Induction Lighting

LED lighting move over. The new favorite son in green lighting is induction lighting. And for good reasons.

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

Induction lighting is a fluorescent-type bulb that can save up to 40%-50% more than traditional fluorescent lighting. Plus, it is more stable. The lifetime expectancy of Induction lighting can be as high as 10 years.

 

Induction Lighting vs. LED Lighting

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. LED works well under 25 watts, but at higher wattages, the system efficiency deteriorates, heats goes wild, and the life expectancy of the bulb is cut short. 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). Combining the two forms of lighting—Induction and LED—results in better use of lighting and increased savings. 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.

Other advantages of induction lighting are improved color. LED lamps shine white-blue and rarely match incandescent or fluorescent colors (Kelvin values). LED’s also feature light in a narrow beam instead of the soft spread of light cast from a traditional bulb, making it harder to focus the perceived amount of correct light on the subject.

One of the biggest arguments against LED lighting is that LEDs do not conform to traditional lighting standards, notes Stone. 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 include: