also more efficient, as a much higher percentage of the electrical power used goes directly into generating light.
LED lighting often gets a bad rap in the eyes of the public – too harsh, too cold, poor quality – when in fact it’s people’s experience of low-quality lights that has given it a bad name, rather than the lighting itself. LED has, in fact, become the go-to light source for residential lighting design, given its efficiency, lifespan and ability to provide a wonderful quality of light (when done right).
Here’s a beginner’s guide to help you find your way through the maze of LED lighting.
LED lighting often gets a bad rap in the eyes of the public – too harsh, too cold, poor quality – when in fact it’s people’s experience of low-quality lights that has given it a bad name, rather than the lighting itself. LED has, in fact, become the go-to light source for residential lighting design, given its efficiency, lifespan and ability to provide a wonderful quality of light (when done right).
Here’s a beginner’s guide to help you find your way through the maze of LED lighting.
Energy efficiency
Any new builds, or major renovations that require Building Control approval, will be subject to Building Regulations. Part 1L of Building Regulations covers energy usage in residential properties, and stipulates that 75% of light fittings need to be energy efficient.
LED lights are energy efficient because they are a way of producing light that does not depend on heat, where as a traditional halogen or incandescent light bulb will produce a significant amount of heat, and so are slowly being regulated out of existence.
Other energy-efficient sources include fluorescent lights, but LED is the most attractive and versatile source for residential projects. It can look great, and last for decades.
Any new builds, or major renovations that require Building Control approval, will be subject to Building Regulations. Part 1L of Building Regulations covers energy usage in residential properties, and stipulates that 75% of light fittings need to be energy efficient.
LED lights are energy efficient because they are a way of producing light that does not depend on heat, where as a traditional halogen or incandescent light bulb will produce a significant amount of heat, and so are slowly being regulated out of existence.
Other energy-efficient sources include fluorescent lights, but LED is the most attractive and versatile source for residential projects. It can look great, and last for decades.
Quality
The first thing to understand about LED lighting is that there is a significant difference between good-quality and poor-quality fittings and lamps (a lamp is the technical word for a bulb). It’s one of those markets where there really is no short-cut or cheap solution. If you’re not paying a lot for a bulb or fixture, there’s probably a reason.
The quality of LED lights can vary hugely in terms of output, efficiency, the colour of the light and the way the light makes other colours look, so it’s important to do your homework. A low-quality LED light can look yellow, dingy or overly cold.
You need to buy from a reputable source, understand what you’re buying, and be prepared to pay significantly more than you would have done for halogen/tungsten sources. In the long run, buying top quality now will save you money, and give you years of enjoyment.
See 10 ways to dazzle with cluster lights
The first thing to understand about LED lighting is that there is a significant difference between good-quality and poor-quality fittings and lamps (a lamp is the technical word for a bulb). It’s one of those markets where there really is no short-cut or cheap solution. If you’re not paying a lot for a bulb or fixture, there’s probably a reason.
The quality of LED lights can vary hugely in terms of output, efficiency, the colour of the light and the way the light makes other colours look, so it’s important to do your homework. A low-quality LED light can look yellow, dingy or overly cold.
You need to buy from a reputable source, understand what you’re buying, and be prepared to pay significantly more than you would have done for halogen/tungsten sources. In the long run, buying top quality now will save you money, and give you years of enjoyment.
See 10 ways to dazzle with cluster lights
Integrated versus retrofit lamps
There are two ways you can go with LED lighting – an integrated fitting or a retrofit lamp (bulb).
An integrated LED fitting is one in which the thermal management and light source are both integral to the fitting, so you can’t simply change a bulb (as you would with a retrofit lamp), but rather would need to change the entire fitting. A retrofit LED lamp is an LED lamp that looks like a traditional incandescent or halogen bulb and is inserted into the fitting in the same way. It is separate to from the fitting and can easily be replaced.
There are two ways you can go with LED lighting – an integrated fitting or a retrofit lamp (bulb).
An integrated LED fitting is one in which the thermal management and light source are both integral to the fitting, so you can’t simply change a bulb (as you would with a retrofit lamp), but rather would need to change the entire fitting. A retrofit LED lamp is an LED lamp that looks like a traditional incandescent or halogen bulb and is inserted into the fitting in the same way. It is separate to from the fitting and can easily be replaced.
Different purpose, different light
How do you know when to use an integrated LED light, and when to go for a retrofit LED bulb?
Often more decorative light fixtures, such as wall and pendant lights, are best suited to retrofit LED lamps. The designers of such light fixtures are often more concerned with aesthetics than thermal management, so design them with regular fittings. The easiest route here is to go for a (high-quality) retrofit bulb.
For architectural light fittings, such as downlights, uplights or accent lights, a top-quality integrated LED fitting is the best way to go. While changing the entire fitting does sound like a lot more work, and would involve an electrician, integrated LED lighting can offer a far superior quality of light.
How do you know when to use an integrated LED light, and when to go for a retrofit LED bulb?
Often more decorative light fixtures, such as wall and pendant lights, are best suited to retrofit LED lamps. The designers of such light fixtures are often more concerned with aesthetics than thermal management, so design them with regular fittings. The easiest route here is to go for a (high-quality) retrofit bulb.
For architectural light fittings, such as downlights, uplights or accent lights, a top-quality integrated LED fitting is the best way to go. While changing the entire fitting does sound like a lot more work, and would involve an electrician, integrated LED lighting can offer a far superior quality of light.
Lifespans
A retrofit lamp is trying to fit everything into the size of the bulb, whereas an integrated fitting can use the whole assembly for its thermal management. This means the potential quantity of light and the lifespan are better from an integrated fitting.
A top-quality retrofit LED lamp has a claimed life expectancy of 15,000-30,000 hours compared with 50,000 hours for a top-quality integrated LED fitting. Because it’s integrated, and therefore requires an electrician to install it, the reliability is even more important, but reputable manufacturers offer 3- to 5-year warranties.
Remember to always prioritise quality – a really good LED retrofit lamp is better than a poor-quality integrated fitting.
A retrofit lamp is trying to fit everything into the size of the bulb, whereas an integrated fitting can use the whole assembly for its thermal management. This means the potential quantity of light and the lifespan are better from an integrated fitting.
A top-quality retrofit LED lamp has a claimed life expectancy of 15,000-30,000 hours compared with 50,000 hours for a top-quality integrated LED fitting. Because it’s integrated, and therefore requires an electrician to install it, the reliability is even more important, but reputable manufacturers offer 3- to 5-year warranties.
Remember to always prioritise quality – a really good LED retrofit lamp is better than a poor-quality integrated fitting.
Drivers
A driver is to LED lighting what a transformer is to a regular halogen light. That basically means a driver steps down a mains input to supply the light. Drivers are integral to retrofit LEDs, but need to be fitted for integrated ones. Depending on the output of the light fittings, they may require one driver per fitting or might be able to share a driver if they are smaller accent lights.
Work out in advance how many cables should be run in a given area. Drivers need to be hidden, somewhere discreet but also accessible, typically within 10-20m of the last fitting, but check specific installation instructions.
Drivers come in different versions depending on whether you want to switch or dim the light and which dimming method you want to use. It’s best to get expert advice on compatibility between fittings and drivers to ensure the combination works as you want.
A driver is to LED lighting what a transformer is to a regular halogen light. That basically means a driver steps down a mains input to supply the light. Drivers are integral to retrofit LEDs, but need to be fitted for integrated ones. Depending on the output of the light fittings, they may require one driver per fitting or might be able to share a driver if they are smaller accent lights.
Work out in advance how many cables should be run in a given area. Drivers need to be hidden, somewhere discreet but also accessible, typically within 10-20m of the last fitting, but check specific installation instructions.
Drivers come in different versions depending on whether you want to switch or dim the light and which dimming method you want to use. It’s best to get expert advice on compatibility between fittings and drivers to ensure the combination works as you want.
Dimming
You need to be careful when dimming LEDs, as it’s more difficult than with traditional light sources. It’s best to go for a tried and tested combination of fitting, driver and control to avoid things like flickering and jerky dimming.
There are a number of ‘dimming standards’. 0-10v is widely used for smooth dimming of LED fittings. DALI is commonly used in commercial applications, but is becoming more so in residential properties, as it gives great flexibility over individual fittings and can simplify the wiring scheme. DMX is all about colour and it enables the different chips in a colour-change fitting (red, green, blue and sometimes white) to be controlled individually. You can think of it as colour-change lighting done professionally.
Each dimming method requires a slightly different cable infrastructure, so it has to be thought about in advance. Seek expert advice on which dimming standard makes sense for your project.
You need to be careful when dimming LEDs, as it’s more difficult than with traditional light sources. It’s best to go for a tried and tested combination of fitting, driver and control to avoid things like flickering and jerky dimming.
There are a number of ‘dimming standards’. 0-10v is widely used for smooth dimming of LED fittings. DALI is commonly used in commercial applications, but is becoming more so in residential properties, as it gives great flexibility over individual fittings and can simplify the wiring scheme. DMX is all about colour and it enables the different chips in a colour-change fitting (red, green, blue and sometimes white) to be controlled individually. You can think of it as colour-change lighting done professionally.
Each dimming method requires a slightly different cable infrastructure, so it has to be thought about in advance. Seek expert advice on which dimming standard makes sense for your project.
Temperature
Concern over the temperature (from warm to cold) of light is one of the most common issues we hear about LED. Temperature is measured in kelvins and LED is offered in a wide range, from 1850K (the colour of sunset) to 6000K+. Temperatures over 3000K are psychologically cool, can be invigorating and aid concentration. 2700K to 3000K is the temperature people most associate with ‘cosiness’.
Think about your space, what it’s going to be used for and how you want to feel. This floating ceiling is lit with an energising cool white, ideal for this contemporary pool. But while it looks great here, it might not suit a living room or bedroom quite as much, so give it some thought beforehand.
It’s a good idea to test out lamps and fittings beforehand, as one manufacturer’s 3000K might look quite different to another’s.
Discover the power of concealed lighting
Concern over the temperature (from warm to cold) of light is one of the most common issues we hear about LED. Temperature is measured in kelvins and LED is offered in a wide range, from 1850K (the colour of sunset) to 6000K+. Temperatures over 3000K are psychologically cool, can be invigorating and aid concentration. 2700K to 3000K is the temperature people most associate with ‘cosiness’.
Think about your space, what it’s going to be used for and how you want to feel. This floating ceiling is lit with an energising cool white, ideal for this contemporary pool. But while it looks great here, it might not suit a living room or bedroom quite as much, so give it some thought beforehand.
It’s a good idea to test out lamps and fittings beforehand, as one manufacturer’s 3000K might look quite different to another’s.
Discover the power of concealed lighting
Beam widths
LED lights, both integrated and retrofit, come in varying beam widths. You can think of beam width as the size of the cone of light the fitting produces. Smaller beam widths, such as 10 degrees, are perfect for highlighting a focal point. Around 20-30 degrees work well for downlighting in higher ceilings, and beam widths of 30-50 degrees provide a more diffused light, which is good for lower ceilings and niches.
LED lights, both integrated and retrofit, come in varying beam widths. You can think of beam width as the size of the cone of light the fitting produces. Smaller beam widths, such as 10 degrees, are perfect for highlighting a focal point. Around 20-30 degrees work well for downlighting in higher ceilings, and beam widths of 30-50 degrees provide a more diffused light, which is good for lower ceilings and niches.
Integrated lighting
LED can be integrated into the fabric of a building or its detailing in new and innovative ways, to create very striking effects. If integrating fittings, it’s even more important to make sure they are high quality, as they’ll be difficult to change. Remember to consider maintenance and access requirements at the design stage. Even though LEDs have a much longer lifespan than other lighting choices, they still won’t last for ever.
LED can be integrated into the fabric of a building or its detailing in new and innovative ways, to create very striking effects. If integrating fittings, it’s even more important to make sure they are high quality, as they’ll be difficult to change. Remember to consider maintenance and access requirements at the design stage. Even though LEDs have a much longer lifespan than other lighting choices, they still won’t last for ever.
Colour
LED gives us the opportunity to have fun. RGB (red, green and blue) or RGBW (red, green, blue and white) fittings combine coloured chips and can be programmed to any colour you want. You can even control the schemes from your iPad, which makes it great fun for the lighting adventurist.
TELL US…
Have you used LED lighting in your home? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments below.
LED gives us the opportunity to have fun. RGB (red, green and blue) or RGBW (red, green, blue and white) fittings combine coloured chips and can be programmed to any colour you want. You can even control the schemes from your iPad, which makes it great fun for the lighting adventurist.
TELL US…
Have you used LED lighting in your home? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments below.
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I have Nystagmus which makes a lot of LED lights look like they are visually buzzing. Christmas is gradually becoming quite unpleasant as displays switch from bulbs to LEDs. I have noticed though that some LEDs don't bother me. How do you know before you buy whether an LED light is going to be good or not other than just the price?
By buzzing I assume this is fast flickering? I suspect this is the flashing for each cycle of the power supplied to the LED. For mains this will by 50Hertz, or if via a full wave rectified supply it would be doubled to be 'on' twice for each cycle.
Some led drivers will use high frequency drivers these are unlikely to cause such problems.
An alternative supply is direct current, this is not likely to cause a problem, and is the safest type to specify.
Do you find dimmable leds, when on full are better?
Few suppliers may have details of the type of driver used.
I find by looking from one side of an led light with a low frequency driver, I see the light flicker, persistence of vision normally makes this non visible. I do wonder if research has been done into ac (fast flickering) effects on people subject to seizures.
these are personal views only, hth.
Thanks @chrismarsden82, it is the frequency that's the problemlem. I didn't know this could be changed.