Functions of Light

Though most LED lighting fixtures are considered low-voltage, which means they either have a transformer built in or require an external transformer, the good news is that it is not necessary to rewire a house to use LEDs. All the wiring that is commonly used in houses is perfectly fine for use with LED Light.

Lighting is typically categorized into ambient, task, accent, and decorative lighting. Each category serves a different purpose. When planning the lighting for a home, it is helpful to understand how these different light levels can complement each other.

Ambient Lighting:

Ambient (or general) lighting provides a uniform amount of lighting throughout an area or room for general vision and orientation.

Recessed downlights, cove lighting, or pendant-hung fixtures are typical examples of ambient lighting.

Task Lighting:

To provide light in an area where an activity takes place, e.g., the kitchen counter top where meals are prepared, a reading lamp, or a make-up mirror. It is meant to highlight a specific area in addition to the ambient light in that room.

Accent Lighting:

It’s used to highlight objects like works of art, architectural features, or plants by creating a contrast in brightness. This is often achieved using recessed or surface-mount adjustable fixtures, track lighting, wall grazing, and wall washing.

Decorative Lighting

This is jewelry for the home; the main function of decorative lighting fixtures is to look pretty. Chandeliers and wall sconces are typical examples.

This layered approach to lighting is useful to create a comfortable, visually balanced atmosphere.

Once it is decided what type of fixture will be placed for the various functions, it’s time to think about the color temperature.

The light should complement the interior design, furniture, colors, and other decorations in your home.

In general, color temperature is very much a personal choice and preference; however, there are a few rules that can be applied to help choose a light that complements the interior design.

Color Temperatures for Ambient Light

The ambient lighting in a room is typically the main source of light and therefore a key element in setting the overall mood and ambience of the room.

Warm white lighting fixtures are often preferred in living rooms and bedrooms to create a cozy atmosphere.

The kelvin numbers offered for LED lights are typically 2700K and 3000K. These warm white lights are a good choice to complement earthy tones and wood furniture.

If more than one type of ambient light is installed, e.g., down lights and cove lighting, choose the same color temperature for both to ensure an even, harmonic effect.

Though many people seem to prefer warm white, rooms that are decorated with light colored furniture and crisper colors, like white, blue, and light gray, e.g., in a modern kitchen, can benefit from a more neutral, cooler light.

Lighting with kelvin numbers in the range from 3500K to 4000K is considered neutral white and accentuates lighter colors better than warm white lights.

In addition, studies show that neutral and cool white light has an energizing effect on people and is therefore a good choice for home offices and studies.

Since neutral and cool white light create better contrast than warm white, they are also good choices for the main ambient light in bathrooms. The cooler light will provide a more realistic idea of what we look like in the real world. Look for kelvin numbers between 4000K and 5000K for your main ambient bathroom fixture.

If the bathroom features a bathtub and you want to be able to create a warm atmosphere as well, consider using an additional layer of light, e.g., a wall sconce with a warm white light in the range of 2700K that can be switched separately from the main light.

Color Temperatures for Task Lighting

Task lighting is used to provide an additional, higher level of light than the surrounding area where a visual task takes place.

It is therefore important that the light is able to create good contrast, which is best achieved with a neutral to cool white in the 3500K to 5000K range.

Besides the color temperature, the color rendering index (CRI) and brightness are particularly important for task lighting.

While for ambient lighting a CRI of 80+ is often sufficient, for task lighting a CRI of 90 and above should be considered.

Food that gets prepared on a kitchen counter will look much more appealing when rendered well by the under-cabinet light.

A make-up light with good color rendering will also paint a more realistic picture.

Dimming

Dimming is an important feature of ambient and task lighting. It enables us to set the light level to create the desired atmosphere in an area or the ideal brightness for a task. In addition, dimming provides energy savings by reducing the electric load of a light fixture.

As opposed to a standard incandescent lamp, not all LED fixtures are built to be dimmable; it is therefore important to look at the product label and ensure that the fixture is marked as dimmable.

When making the switch to LED, be prepared to also change out your dimmer switches. Most dimmers were built for incandescent bulbs; however, LEDs are based on a very different technology, and therefore, these two don’t necessarily work well together. It’s like trying to connect your old rotary phone to your digital phone outlet.

Most manufacturers provide a compatibility list that shows dimmer manufacturers and models that have been tested and are compatible with the LED fixture.

To ensure an optimal lighting experience, it’s highly recommended to stick to the manufacturer's recommendations. Using incompatible dimmers can lead to flickering lights or insufficient dimming levels.

Installation

Many LED fixtures have a transformer already built in and can be connected to a standard electrical outlet. Some LED products, i.e., LED strip lights, require an external power supply. These come in two formats: either with an AC cord attached, similar to a laptop power supply, or they need to be connected to an outlet.

It is recommended to have a licensed electrician perform any installation that requires electrical connections to the line voltage.

Pay attention to the product label; it will indicate if a power supply is required or not.

How to choose a quality product

There are many LED products on the market, but they are not all built the same. To ensure the product is safe to use and has been tested by an independent laboratory, look for the UL or ETL mark on the product or packaging. 

Due to the generally long lifetime of LED products, the warranty should be at least 3–5 years. Though this is a long time, do keep your receipts as proof of purchase in case the product fails prematurely. If you want to buy LED lights, visit the LED Light Showroom in Surat. If you want to know more information about our site, Bajaj World, Click Here.

Do take a look at the product label. These specifications should be clearly outlined:

• Light Output (Lumens)
• Power Consumption (Watt)
• Lumens per Watt (Efficacy)
• Color Accuracy (CRI > 80)
• Color Temperature (Kelvin should be stated as a number, i.e., 2700K, not just warm white or cool white)