Why LEDs are the preferred Lighting technology now-a-days?

Incandescent light bulbs were developed more than a hundred years ago by Thomas Edison (patent filed in 1878) and were one of the most common sources of lighting until present. Consumers were seduced by the cheap price of an incandescent light bulb and almost forgot its expensive maintenance, waste of energy (because 90% of its energy is transformed into heat and only 10% in light) and the high temperature of operation.

The energy crisis of the 90’s, forced government officials and corporations to look for different source of energy and energy saving technologies such as LEDs. LED technologies (or Light-emitting diode) were discovered in 1962 without much fuss. LEDs are capable of emitting light by using low quantity of energy due to its low voltage nature. LEDs are also called SSL (solid state lighting) and became very popular due to their flexibility and multiple applications.

A few of LED’s benefits are:

1. LEDs are described as the Lighting Technology of the digital era. This new technology is an inflexion point, dividing before and after, such DVDs replacing VHSs or Digital signal replacing analog one.

2.  LEDs are able to converge with most of the digital switches, controllers and processors. This technology is ideal for building automation along with some other lighting controllers. Nowadays, it is very common to control rooms with PDAs or iPhone interfaces able to light fixtures, roll curtains up and down, activate video cameras, sound or turn off selecting appliances.

3. LED lighting just created a new industry with complementary products. New fixtures are designed, new drivers or power sources are developed, new heating sinks are set in place, new optics, etc. Also, new breed of professionals are being trained in Lighting and Energy Saving institution and Universities.

4.  LEDs are very important components in events and stage lighting. Today a show without LEDs, lighting or screens, doesn’t have the same impact as the ones with all the bells and whistles. LEDs are a very important part of the shows, displaying  images than can be appreciated in large screens with all the level of details the video camera wants.

5. LEDs are ideal for displaying RGB or full color effects, being able to reproduce any Pantene color or spectrum, ideal for photography and videos. By using DMX or controllers, technicians are able to handle any undesirable lighting effect, reducing “Moiré” effects and matching color temperature and brightness (measured in Kelvin and NITs respectively)

5. Benefits are numberless but I don’t want to leave aside the total integration between LEDs and solar panels. Both are low voltage and CC, perfect match.

Conclusions

LEDs provide a vast of benefits to be used in lighting, stage, transportation, signaling, video, etc. This technology is easily integrated with existing controllers and processors and able to assist us to do our business. The only remaining point is accessibility at a moderate price.

Basic principles for the purchase of an LED screen

Buying an LED screen is not a decision you make every day. These screens are quite expensive and depending on the application, they could be very complex. Corporations or AV professionals looking for LED screens will go through the following steps:

1. Study the business: It is very important, before selecting any LED screen, to understand the business. At this stage, the AV professional, more than looking for a screen, should know the business details, such as profit, return on investment, type of LED screens and different applications. The AV corporations, before making a decision of whether or not to get into the business, are seeing LED screens in most of the outdoor events and it is very tempting to think about taking opportunity of the growing LED market and its benefits. At this business analysis stage it is a good opportunity to be informed about all the associated cost involved in the purchase of the screen.

2. ROI: During the return of the investment stage, we should analyze some additional considerations beside costs such as the possibility of getting funding, partners or strategic alliances. Many corporations work with traditional AVI (Audio, Video and Lighting) products but not everyone works with LED screens. The purchase of an LED screen will increase your market share and will help you to get larger events.

3. Purchasing indoor or outdoor: At the very beginning, it is not clear the difference between indoor and outdoor panels when talking about utilization or optimization. If there is unlimited budget, my recommendation is to purchase both, but if the budget is an issue, a decision has to be made. Purchasing indoor panels thinking that we are offering a better resolution is not the greatest idea, because indoor panels are very expensive and after a 30 feet viewing distance there is no difference between 6 mm indoor or 16 mm outdoor. At the same time, purchasing outdoor panels for short distance is not recommended.

4. Opportunity Cost: It is an economic term and basically the best choice available between several exclusive choices. If we picked to purchase LED screens, under exclusive decision or limited budget, we are losing the opportunity of profiting from alternative goods. For instance, we purchase either screens or projectors. We should analyze not only the benefits but also depreciations. LED screens depreciate about 20% a year. There are some exceptions as well, for instance, the LED screen installed in the Seahawks stadium in Seattle was working for the last 10 years and is still in good condition.

5. Panel Cost: Buying cheaper doesn’t mean that we are purchasing average quality and buying expensive doesn’t mean that we are purchasing a premium product. Nowadays the cost of LED is changing every week and we can get cheaper LEDs as we go. At the same time, it is confusing when different manufacturers offer screens with same LED brand at prices that are totally different. The difference between vendors with the same brand could be up to 100%. For that reason, it is important to know that branded LEDs could differ based on quality.

6. Life span: Most LED dices last 50,000 hours is good conditions and up to 100,000 in average conditions. In the particular case of LED screens, average screens last up to 3 years and premium screens last up to 6 years.

7. Technology: There is no secret here, the main raw material is the LED dice and the better the LED the better the screen. But it is also important the electronic and data communication. BNC cables are prefer to JR45 cables.

8. Utilization: If you are looking for LED screens for fixed or permanent installation, here there is no brainer because any screen, cheap or expensive, can do the job. But if you are looking for LED screens for the rental market, you better go with experience vendors.

9. Service: Local service is preferred to remote service. Also, when the technical service is offered in your own language the communication is much better.It is also important to have an excellent relationship with the manufacturer.

10. Nature of the product: Regardless the strategy or decision taken, picking an affordable or expensive screen, this LED screens are technological products and sooner or later will require maintenance.

Conclusion: Selecting an LED screen will take you time but it is well worth it. Rember that you are not only purchasing a product but also you are seleting a new partners, the manufacturer, system integrators, etc.