Before jumping online to find the cheapest and brightest LED for your facility, you should double check this list to make sure you’re getting the best product. Here are 5 quick and easy steps that will help you better understand what lighting you currently have and what you’ll need to replace it.
STEP ONE: Find out your existing wattage
Finding out your existing wattage before you buy any LED is important to ensure that the light output you currently have is where you need it. If it’s too high or too low, you can adjust the wattage to achieve the correct light levels. Typically a traditional lamp can be replaced with an LED that matches the light output. Make sure to read the lumen package from the LED manufacturer. This should tell you which current wattage it replaces.
STEP TWO: Understand how the current fixture is mounted
The mounting of the existing fixtures is going to limit which fixture you can replace it with. Is the mounting adjustable or fixed? This changes the light distribution of LED. Since the LED lumens are direct, it is important to make sure the light can be aimed correctly in order to cover the area needed.
STEP THREE: Determine the light levels you need
The light levels you may need in your facility completely depend on what is happening in that space and when. Parking lot lights, for example, are usually on at night and need to cover large areas. They don’t need to be extremely bright lights, but it is important to make sure the light distribution is correct. Light distribution can be significantly different when choosing between an LED retrofit lamp and new fixtures.
STEP FOUR: Know the LED efficacy
The efficacy of the LED shows the quality of the fixture. Looking at just the price tag can get you a cheap fixture that may not be saving you as much energy as you think. If the light is of poor quality, it could easily fail. Efficacy is the total amount of lumens per watt used. Higher lumens per watt means you’re getting more light with less energy used. This can help decipher between a new vs old or cheap vs quality LED product.
STEP FIVE: Check the warranty on the LED
Warranty on LED fixtures can make or break the savings. Like all technology, LED lights fail at some point. They’re meant to last longer than traditional lighting, but that’s not always the case. The warranty on the fixture can really save you a lot of money in the future if you start to have failures. Nobody expects their lights to fail, but it can happen. Make sure you ask about how the warranty process is handled and what kind of fail rate the fixture has had.
Where to Buy
For updates, spec sheets, and detailed information about high-quality LED products, check out the LED Direct product listing. Our team is ready to answer any questions you may have for your facility. We specialize in commercial and industrial LED lighting, and there isn’t anything we haven’t seen. With 5-10 year warranty options on all our products, we can guarantee you get the savings you’re expecting.