The efficient technology of led light has taken over as a smart lighting solution over the past decade and for being the most versatile, efficient and low maintenance lighting technology in recent years. The consumer market is getting more aware of environment and pocket friendly options which are also sustainable that is why they are naturally upgrading to LED lighting technology.

What is LED lighting?

LED light fixtures were first introduced as retrofit LED tubes for commercial and residential applications. These tubes make use of diodes creating light from the energy supplied. These lights are free of any chemicals and are a total result of energy exchange.

Hence they are brighter and much more efficient than any other traditional options.

LED tube lights have a range of use in commercial, residential and industrial areas. They are the fastest progressing lighting technology which also paved the way for existing LED light fixtures. To read more about LED tubes and choose the appropriate fixture for your application check this link.

These lights gained quite the popularity in residential and commercial spaces as the retrofit kits were specific for UL listed fixtures. UL listed fixtures comply the working standards of preexisting light fixtures and are of three types:

UL Type A

UL Type B

UL Type C

The three UL listings are for traditional fluorescent tubes available in T8, T12 sizes for G5 and G13 bulb base. The most popular option nowadays are T5 and T8 tubes as they are compatible in most settings. In homes, LED tubes are for lighting hallways, corridors, storage rooms etc. Mostly in places around the house where they are not compatible with modern decorative layout they serve as supplemental lighting fixtures.

The UL configuration work as follows:

UL type A:

This type of LED tube is easiest to install and does not require any technical assistance. It operates on pre-existing fluorescent ballast. It is brighter and more efficient than fluorescent tubes but the function is entirely dependent on ballast which often fails to perform and requires replacement.

UL Type B:

Ul Type B retrofit tube is advanced and works on line voltage. It requires bypassing of the ballast and these tubes are also called double ended tubes as they have connection on each end to the mains supply and earth wire. Often both these connections are present on one side only. They are better in comparison to UL Type A tubes and the only drawback could be the fluctuating voltage supply which might affect the LED driver.

UL Type C:

UL Type C is the most advanced of all three as it has its own LED driver in place of ballast it also requires technical assistance for installation as it is pairable with other light switching options.  This LED driver is powerful and can power more than 1 tube. They last longer than both UL Type A and Type B tubes .

Although all three types are fit for use in all spaces where required butUL Type C tubes are largely beneficial to use in commercial setups where a lot of lighting is required to facilitate the ongoing tasks.

Indoor lighting requires a layout which provides visibility as well as ambiance. The light is layered to create a diffused blend which compliments the setup. The three layers are:

• General
• Task and
• Accent lighting

LED tubes are for general and accent lighting in most cases as they are able to provide directional lighting. The key benefits of LED tubes are as follows:

Higher Light Output

LEDs produce more light than traditional options and provide uniform illumination. It enhances the light output and reduces the cost of extra fixtures to reach the required illuminance level.

Power Consumption

The power consumption of LEDs is significantly lesser than traditional options. For example, a usual 50W LED can produce around 1000-1500 lumens whereas a traditional light can only produce around 600-800 lumens. The lesser energy consumption leads to reduced electricity costs as well.

Color Accuracy

The colour accuracy of LED tubes is higher than fluorescent fixtures as they have an adjustable Colour rendering Index of above and around 80. It enhances the look and texture of objects in the surroundings and redirects focus to the details.

Color Temperature

LEDs have switchable CCT i.e correlated colour temperature which is selected on a kelvin scale ranging from 2500K to 6000K. It produces warm yellow to cool white light which allows the user to choose the tube for their desirable ambiance.

LED tubes render certain expectations of lighting very efficiently and reduce overall cost on replacing or maintaining these fixtures. LED lighting provides energy-saving, long-lasting , high-quality color rendering lighting which is integral for driving the marketplaces. LEd tubes produce focused lighting and no amount of light is wasted in the surroundings. They are also highly eco-friendly which is the reason why they are gaining popularity among the general public for their various applications.