Commercial LED Lighting

LED is an acronym of industrial origin which refers to the Light-Emitting Diode. LED lighting is a type of solid-state lighting (SSL) based on light-emitting semiconductor diodes. LED lighting lasts longer than previously dominant incandescent lighting, uses less energy and allows for more flexible design.

Generally, LED light lasts between four to six years—longer when used in cold temperatures. LED bulbs last longer than other types of light bulbs—up to 50 times longer than incandescent light and as much as 25 times longer than halogen lighting—and there are several factors influencing the efficacy of LED, including extreme heat, high frequency of use, and operating LED lighting on a higher current than intended. For instance, LED light can last 10 years, but the time may be shortened if it’s frequently used outdoors in extremely hot temperatures. The LED light may last longer if the light is kept at room temperature and rarely used. LED lights fade in time and do not last forever, though LED lighting generally shines as brightly as when new; other lighting can fade after a year.

LED lights generate heat, though not as much as traditional light bulbs.

Because LEDs are digital and use blue light, which makes LED lighting brighter, it’s a legitimate question. LED lighting quickly turns on and off hundreds of times per second; the flutter can cause the brain to work harder, disrupt movement of the eyes and may lead to headaches, dizziness and even nausea. A 2019 report confirmed a French health agency's 2010 study of blue light’s effects on the eye showing short-term phototoxic effects associated with acute exposure and long-term effects associated with chronic exposure, which can increase the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). LED light intensity generally compares to traditional bulbs and halogen lamps. All of Alcon Lighting’s LED lights include anti-glare frosted acrylic or glass lens which reduce glare and potential damage to the eyes.

LED lights are small bulbs that fit into an electrical circuit. These don't have filaments that burn out, so they use less electricity, and they don't get especially hot. They're illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor, and last as long as a standard transistor. To assure LED functionality, avoid heat buildup and strictly adhere to proper standards, including installing bulbs in proper electrical circuits or accessories (and don’t screw bulbs in too tightly.) Check internal parts of the lamp such as the capacitors, drivers and diodes and, if LED lighting suddenly stops working, check the circuit breaker. Don’t hesitate to hire an electrician to help.

Yes. Daisy chaining allows LED lights to be connected one after another. Alcon Lighting offers a variety of lights with connectors. Certain restrictions may apply.

Yes. LED lighting does not contain toxic substances, such as lead or mercury. LED lights are as recyclable as many electronic devices. Note that LED bulbs are electronic devices. Like a mobile device or laptop computer, overheating can happen, so the LED bulb must be able to dissipate heat. LED lights housed in an enclosed space prevent the heat from dissipating, sending heat back to the bulb. LED lights do not lead to hazardous chemical leaks and LED lights produce light at a lower temperature, so they are not as flammable as other types of lighting. Additionally, because LEDs do not contain ultraviolet (UV) rays, today’s LED lights can be used in skin and other health therapies.

Yes. Quality LED lights can be left on 24 hours a day. The Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) produce minimal heat, which means they are unlikely to overheat or set on fire. Of course, most interior lights can be switched off at night—and exterior lights can be terminated in daytime—and turning lights off when not in use extends the light’s function. The digital, intelligent or smart lighting system with scheduling capability can allow the user to set a time at which lights automatically turn on, so you can preserve the light’s function and save money. Turning LED lights on and off does not impact its function.

LED is an acronym of industrial origin which refers to the Light-Emitting Diode. LED lighting is a type of solid-state lighting (SSL) based on light-emitting semiconductor diodes, which last longer than previously dominant incandescent lighting, use less energy and allow for more flexible design.

Besides forementioned energy efficiency and design versatility, LED lights afford faster brightness, smoother dimming and, compared with fluorescent lighting, on-and-off switching which won’t affect long-term performance.

LED lighting is contingent upon the exterior temperature, so it must be properly managed to avoid overheating. Because LED is a relatively recent, newer technological advancement, it can cost more to produce than previous forms of lighting.

Almost everyone. For instance, upgrading a school’s fluorescent lighting into newer, adjustable LED lighting system can improve a student’s performance. This can lead to better concentration, self-confidence and grades as well as boosting morale. Research shows that adjusting the light’s color temperature—possible with LED lighting—to match the time of day can enhance the body’s circadian rhythm, improving mood and quality of sleep. LED bulbs come in a variety of brightness levels, including a daylight variation. Multiple studies show that natural LED light can improve mood and productivity among workers. LED lighting can generally improve human concentration and relaxation with the potential to strengthen one’s ability to focus as well as boost one’s ability to recall and retain memory. LED bulbs consume less power — as much as 90 percent less — than incandescent bulbs.

Yes. Exterior LED lighting in rugged metal (usually steel) casing secured by vandal-resistant screws can withstand abuse and tampering in high-occupancy public areas which ensure human safety and security. LED lights are also favored by cities for low-energy, high-profile public showcases. These public light displays trace to 2009. Today, several municipalities feature outdoor light exhibitions with bright, low-powered LED lights.

That’s a matter of interpretation. But the history of LED lighting is a tale of man made progress in capitalism. According to lighting historians, a Marconi laboratory researcher named Henry Joseph Round noticed in 1907 that when electrical voltage is applied to carborundum (silicon carbide) crystal, it emits yellowish light. Russian Oleg Losev investigated the finding 20 years later and published a paper on what he called the “luminous carborundum detector and detection effect and oscillations with crystals.” Rubin Braunstein, an employee of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), reported in 1955 that some diodes emit infrared light when connected to a current and, in 1961, Texas Instruments workers Gary Pittman and Bob Biard found that gallium-arsenide diode emits infrared light when connected to a current. These men received a U.S. patent for infrared LED that same year. In 1962, General Electric’s Nick Holonyak, Jr. developed the world’s first light-emitting diode (LED) emitting light in the visible part of the frequency range. The color was red. Ten years later, Holonyak’s graduate student, M. George Craford, invented the first yellow LED and a brighter red LED. In 1976, Thomas P. Pearsall developed high brightness LED for use with fiber optics in telecommunication. Nichia Corporation employee Shuji Nakamura created the first blue LED in 1979. LED lighting was initially used as indicator lighting on highly advanced professional laboratory equipment. Fairchild Semiconductors reduced the cost of individual LED by using innovative methods of packaging and a planar process of semiconductor chip production to make money through a variety of uses. Today, light-emitting diodes can be made in one or in more colors.