Using LED Lighting in Recessed Light Fixtures

Energy-Efficient Options Recessed lighting for the West Coast and central Florida

                                      



Given the prevalence of downlights in US homes, potential energy savings from high-performing, energy-efficient downlights would be significant. Lighting accounts for 15-20% of household electricity use. DOE estimates there are at least 500 million recessed downlights installed in US homes, and more than 20 million are sold each year. Both CFL and LED technology can decrease downlight wattage by 75% or more.


The high-temperature environment in recessed downlights has plagued attempts to use CFLs in this appplication, but more than a dozen reflector CFL products proven to perform well at elevated temperatures are now on the market. Recent developments in LED technology and luminaire design also look very promising, in terms of both light output and efficacy. Contact Frontier Lighting for the proper selection of recessed lighting or for all your lighting needs. Our centrally located distribution centers provide Free daily delivery to most of the west coast of Florida with our fleet of delivery vehicles.

Common LED Types and Packages

Common Light Emitting Diodes - Types and Packages

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                                                             Structure of a 5mm type LED. Source: Lumileds™

 
                                                      Structure of a high-brightness LED.
                                                      Source: Lumileds™


LEDs come in two basic categories:

Low power LEDs commonly come in 5 mm size, although they are also available in 3 mm and 8 mm sizes. These are fractional wattage devices, typically 0.1 watt, operate at low current (~20 milliamps) and low voltage (3.2 volts DC), and produce a small amount of light, perhaps 2 to 4 lumens.

High power LEDs come in 1-3 watt packages. They are driven at much higher current, typically 350, 700, or 1000 mA, and—with current technology—can produce 40-80 lumens per 1-watt package.

High power LEDs come in many different shapes and sizes. Some current products from the leading LED manufacturers are shown below. Frontier Lighting can help you select the proper lighting for all your lighting needs. Frontier Lighitng provides Free Daily Delivery to business customers in Pinellas, Hillborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, Collier, Polk and Orange Counties, covering the west coast and Central Florida.

Cree® XLamp 7090                                                 Philips Lumileds

                                                                                 Luxeon® K2 Emitter

      

 

      Osram® OSTAR Lighting

                                                          

How LED Light Emitting diodes work

How Light Emitting Diodes's Work - LED Lighting for Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, Ft Myers, Orlando and Lakeland Florida

 LEDs differ from traditional light sources in the way they produce light. In an incandescent lamp, a tungsten filament is heated by electric current until it glows or emits light. In a fluorescent lamp, an electric arc excites mercury atoms, which emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation. After striking the phosphor coating on the inside of glass tubes, the UV radiation is converted and emitted as visible light. An LED, in contrast, is a semiconductor diode. It consists of a chip of semiconducting material treated to create a structure called a p-n (positive-negative) junction. When connected to a power source, current flows from the p-side or anode to the n-side, or cathode, but not in the reverse direction. Charge-carriers (electrons and electron holes) flow into the junction from electrodes. When an electron meets a hole, it falls into a lower energy level, and releases energy in the form of a photon (light). The specific wavelength or color emitted by the LED depends on the materials used to make the diode. Red LEDs are based on aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs). Blue LEDs are made from indium gallium nitride (InGaN) and green from aluminum gallium phosphide (AlGaP). "White" light is created by combining the light from red, green, and blue (RGB) LEDs or by coating a blue LED with yellow phosphor. Frontier Lighitng is an authorized distributor for hundreds of lighting manufacturers of light bulbs, fixtures, and replacment globes and lenses and we would be glad to assist you with your selection of the proper type of LED or standard lighting for your needs and your budget. Frontier Lighting, since 1987, serves thousands of customers in  Condo's, Office Buildings,  Government,  Restaurants,  Chain Stores,  Churches,  Schools and universities in Clearwater, Tampa, Largo, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, and  Lakewood Ranch,