Induction Lighting

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DENVER, CO – The days of the incandescent light bulb are numbered, due to federal legislation that will begin phasing out the long-familiar but energy inefficient lighting source beginning in 2012. Most people are well aware of the LED fluorescent alternative showing up on store shelves and EnergyStar reports, but for many commercial applications, and several whole-room lighting solutions in the home, “green” proponents are turning to a technology pioneered more than 100 years ago: induction lightening.

Induction lighting looks very familiar, as it uses light bulbs that look much like the fluorescent tubes in use for decades. Both systems are lighted by the electrical excitement of gasses within the tube that react with phosphor that coats the tube to produce white light. However, fluorescent tubes use electrodes, those metal pins on the ends of the tube, and these degrade over time and lessen the lifespan of the light source. Induction lights, on the other hand, are powered by the transmission of energy via a magnetic field, an electrode-less system that is rated for as much as 100,000 hours – nearly 12 years on continuous use with limited lumen (light output) degradation over time.

Induction lighting has been in limited use for about 20 years, but has become more popular of late with the growing need to conserve energy. The basic principle for the technology, induction, goes back to the early 1890s when noted genius inventor Nicola Tesla described and demonstrated wired and wireless power transfer to electrodeless fluorescent and incandescent lamps. Tesla was said to have lit 200 lamps without wires from a distance 25 miles using a magnetic field, and he subsequently filed and was awarded a US Patent on the principle.

“LED, or Light Emitting Diode, bulbs will remain the choice for home lamps and other uses where the need is for a bulb of 25 watts or less,” says Gary Stone, owner of Denver’s Allstar Electrical Services, which performs commercial, industrial and residential electrical services with fully licensed master electricians. “But for bigger power users and those who need reliable light sources for often large areas, many architects and designers are beginning to spec induction lighting as the more efficient and economical option. We are installing induction systems in many properties with excellent results.”

Stone adds that induction lighting is preferred for office buildings where a great deal of overhead lighting is the norm, and he says the systems are also preferred for commercial applications subject to extremely cold temperatures, like outdoor security fixtures, parking garages, warehouse, public spaces, industrial buildings, company signage, and even freezer and cold storage lighting. Some homeowners and home designers are also incorporating induction lighting for high-ceiling applications.

The advantages of induction lighting, on top of the extended life, are numerous and include:

• Highest wattage outputs (up to 400 watts). Very high energy conversion efficiency of between 62 and 90 Lumens/Watt – higher wattage bulbs are more energy efficient.
• Minimal Lumen depreciation (declining light output over time) compared to other lamp types as filament evaporation and depletion is absent.
• “Instant-on” and hot re-strike, unlike most conventional lamps used in commercial/industrial lighting applications, such as mercury-vapor lamp, sodium-vapor lamp and metal halide lamp.
• Environmentally friendly as induction lamps use less energy, and use less mercury per hour of operation than conventional lighting due to their long lifespan. The mercury is in a solid form and can be easily recovered if the lamp is broken, or for recycling at end-of-life.
• Proprietary heat dissipation designs.
• Dimmable electronic ballasts.

These benefits mean that induction lighting systems offer a considerable cost savings of between 35% and 55% in energy and maintenance costs compared to other types of commercial and industrial lamps which they replace, says Stone.

Allstar Electrical Services electricians serve as electrical contractors on commercial and industrial projects, including new-build and retrofit, of all sizes, and handle household electrical needs too, throughout Metro Denver and Colorado’s Front Range. For more information on induction lighting and all green lighting solutions, as well as the broad range of electrical services provided, visit http://www.allstarelectrical.com/ and call 303-399-7420.

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Commercial developers, homebuilders and even homeowners with remodeling projects are finding the many benefits of induction lighting save money and offer preferred lighting to work and living spaces

DENVER, CO-LED lighting move over. The new favorite son in green lighting is induction lighting, according to Allstar Electrical Services in Denver, CO. Gary Stone, president and founder of the 10-year-old Allstar Electrical contractors, says his Denver electricians have seen a significant interest in induction lighting compared to the former favorite, LED, and for good reasons.

LED lighting is both perceived as too costly and has reliability issues, he says.

Induction lighting, on the other hand, is a fluorescent-type bulb that can save up to 40%-50% more than traditional fluorescent lighting. Plus, Induction lighting is more stable: The lifetime expectancy of Induction lighting can be as high as 10 years, says Stone.  The electrician, whose company performs maintenance services for commercial buildings as well as electrical repairs and installation, adds that stability is a feature that property manager clients demand, making LED lighting a less preferred option to adopt on a large scale.

The difference between LED lighting and Induction comes down to the difference in the need for low-level “mood” lighting or functional work-space lighting, explains Stone.

“LED works well under 25 watts and can last at that level, but at higher wattages, the system efficiency deteriorates, heats goes wild, and the life expectancy of the bulb is cut short,” he notes. “It’s common for Chinese-made LED lights and fixtures to fail after only 1,000 hours.”

Induction lighting comes in cheaper and more effective above 40W and the lifetime expectance is realistically 100,000 hours (10 years), says Stone.

“Combining the two forms of lighting-Induction and low-wattage LED-results in better use of lighting and increased savings,” says Stone. “Both are long lasting and energy efficient. The architects and designers we support are calling for this combination in bid specifications. Even individual homeowners are beginning to introduce Induction lighting into their home remodeling, achieving high-level design style with full-on effective lighting.”

Induction lamps are ideally suited for high-ceiling applications where the lamps are difficult, costly or hazardous to access. They are also preferred when in extremely cold temperatures-warehouses, industrial buildings, signage, outdoor security fixtures, parking garages, public spaces, and even freezer and cold storage lighting.

Induction lighting is similar to fluorescent lighting in that mercury in a gas fill inside the bulb is excited, emits UV radiation that in turn is converted into visible white light by the phosphor coating on the bulb. The phosphor coating determines the color qualities of the light. Fluorescent lamps use electrodes to strike the arc and initiate the flow of current through the lamp; each time voltage is supplied by the ballast and the arc is struck, the electrodes degrade a little, eventually causing the lamp to fail. Induction lamps do not use electrodes. Instead of a ballast, Induction lamps use a high-frequency generator with a power coupler. The generator produces a radio frequency magnetic field to excite gas fill. With no electrodes, the lamp lasts longer.

The advantages of switching to Induction lighting, says electrician Stone, include:

• savings from a ridiculously extended service life
• highest wattage outputs (up to 400 watts) amongst induction lighting systems
• proprietary heat dissipation designs
• dimmable electronic ballasts.

Another  advantage of induction lighting are improved color, and Stone notes that customers long averse to the white glow of traditional fluorescent lights or the sharp glare of LED lighting prefer the warm light tones possible with induction lighting.

Stone has been a master electrician in Denver for more than 35 years, and formed Allstar Electrical more than a decade ago so he could hands-on manage multi-million dollar commercial projects and even house calls for switch repairs with an attention to his own sense of quality, economy and ecology. Allstar Electrical has received numerous awards from the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors, and the firm is called upon time and again by commercial and residential developers and individual homeowners who appreciate the work.

Contact Allstar Electrical at 303-399-7420 or visit www.allstarelectrical.com for online coupon savings.