lcd panel taking advantage of fluorescent lamp for sale

The main functionality of the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is to perform the initial hardware checks after the computer is powered on and start up the operating system.

Which of the acronyms listed below refers to a series of basic hardware diagnostic tests performed by the startup BIOS after the computer is powered on?

After replacing a modular hardware component inside computer case, the updated information about specific parameters of the new device can be stored in: (Select 2 answers)

After completing the initial diagnostics and assigning system resources, the startup BIOS program checks for information about secondary storage devices that might contain the OS. The list of devices and the order in which they should be checked can be found and arranged in the CMOS setup utility, and this option is commonly referred to as:

After launching Windows Virtual PC application technician receives error message stating that the Hardware-Assisted Virtualization (HAV) feature is not enabled on the computer. Which of the following steps might help in fixing this problem?

When it comes todisplay technologies such asprojectorsand panels, factors such as resolution and refresh rate are often discussed. But the underlying technology is equally, if not more, important. There are tons of different types of screens, from OLED and LED to TN, VA, and IPS. Learn about the various monitor and television types, from operation to pros and cons!

The most common form of monitor or TV on the market is LCD or Liquid Crystal Display. As the name suggests, LCDs use liquid crystals that alter the light to generate a specific colour. So some form of backlighting is necessary. Often, it’s LED lighting. But there are multiple forms of backlighting.

LCDs have utilized CCFLs or cold cathode fluorescent lamps. An LCD panel lit with CCFL backlighting benefits from extremely uniform illumination for a pretty even level of brightness across the entire screen. However, this comes at the expense of picture quality. Unlike an LED TV, cold cathode fluorescent lamp LCD monitors lack dimming capabilities. Since the brightness level is even throughout the entire array, a darker portion of scenes might look overly lit or washed out. While that might not be as obvious in a room filled with ambient light, under ideal movie-watching conditions, or in a dark room, it’s noticeable. LED TVs have mostly replaced CCFL.

An LCD panel is transmissive rather than emissive. Composition depends on the specific form of LCD being used, but generally, pixels are made up of subpixel layers that comprise the RGB (red-green-blue) colour spectrum and control the light that passes through. A backlight is needed, and it’s usually LED for modern monitors.

Please note that some of the mentioned types may be considered a sub-category of LCD TVs; therefore, some of the names may vary depending on the manufacturer and the market.

1)Film layer that polarizes light entering2)glass substrate that dictates the dark shapes when the LCD screen is on3)Liquid crystal layer4)glass substrate that lines up with the horizontal filter5)Horizontal film filter letting light through or blocking it6)Reflective surface transmitting an image to the viewer

While many newer TVs and monitors are marketed as LED TVs, it’s sort of the same as an LCD TV. Whereas LCD refers to a display type, LED points to the backlighting in liquid crystal display instead. As such, LED TV is a subset of LCD. Rather than CCFLs, LEDs are light-emitting diodes or semiconductor light sources which generate light when a current passes through.

LED TVs boast several different benefits. Physically, LED television tends to be slimmer than CCFL-based LCD panels, and viewing angles are generally better than on non-LED LCD monitors. So if you’re at an angle, the picture remains relatively clear nonetheless. LEDs are alsoextremely long-lasting as well as more energy-efficient. As such, you can expect a lengthy lifespan and low power draw. Chances are you’ll upgrade to a new telly, or an internal part will go out far before any LEDs cease functioning.

Please note that some of the mentioned types may be considered a sub-category of LED TVs; therefore, some of the names may vary depending on the manufacturer and the market.

Further segmenting LED TVs down, you"ll find TN panels. A TN or twisted nematic display is a type of LED TV that offers a low-cost solution with a low response time and low input lag.

These displays are known for their high refresh rates, ranging from 100Hz to 144Hz or higher. As a result, many monitors marketed towards gamers feature TN technology. The fast response time and low input lag make them ideal for fast-paced action and gaming. However, TN panels have some limitations.

They suffer from inferior colour reproduction, meaning that the colours they display may be less accurate and vibrant than other technologies. Additionally, they have poor viewing angles, meaning the picture quality can degrade when viewed from certain angles. This is due to the way the liquid crystal molecules point at the viewer and the orientation of the light polarizers at 90-degree angles.

Overall, while TN panels are an affordable and fast option, they may not be the best choice for those looking for accurate colour reproduction and wide viewing angles.

Like TN, IPS or In-plane Switching displays are a subset of LED panels. IPS monitors tend to boast accurate colour reproduction and great viewing angles. Price is higher than on TN monitors, but in-plane switching TVs generally feature a better picture when compared with twisted nematic sets. Latency and response time can be higher on IPS monitors meaning not all are ideal for gaming.

An IPS display aligns liquid crystals in parallel for lush colours. Polarizing filters have transmission axes aligned in the same direction. Because the electrode alignment differs from TN panels, black levels, viewing angles, and colour accuracy is much better. TN liquid crystals are perpendicular.

A VA or vertical alignment monitor is a type of LED monitor that features excellent contrast ratios, colour reproduction, and viewing angles. This is achieved by using crystals that are perpendicular to the polarizers at right angles, similar to the technology used in TN monitors. VA monitors are known for their deep blacks and vibrant colours, making them popular for media consumption and gaming.

They also have better viewing angles than TN monitors, meaning that the picture quality remains consistent when viewed from different angles. However, the response time of a VA monitor is not as fast as that of a TN monitor, which can be a concern for those looking to use the monitor for fast-paced action or gaming.

The pricing of VA monitors varies, but they are typically more expensive than TN monitors and less costly than IPS or OLED monitors. Overall, VA monitors are an excellent option for those looking for a balance between good picture quality and affordability.

A quantum dot LED TV or QLED is yet another form of LED television. But it’s drastically different from other LED variants. Whereas most LED panels use a white backlight, quantum dot televisions opt for blue lights. In front of these blue LEDs sits a thin layer of quantum dots. These quantum dots in a screen glow at specific wavelengths of colour, either red, green, or blue, therefore comprising the entire RGB (red-green-blue) colour spectrum required to create a colour TV image.

Quantum Dot TV (QD-TV):  A type of television that uses quantum dots, also known as semiconductor nanocrystals, to produce more accurate and vibrant colours.

Please note that some of the mentioned types may be considered a sub-category of Quantum Dot TVs; therefore, some of the names may vary depending on the manufacturer and the market. Also, it"s worth mentioning that not all brands use the same technology. Some are using QD films or QD-LEDs, others are using QD-OLEDs, and the list could go on.

An OLED or organic light-emitting diode display isn’t another variation of LED. OLEDs use negatively and positively charged ions for illuminating individual pixels. By contrast, LCD/LED TVs use a backlight that can make an unwanted glow. In OLED display, there are several layers, including a substrate, an anode, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an emissive layer, a blocking layer, an electron transport layer, and a cathode. The emissive layer, comprised of an electroluminescent layer of film, is nestled between an electron-injecting cathode and an electron removal layer, the anode. OLEDs benefit from darker blacks and eschew any unwanted screen glow. Because OLED panels are made up of millions of individual subpixels, the pixels themselves emit light, and it’s, therefore, an emissive display as opposed to a transmissive technology like LCD/LED panels where a backlight is required behind the pixels themselves.

The image quality is top-notch. OLED TVs feature superb local dimming capabilities. The contrast ratio is unrivalled, even by the best of QLEDs, since pixels not used may be turned off. There’s no light bleed, black levels are incredible, excellent screen uniformity, and viewing angles don’t degrade the picture. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost. OLEDs are pricey, and the image isn’t as bright overall when compared to LED panels. For viewing in a darkened room, that’s fine, but ambient lighting isn’t ideal for OLED use.

Please note that OLED technology can be applied to various displays and devices, and the list mentioned above may not be exhaustive. Also, some types may be considered a sub-category of OLED.

As you can see, a wide variety of displays are available on the market today, each with their unique advantages and disadvantages. While many monitors and TVs are referred to by various names, such as LED, IPS, VA, TN, or QLED, many are variations of LCD panels. The specific technology used in a display, such as the colour of backlighting and the alignment of pixels, plays a major role in determining the overall picture quality.

When choosing the right type of monitor or display for your needs, it"s important to consider all the options available and weigh the pros and cons of each one. This can include things like resolution, refresh rate, response time, colour accuracy, and more subjective factors like overall picture quality and viewing angles.

In short, YES! LED lighting technology has come to a point where the efficiency makes it hard to justify keeping your old fluorescent lights or incandescent bulbs in place. Even though the initial replacement costs to choose LED tubes will be higher, you will see energy savings that will pay for those upfront costs within 2 years in most cases. New linear LED tube bulbs are simple plug-and-play and ballast compatible. You will simply need to remove your fluorescent bulb and plug in your LED light replacement.

LED replacement lamps are on average 30% more efficient than their fluorescent light counterparts. That means if you are spending $10,000 on your lighting energy costs per year, your bill will be reduced by $3,000 or more every year that you use the LED bulbs. Standard 4-foot T8 LED bulbs are available at as low as 12 watts of power consumption, while their fluorescent light counterparts will start at 25 watts.

One of the big reasons why LED tubes are more efficient is because it only emits light in one direction. The light emitting diodes (LEDs) are all arranged along the bottom of the lamp and send light downwards. Fluorescent lamps emit light in all directions, including up towards the ceiling where it is not needed.

Have you noticed that many LED fixtures have a lower lumen output than fluorescents? That is okay because LEDs are directional. They only emit light in the desired direction.

Some LED lamps are now rated to last up to 84,000 hours, while the average life of a fluorescent tube lamp is only 30,000 hours. That is over twice as long, so keep that in mind when you are calculating your purchase. The LED lamp is more expensive, but you will need to replace your fluorescent bulbs 2 or 3 times during the lifespan of an LED. Keep in mind the labor costs of replacing those fluorescent bulbs, particularly if you are lighting a large warehouse.

The ability to dim your lights increases their efficiency because you will only be using the wattage necessary for the amount of light that you require. Most fluorescent lights have two settings, ON and OFF. That means that even if you only need a little bit of light, you still need to operate at full power consumption. Some expensive fluorescent bulbs are dimmable with a special ballast, but at that point, your cost is comparable to an LED option.

One of the downfalls of fluorescent lighting is that each bulb contains mercury, which is harmful to the environment and must be disposed of properly. You can purchase special recycling kits to dispose of your fluorescent lamps properly, but add that to the cost of opting for fluorescent lighting over LED lights.

It used to be that LED bulbs were only available in cool color temperatures of 5000K and higher. That is not the case anymore, as LED bulbs are available between very warm(2700K) to extremely cool(5700K). Now you can use LED tube lamps in all sorts of applications from healthcare where you might want a cool color temperature, to your home where you might prefer a low and warm color temperature.

Have you ever picked up a fluorescent lamp that dropped on the ground? If you did it was probably with a broom and dustpan. Fluorescent tube lamps are notoriously fragile, but their LED counterparts are quite strong. They are built with durable, plastic housing that should even be able to withstand a drop from a low height.

Fluorescent lights put off a significant amount of heat. Your air conditioner will be battling that all day to keep your environment at an acceptable temperature. LEDs on the other hand put off virtually no heat. Beyond just the energy consumption of the bulbs, LEDs will help you cut down your air conditioning energy consumption.

A great way to improve efficiency in your warehouse or other space is to install occupancy sensors. This ensures that light will only be produced in areas where someone is present. Unfortunately, this can have a big impact on the life of your fluorescent lights. Each time you turn on a fluorescent bulb, a small amount of mercury vapor is burned off. Once that is diminished, the bulb will no longer work. On the other hand, the life of an LED bulb is not affected by the number of times it is turned on and off.

Many LED tubes are "plug and play", meaning you can just install them like you would a fluorescent bulb. For this to be true, look for bulbs that are "ballast-compatible" meaning that they can use the ballast already installed in your fluorescent fixture to power the LEDs.

The time has come for fluorescent lamps to step aside and make room for LED technology because LED lights are far more efficient and affordable than fluorescent lamps. Simply put, if you want to lower your energy demands while saving time and money on labor, switch your linear light fixtures to LED!

If you don"t have fluorescent fixtures and need to install new lighting, tube LEDs may not be the best choice. It is often more efficient to install a fixture with built-in LEDs that will not require bulbs. You can shop for those on ShineRetrofits.com here.

LED fluorescent lamp is the newest product line in the fluorescent family and is considered to be the final replacement for traditional fluorescent lamp. It is made up of white LED chip modules. Provided with the advantages of long life-span, radiation-free, energy saving, environmental friendly and stroboflash-free, LED fluorescent lamp is superior to other kinds of lamps.

Besides, the installation of LED fluorescent lamp is quite easy. Just to replace the original fluorescent lamp with the new LED one, and to take out the starter. What’s more, the electricity saving efficiency can reach as high as 50% compared to ordinary fluorescent lamp and the life span is more than 10 times than that of ordinary one, almost totally free of maintenance. LED fluorescent lamp is adaptive to be used in offices, factories, marketplaces, schools and houses and so on indoor spaces.

Traditional fluorescent lamp contains large amount of mercury vapor which will do harm to the environment if the lamp is broken up and the vapor volatilize into the atmosphere. On the contrary, LED fluorescent lamp does not contain mercury or lead, doing no harm to the environment. So, LED products are recognized to be the green lighting lamps in the 21st century.

Compared to traditional lamps which will generate a large amount of heat, LED lamps can directly make electric energy into light energy, causing less heat and no waste of the energy.

LED lamp will not produce any noise, enabling it to be a good choice for illumination application in high precision electrical instrument. It is also fit to be used in occasions like libraries, offices and so on.

Traditional fluorescent lamp uses alternating current, which will generate 100-120 times of stroboflash per second. As to LED fluorescent lamp, it can directly switch the alternating current into direct current, without causing any flickering, helpful to protect the eyes.

Traditional lamps will generate ultraviolet radiation, thus will attract mosquitoes to fly around the lamps. LED lamp doesn’t have this disadvantage, thus the indoor space will become cleaner.

Traditional fluorescent lamp should recur to rectifier to release high voltage to get brighten up. If the voltage fell, the lamp will went out. However, LED lamps can be lighted within a certain voltage range (80V-245V) and its brightness can be adjusted.

The power consumption for LED fluorescent lamp is lower than 1/3 of the traditional lamp’s consumption, and the life span for it is 10 times longer than that of traditional one. So there is no need to change the lamp for a long period of time, reducing the manpower and other costs.

LED lamp body is made by epoxy resin instead of glasses like other traditional lamps. So it is more rigid and safe. Even if falling to the floor, LED lamp will not be broken easily. Users can set their heart at rest when using LED lamps.

Do you wonder what’s better: fluorescent lights (including compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs)? Well here’s a head-to-head comparison of the two followed by an in-depth discussion of each technology in turn.

Fluorescent light bulbs are a specific type of gas-discharge light (also known as a high intensity discharge, HID, or arc light). CFL is an acronym that stands for compact fluorescent light. Standard fluorescent lights are available in tubes (generally 48 to 84 inches in length). CFLs are much smaller. They are still tubes but they are, as the name implies, “compact.” CFLs were designed to replace standard applications for incandescent bulbs as they are both more efficient and longer lasting.

Fluorescent bulbs produce light by converting ultraviolet emissions with a fluorescent coating on the inside of the tube. UV radiation is generated in the first place by an electrical charge that is run through the inert mercury glass internal to the bulb. The gas is excited by the electricity andreleases ultraviolet radiation as a consequence. Fluorescent lights require ignition, which is typically provided by a voltage pulse or a third electrode (an additional metal part) internal to the bulb. Starting is relatively simple with small tubes but can require significant voltage with larger lights.

Fluorescent light bulbs previously required a “warm-up” period in order to evaporate the internal gas into plasma, but now there are several near-instantaneous starting technologies for fluorescent light (those include “quick-start,” “instant start,” and “rapid-start”). Additionally, as the light heats up it requires additional voltage to operate. Voltage requirements in fluorescent bulbs are balanced by a ballast (a magnetic device in older bulbs and an electrical one in newer fluorescent technology). As the fluorescent light ages, more and more voltage is required to produce the same amount of light until eventually the voltage exceeds the fixed resistance provided by the ballast and the light goes out (fails). Fluorescent lights become less and less efficient over time because they must use more and more voltage to produce the same lumen output as the light degrades.

Fluorescent technology has been around for more than 100 years and it generally represents a high efficiency way to provide lighting over a vast area. The lights are much more efficient as well as longer lasting than incandescent bulbs, however, they fail in both categories when compared to LED.

Fluorescent lights contain toxic mercury.Mercury, as well as the phosphor inside the bulbs, are hazardous materials that present a waste disposal issue at the end of a light’s life. Broken bulbs release a small amount of toxic mercury as a gas and the rest is contained in the glass itself.

Fluorescent lights age significantly if they are frequently switched on and off.Typical lamp life for a CFL is about 10,000 hours but this can degrade as a consequence of frequent switching (turning on and off). Burning life is extended if lamps remain on continuously for long periods of time. It’s worth thinking about in the event that you are using CFLs in conjunction with motion sensors that frequently activate and time out.

Fluorescent lights are omnidirectional.Omnidirectional lights produce light in 360 degrees. This is a large system inefficiency because at least half of the light needs to be reflected and redirected to the desired area being illuminated. It also means that more accessory parts are required in the light fixture itself in order to reflect or focus the luminous output of the bulb (thus increasing unit costs).

Older fluorescent lights have a brief warm-up period. Once the arc is ignited it melts and evaporates metal salts internal to the device. The light doesn’t arrive at full power until the salts are fully evaporated into plasma. This is corrected in many newer models that utilize “rapid start” or similar technologies.

Fluorescent lighting emits a small amount of UV radiation.Ultraviolet light is known to cause fading of dyed items or paintings exposed to their light.

Fluorescent lights require a ballast to stabilize the light.In the event that there is a minor flaw in the ballastthe light may produce an audible hum or buzz.

Common applications for fluorescent lighting include warehouses and schools or commercial buildings. CFLs are also used as a replacement for incandescent lights in many residential applications.

When current passes through the semiconductor material the device emits visible light.It is very much the opposite of a photovoltaic cell(a device that converts visible light into electrical current).

LEDs have an extremely long lifespanrelative to every other lighting technology (including fluorescent lights). New LEDs can last 50,000 to 100,000 hours or more. The typical lifespan for a fluorescent bulb, by comparison, is 10-25% as long at best (roughly 10,000 hours).

LEDs areextremely energy efficientrelative to every other commercially available lighting technology. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that they waste very little energy in the form of infrared radiation (much different than most conventional lights to include fluorescent lights), and they emit light directionally (over 180 degrees versus 360 degrees, which means there are far fewer losses from the need to redirect or reflect light).

Color:LEDs can be designed to generate the entire spectrum of visible light colors without having to use the traditional color filters required by traditional lighting solutions.

In particular, LED lights are relatively expensive. The up-front costs of an LED lighting project are typically greater than most of the alternatives. This is by far the biggest downside that needs to be considered. That said, the price of LEDs are rapidly decreasing and as they continue to be adopted en masse the price will continue to drop. (If you received a proposal for LED lights that just costs too much, don"t give up hope. Value engineering can help.)

The first practical use of LEDs was in circuit boards for computers. Since then they have gradually expanded their applications to include traffic lights, lighted signs, and more recently, indoor and outdoor lighting. Much like fluorescent lights, modern LED lights are a wonderful solution for gymnasiums, warehouses, schools, and commercial buildings.

They are also adaptable for large public areas (which require powerful, efficient lights over a large area), road lighting (which offer significant color advantages over low and high pressure sodium lights), and parking lots. For an interesting take on the history of street lighting in the United States readhere.

different methods of producing light. Fluorescent bulbs contain inert gas within the glass casing while LEDs are a solid state technology. Fluorescent lights produce UV radiation and then convert it into visible light through the use of a phosphor coating inside the bulb. LEDs emit electromagnetic radiation across a small portion of the visible light spectrum and don’t waste energy by producing waste heat or non-visible electromagnetic radiation (such as UV). There is such a thing as an IRED (infrared emitting diode) which is specifically designed to emit infrared energy.

In the last few yearsLED efficiency has surpassed that of fluorescent lights and its efficiency improvements are progressing at a much more rapid rate. Further, fluorescent lamps require the use of a ballast to stabilize the internal current that produces light. When the ballast has a minor imperfection or is damaged, the light can produce an audible buzzing noise. Other shortcomings include the following:

Fluorescent lights are non-directional, meaning that they emit light for 360 degrees. As you might expect, a large portion of this light is wasted (for example, that portion that is directed at the ceiling).

As good as fluorescent light efficiency has become, LED is better (and continues to improve at a more rapid pace). As long as fluorescent lights last, LED lights last much longer. Further, fluorescentlamps require the use of a ballast to stabilize the internal current that produces light. When the ballast

has a minor imperfection or is damaged, the light can produce an audible buzzing noise. Other shortcomings include waste disposal issues (due to CFL"s reliance on mercury), and non-directional light generation. Non-directional light generation is a bigger deal than you might think. For example, light that is being directed at the ceiling rather than the room is wasted light. Therefore, CFL (as well as the related standard fluorescent bulbs) might have good “source efficiency” (i.e. it looks good on paper), but will fall short of LED when it comes to the more important measure: “system efficiency” (actual efficiency in real world applications).

Fluorescent light is available in a range of CCT values that can be adjusted by changing the amount of phosphor inside the bulb. Typical values range between warm white at 2700K to daylight at 6500K depending on the lighting requirement.

CRI for LED is highly dependent on the particular light in question. That said, a very broad spectrum of CRI values is available ranging generally from 65-95.

Typical CRI values for fluorescent light are between 62 and 80. This is fairly good color rendering but it leaves room for improvement when compared to LED.

LEDs are an ideal light for purposely turning on and off because they respond rather instantaneously (there is no warm up or cool down period). They produce steady light without flicker.

Fluorescent lights exhibit a short delay when turning on. Older fluorescent models actually required a significant warm up period before the tube would light but this has been improved with newer, rapid-start fluorescent lights. Possible failures or delays in the start-up process are typically due to faulty starters, transformers, or ballast. Fluorescent bulbs may also flicker, display swirling or pink light, light at the ends of the tube only, or cycle on and off as the bulb reaches the end of its useful life.

LEDs are very easy to dim and options are available to use anywhere from 100% of the light to 0.5%. LED dimming functions by either lowering the forward current or modulating the pulse duration.

Newer CFL bulbs can be dimmed very effectively (down to about 15% of their normal light) while older fluorescent bulbs are often not suitable for dimming. If looking to dim a fluorescent bulb, make sure that you choose a ballast that is rated for dimming.

LEDs emit light for 180 degrees. This is typically an advantage because light is usually desired over a target area (rather than all 360 degrees around the bulb). You can read more about the impact of directional lighting by learning about a measurement called “useful lumens” or “system efficiency.”

LEDs are very efficient relative to every lighting type on the market. Typical source efficiency ranges 37 and 120 lumens/watt. Where LEDs really shine, however, is in their system efficiency (the amount of light that actually reaches the target area after all losses are accounted for). Most values for LED system efficiency fall above 50 lumens/watt.

Fluorescent and CFL lights are very efficient compared to incandescent lights (50-100 lumens/watt source efficiency). They lose out to LEDs principally because their system efficiency is much lower (<30 lumens/watt) due to all of the losses associated with omnidirectional light output and the need to redirect it to a desired area.

LED efficiency drops as current increases. Heat output also increases with additional current which decreases the lifetime of the device. The overall performance drop is relatively low, however, when compared to fluorescent lights.

Fluorescent lights also experience efficiency losses as the device ages and additional current is required to achieve the same lighting output. Efficiency losses are greater and the degradation time shorter in the case of fluorescent bulbs.

LEDs produce a very narrow spectrum of visible light without the losses to irrelevant radiation types (IR or UV) associated with conventional lighting, meaning that most of the energy consumed by the light source is converted directly to visible light.

Fluorescent lights actually produce primarily UV radiation. They generate visible light because the bulb is coated with a layer of phosphor which glows when it comes into contact with UV radiation. Roughly 15% of the emissions are lost due to energy dissipation and heat.

Fluorescent lights produce primarily UV radiation. They generate visible light because the bulb is coated with a layer of phosphor which glows when it comes into contact with UV radiation. Although most UV radiation stays within the bulb, some does escape into the environment which can potentially be a hazard.

Fluorescent lights can fail in a number of different ways. Generally they exhibit an end-of-life phenomenon known as cycling where the lamp goes on and off without human input prior to eventually failing entirely.

Foot candle is a measure that describes the amount of light reaching a specified surface area as opposed to the total amount of light coming from a source (luminous flux).

LEDs are very efficient relative to every lighting type on the market. Typical source efficiency ranges 37 and 120 lumens/watt. Where LEDs really shine, however, is in their system efficiency (the amount of light that actually reaches the target area after all losses are accounted for). Most values for LED system efficiency fall above 50 lumens/watt.

Fluorescent and CFL lights are very efficient compared to incandescent lights (50-100 lumens/watt source efficiency). They lose out to LEDs principally because their system efficiency is much lower (<30 lumens/watt) due to all of the losses associated with omnidirectional light output and the need to redirect it to a desired area.

Fluorescent lights emit heat that is absorbed by the ballast and/or lost to the environment. Roughly 15% of the emissions are lost due to energy dissipation and heat losses. In some circumstances heat emissions could be beneficial, however, it is generally a bad thing to emit heat as it represents an energy inefficiency. The ultimate purpose of the device is to emit light, not heat.

LEDs last longer than any light source commercially available on the market. Lifespans are variable but typical values range from 25,000 hours to 200,000 hours or more before a lamp or fixture requires replacement.

Fluorescent lights have good lifespan relative to some bulbs but not compared to LED. Typical lifespan values range from 7,000 hours to 15,000 hours before a bulb requires replacement. Note: sometimes fluorescent lights need to be changed out before the end of their useful life to preempt serious degradation effects like flicker or changing light color (turning pink).

Fluorescent lights are relatively cheap to purchase but relatively expensive to maintain. Fluorescent bulbs will likely need to be purchased several times and the associated labor costs will need to be paid in order to attain the equivalent lifespan of a single LED light.

Fluorescent bulbs are particularly fragile - especially T5, T8, and T12 tubes. Perhaps more importantly, broken fluorescent bulbs require special handling and disposal due to hazardous materials like mercury inside the lights.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are designed to be small (such that they can replace an incandescent household light). Even so, they typically aren’t produced below roughly a centimeter in width. Standard fluorescent tubes are bulky and fragile at the same time. Neither compare to the small size and robust build of a solid state light like LED.

Fluorescent lights with regular magnetic ballasts (such as the T12 tube) are not generally recommended for temperatures below 50-60 Degrees Fahrenheit. For colder weather choose a fluorescent light with an electronic ballast such as a T8 tube.

LEDs produce significantly less heat than conventional gas discharge lights.This is typically a positive, however, for the unique case of application with traffic lights, there is a small potential that snow can accumulate on the bulbs. In reality, however, this is generally not an issue due to the use of visors and/or proper orientation of the light within a fixture that shields it from the elements.

Fluorescent bulbs are not generally recommended for outdoor lighting. CFLs will work but as the temperature drops the light quality suffers significantly. This is noticeable slightly below the freezing level and dramatic below about 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you replace your fluorescent tubes with LED? Let us count the ways! In today"s blog, we break down the advantages and disadvantages of each of your options.

If you have fluorescent fixtures and are eying the cost- and energy-savings of switching to LED lighting, you"ll find there are two paths you can take: convert your existing fixtures to work with LED or replace those fixtures with new LED fixtures. But within those paths are a number of options, depending on the type and location of your fixtures, your lighting goals, and your budget. Whichever you go with in the end, you"re guaranteed reduce both your energy use and operating costs by a significant amount. And don"t forget the other benefit of LED lighting: you"re going to enjoy a much (much) longer lamp life than you"ve been used to!

A 4-lamp 4-foot fixture can go from what you have now (about 7200 lumens in LED terms) to nearly twice as bright (about 13,200 lumens with four 3300-lumen LED tubes), depending on the lumen rating of your LED replacement tube.

LEDs use between 60W and 80W per 4-lamp, 4-foot fixture vs 128W to 172W, but they can do even better than that: our high-efficiency, Ultra High Lumen lights can act as 1-for-2 replacements, allowing you to light a 4-lamp fluorescent fixture with just 2 LED tubes, or a total of 40W vs 128W.

Not sure which way to go? Our expert team is available to help with your conversion from fluorescent to LED. Contact our West Coast facility at 858.581.0597, our East Coast facility at 215.355.7200, or email sales@eledlights.com.

Keep in mind that, although the lumen output may seem lower for LED tubes than fluorescents, there are a number of reasons why you"ll experience LED lights as being as bright as, if not brighter than, fluorescents (something we"ve covered in more detail in this blog post). With today"s technology, you can rest assured that if you"re buying an LED tube from a reputable manufacturer, it will be at least as bright as the fluorescent you"re replacing. Which means that the lumen rating for various LED tubes is best used to compare one LED option against another. The higher the number, the greater the light output.

Replacing your fluorescent tube lights with LED retrofits can be a confusing and daunting process. We"ve put together this guide to demystify all of the ins and outs of replacing your fluorescent tubes with LED tube lights.

Because fluorescent fixtures are often mounted into ceilings and connected directly to mains electricity, they are relatively expensive and difficult to replace completely.

As a result, it oftentimes makes the most economical sense to simply use the same fluorescent fixture, but replace the fluorescent tube with an LED tube light.

Therefore, it is important to understand the types of fluorescent tubes that were developed, so that the correct LED tube light can be retrofitted in place.

T12 4-ft: Four-foot T12 fluorescent lamps are less efficient compared to T8 lamps. They are the same length as T8 lamps, but have a larger 1.5 inch lamp diameter.

T5 4-ft: Four-foot T5 fluorescent lamps are typically the most efficient, and some of the newest types of lamps introduced in the 2000"s in the USA. They are commonly designated T5HO (high output) and provide more brightness than their T8 counterparts. They are slightly shorter than four feet (45.8 inches). T5 lamps come in a variety of lengths such as 1-ft, 2-ft and 3-ft versions and are commonly used in non-ceiling fixtures such as table lamps.

LED tube lights replicate the mechanical dimensions to ensure that they can be true retrofit replacements, and adopt the same form factor names (e.g. 4-foot T8 LED tube light).

All fluorescent tube lights use a device called a ballast to regulate the lamp"s brightness as it warms up. These devices are necessary for fluorescent lamps, and differ from incandescent lamps which can be connected directly to mains electrical circuits.

Fluorescent lamp fixtures typically house the ballast inside the fixture, and is not accessible without removing the fixture from the ceiling. Alterations to the fluorescent lamp ballast should be done only by those comfortable and knowledgeable with electrical work.

LED lamps, on the other hand, operate differently from fluorescent lamps, and do not utilize a ballast (but do utilize electronic components that make up the LED driver).

Early LED tube lights required removing or bypassing the fluorescent ballast. Now, many LED tube lights are designed to be compatible with fluorescent ballasts, allowing for a simple replacement of the fluorescent tube, without re-wiring the fixture. Below, we discuss the common terms used for each of these configurations.

Commonly designed "UL Type A" - these LED tube lights are designed to be compatible with fluorescent ballasts. They are the most straightforward to implement, since it does not require rewiring the fluorescent fixture.

Disadvantages: Fluorescent ballasts can fail, requiring continued maintenance and eventual replacement or bypass of the ballast; potential issues with fluorescent ballast compatibility; lower overall electrical efficiency due to ballast.

LED tube lights that have  a "UL Type B" specification are not compatible with fluorescent ballasts. They cannot be used with the fluorescent ballast, and must be connected directly to mains electricity. The LED driver, however, is integrated into the LED tube itself.

In a single-ended configuration, only the two pins on one end of the tube are used (one pin = live; one pin = neutral), and the two pins on the other end are not electrically functional, and only used for holding the lamp in place.

For single-ended configurations, the direction in which a lamp is installed is important - incorrect configurations can lead to a lamp that does not illuminate, or a potentially hazardous fire risk. Single-ended configurations will typically have a sticker label on one end of the tube with the words "AC INPUT" or similar. Some single-ended configurations can accept power from either end.

In a double-ended configuration, the two pins on each side of the tube are the same polarity. Therefore, the lampholders on one end of the tube must be connected to [neutral], while the other must be connected to [positive].

UL Type C LED tubes are relatively uncommon, but offer the most flexibility and efficiency for a lighting system. Unlike a UL Type B LED tube, these do not have the LED driver integrated into the LED tube, and therefore requires a separate LED driver device to be connected between the LED tube and mains electricity.

Tombstones are the "sockets" or lampholders that the LED tube lights will be installed into, providing both the mechanical support as well as electrical current.

Scenario ii) is called non-shunted, while scenario iii) is called shunted. "Shunting" refers to the joining of two separate circuits into one. The result of shunting is that both tombstone contacts connect to the same electrical polarity.

In general, fluorescent fixtures that have never been altered for LED or instant-start ballasts have non-shunted tombstones, while those that have been altered for LED or instant-start ballast may have shunted tombstones.

If your LED tube light is single-ended, it is NOT compatible with shunted tombstones. This is because each of the two contacts in the tombstone must be opposite polarity for a single-ended LED tube light to work. In a shunted tombstone, however, this is not possible as there will be an internal short circuit.

If your LED tube light is double-ended, it is likely compatible with both shunted and non-shunted tombstones. The reason is that the two pins on each end of the LED tube light expect the same polarity, so whether or not they are shunted should have no influence on the final resulting circuit.

We recommend looking for LED tubes that are compatible with any of the potential electrical configurations in a fluorescent fixture - for example, Waveform Lighting"s T8 3-in-1 LED tubes.

Commonly characterized as the core photoelectric specifications, it"s also important that the emitted light qualities are similar or exceed your current fluorescent tube lighting.

Most fluorescent tube lights have a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4000K or 5000K, as they have been considered to be most suitable for retail and office environments, respectively. Many fluorescent lamp phosphor developments over the years, however, have enabled a wide range of color temperatures.

Similarly, LED tube lights are also available in a wide range of color temperatures. Generally, the color appearance will be similar between an LED tube light and fluorescent tube light with the same color temperature rating.

Luminous flux, measured in lumens, measures the total amount of light emitted from a lamp, and is the best measure to determine the brightness of a lamp.

The best way to make an apples-to-apples comparison is to compare the luminous flux value of the fluorescent lamp with the LED tube light. Generally, a 35W T8 fluorescent lamp emits about 2500 lumens.

One thing to note about LED tube lights is that they tend to direct light downward, rather than a full 360 degrees in a fluorescent lamp. Therefore, when installed in a ceiling fixture, an LED tube light may provide more useful lumens, since the light is directed downwards rather than back into the fixture as in a fluorescent lamp.

CRI measures the extent to which objects" color appear true and accurate under a light source. Most fluorescent lamps have a CRI rating of 80 or so, and the majority of LED tube lights also come in at around 80 CRI as well. 80 CRI is acceptable for most applications, but for enhanced color quality and environments where color perception is important, look for a higher CRI rating in an LED tube light.

Finally, we"ll talk a bit about the cost considerations for making an LED tube light purchase. In recent years, LED tube lights have come down in price to a level that competes with fluorescent lamps, so the purchase price of the lamps makes LED tube lights a very appealing option.

If, however, the LED tube light you selected is not a UL Type A lamp, you will incur electrical rewiring labor costs. For a large or commercial installation, these costs may be significant depending on the complexity of the rewiring necessary for the fluorescent fixture. Typically, it can take a trained electrician 15-25 minutes per 4-lamp fluorescent fixture.

If we assume it takes an hour for an electrician charging $100 per hour to complete the rewiring of 3x 4-lamp fluorescent fixtures, we can calculate a labor cost of more than $8 per lamp. You can see how labor costs quickly add to the initial costs of the project - adding to the appeal of UL Type A compatible LED tube lights.

Calculate the amount of electricity and maintenance costs that LED tube lights will save, and determine the payback period. Generally, the shorter the better!

Also, consider the warranty terms of the manufacturer. Ideally, the payback period is shorter than the warranty, as that way, you are insured against any premature product failures that jeopardize the cost savings of going with LED tube lights.

LED lighting is the latest technological lighting advancement on the market right now. LEDs offer a variety of outstanding benefits because they operate differently than traditional fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. Compared to the traditional forms of lighting, LEDs are not only more durable, but they also have a prolonged lifespan and use only a fraction of the amount of energy that other light bulbs on the market use.

LED’s last up to 80% longer than standard light bulbs, illuminating a space for up to 30,000- 50,000 hours. Similarly, LED bulbs only use a fraction of the electricity that other bulbs do, converting most of the electricity they use into light, wasting only a small amount as heat.

LED lighting is growing in popularity because of the environmental and money-saving benefits it offers. LED lighting will not have to be replaced often because of their long lifespan, saving customer money while also not creating waste. Additionally, LED bulbs will cut electricity bills down significantly because of the small amount of electricity they use. Because of these benefits, LED lighting is growing in popularity worldwide.

As more and more people are making the switch from fluorescent lighting to LED lighting, there are a number of questions that begin to arise. Here is a guide to some of the most common questions customers have when it comes to converting fluorescent lighting into LED lighting.

Usually. Almost all lighting fixtures can house LED bulbs. To confirm that LED bulbs can be housed in a fluorescent lighting fixture, look for LED bulbs that are “ballast compatible,” this means that they can work with the ballasts that are already installed in your current lighting fixture. Or, you can perform a ballast bypass conversion by using a retrofit kit such as the Magnilumen kit, which can be installed in as quickly as 15 minutes.

Compared to incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent lighting, LED lighting is the best choice. Not only are LED lights going to save energy and money, but they are also brighter. Below are comparisons between standard forms of light and LED light.

“T” refers to tubular when referring to fluorescent lighting, and the number that follows is the diameter of the lamp in an eighth of an inch. The most popular size of fluorescent lighting is T8, meaning the tube is eight-eighths of an inch or one inch. Other sizes of fluorescent lighting tubes include T5 and T12; these are most common in older lighting fixtures.

The same measurement applies to LED lighting when it comes to the diameter of the tube; however, T8 LEDs do not produce UV/IR light the way that T8 fluorescent light does. LED T8 lights can be housed in lighting fixtures that accommodate T8 fluorescent bulbs, as their size is the same. The only differences are in the light produced.  LED T8 bulbs convert more electricity into light, acting as a more cost and energy-efficient form of lighting than T8 fluorescent lighting.

Converting from fluorescent lighting to LED lighting can be a confusing process, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, converting fluorescent lighting to LED light can be simple, especially when using a Magnilumen Magnetic Retrofit Kit. There are several options that are available when it comes to converting fluorescent lighting to LED Lighting, here the quickest and easiest options available:

Switching out an entire lighting fixture is an option when making the switch from fluorescent lighting to LED. Almost all-new lighting fixtures on the market today are capable of housing LED bulbs, or you can choose a lighting fixture that is specifically designed to house an LED bulb. However, switching out an entire lighting fixture can become costly. Though purchasing a new troffer isn’t terribly expensive, paying for the labor to have it installed can get pricey; this is especially true if you are replacing the lighting in an entire building.

If your lighting fixtures are in good shape and don’t need to be replaced any time soon, it’s worth your while to consider simply modifying your existing lighting fixture with a retrofit kit.

Modifying an already existing lighting fixture is more affordable than replacing an entire lighting fixture to install LED bulbs. There are various methods for converting fluorescent lighting fixtures into LED ones. However, the simplest way is to use some sort of retrofit kit. These kits attach to already existing lighting fixtures and allow for LED bulbs to be housed in them. There are a variety of these kinds of LED retrofit kits available, a recommended choice being ZLEDLighting’s Magnilumen Retrofit Kit, which allows a fluorescent lighting fixture to be converted into an LED fixture in about 15 minutes.

When modifying an existing lighting fixture to house LED bulbs, a common problem that people often run into is that LED bulbs use non-shunted sockets, fluorescent lighting fixtures have either non-shunted or shunted.

Shunted sockets receive voltage through one set of wires and send it to both contacts. Non-shunted sockets, on the other hand, receive energy separately. Usually, older T12 fluorescent lighting fixtures feature non-shunted sockets, while T8 and T5 fixtures use shunted sockets (except for those that feature dimming ballasts or employ rapid start).

If a fluorescent fixture that you are trying to convert features a shunted socket, modifying your existing lighting fixture can be challenging and may require an entirely new lighting fixture. However, Magnilumen retrofit kits take care of this issue, allowing you to keep your lighting fixture. Magnilumen retrofit kits are a magnetic and quick connecting retrofit system that can attach to any lighting fixture.

Ballast Bypass Conversion very literally means that the lighting fixture must be rewired to bypass the ballast. The significant advantage of this is that an individual will not have to replace the ballast when converting his or her fluorescent lighting fixture into an LED one.  Magnilumen products do this, cutting down the time it takes to modify an existing lighting fixture, also saving customers money; this is particularly beneficial for extensive commercial lighting renovations and remodels.

Ballast bypass conversions are typically easy to perform; however, one common challenge that comes along with ballast bypass conversions is the one-end vs. two-end tubes. With a single-end bulb, both the live and neutral wiring will go right to the sockets at one end of the fixture, leaving the sockets at the other end unwire.

Magnilumen Magnetic Retrofit Kits are a great solution to modifying an already existing lighting fixture because of the little effort that requires the installation and the vast benefits that they provide. All Magnilumen products are magnetic, allowing for quick and easy connect mounting to any lighting fixture. Magnilumen products reduce power usage by about 50% and can last for up to 100,000 hours. Magnilumen retrofit kits also can be installed in about 15 minutes. Below is a featured image of one of the recent projects that ZLED completed, installing a Magnilumen system, allowing for the use of LED lighting in a fluorescent lighting fixture.

When replacing fluorescent lighting with an LED retrofit kit, there are a number of different kinds and designs of kits that can be applied to existing lighting fixtures. The kind of retrofit kit an individual needs is dependent on the location of the fluorescent light that is being replaced.

There is a vast amount of fluorescent to LED conversion kits on the market. LED conversion kits come in many different styles and sizes so that lighting fixtures can house an LED bulb. These conversion kits can get costly, especially once the cost of an electrician is factored into the price.

On average, an electrician charges $50-$100 an hour. Once the value of the electrician is added to the value of the LED conversion kit and LED bulb, the cost can be a bit high with an all-around amount of about $160-$506. However, choosing a Mangliumen Retrofit Kit is an affordable option because of the lack of labor it takes to install.

There are various sizes and designs of retrofit kits available, to ensure almost any fluorescent lighting fixture can be converted into an LED one; however, the most common fluorescent light bulb size is 4ft. Converting a 4ft Fluorescent light can be especially easy when using a Magnilumen retrofit kit; there are 7 easy steps:

Converting from fluorescent lighting to LED lighting has never been easier and as affordable. To learn more about our fluorescent tube retrofit kits, click here. They are available for four-foot fixtures as well as two-, three-, and five-foot fixtures. We also offer retrofit kits for several other types of fixtures, which can be found in our Products menu.

While it sounds like a promising idea, it turns out that the long-lasting, swirl-shaped light bulbs known as compact fluorescent lamps are to the nation’s energy problem what vegetables are to its obesity epidemic: a near perfect answer, if only Americans could be persuaded to swallow them.

For all its power in retailing, though, Wal-Mart is meeting plenty of resistance — from light-bulb makers, competitors and consumers. To help turn the tide, it is even reaching out to unlikely partners like Google, Home Depot and Hollywood.

A compact fluorescent has clear advantages over the widely used incandescent light — it uses 75 percent less electricity, lasts 10 times longer, produces 450 pounds fewer greenhouse gases from power plants and saves consumers $30 over the life of each bulb. But it is eight times as expensive as a traditional bulb, gives off a harsher light and has a peculiar appearance.

Which is what makes Wal-Mart’s goal so wildly ambitious. If it succeeds in selling 100 million compact fluorescent bulbs a year by 2008, total sales of the bulbs in the United States would increase by 50 percent, saving Americans $3 billion in electricity costs and avoiding the need to build additional power plants for the equivalent of 450,000 new homes.

That would send shockwaves — some intended, others not — across the lighting industry. Because compact fluorescent bulbs last up to eight years, giant manufacturers, like General Electric and Osram Sylvania, would sell far fewer lights. Because the bulbs are made in Asia, some American manufacturing jobs could be lost. And because the bulbs contain mercury, there is a risk of pollution when millions of consumers throw them away.

During an extraordinary meeting in Las Vegas in early October, competing bulb makers, academics, environmentalists and government officials met to ponder, at times uncomfortably, how Wal-Mart could sell more of the fluorescent lights.

The proposals discussed at what Wal-Mart dubbed the “light bulb summit” ranged from the practical (advertise the bulbs on the back of a Coke 12-pack) to the quixotic (create a tax on incandescent bulbs to make them more expensive).

Selling 100 million bulbs “is not a slam dunk by any stretch of the imagination,” Stephen Goldmacher, an executive at Royal Philips, the Dutch company that is one of the world’s largest light-bulb makers, told the group. “If this were easy, it would have happened already.”

The attendees did not need to look far for evidence. Wal-Mart had asked the owners of the Mirage Hotel and Casino, where the conference was held, to commit to using the energy saving bulbs in its guest rooms in time for the meeting. The hotel politely declined.

It is not alone. Compact fluorescent bulbs, introduced in the United States with much fanfare in 1979 by Philips just as the nation’s second energy crisis of the decade was getting under way, have never captured the public imagination.

The new bulbs — lighted by sparking an efficient chemical reaction, rather than heating a metal filament — were ungainly, took several seconds to light up and often did not fit into traditional light fixtures.

And it would have stayed that way unless Wal-Mart decided to go green. More than a year ago, Mr. Scott, the company’s chief executive, began reaching out to some environmental groups, telling them that Wal-Mart, long regarded as an environmental offender, wanted to become a leader on issues like fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. Scott viewed such a move as a way to use Wal-Mart’s influence to improve the environment, cut costs and, of course, burnish the company’s bruised image. In September 2005, Mr. Scott and Andy Ruben, Wal-Mart’s vice president for strategy and sustainability, drove 6,000 feet to the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire with Steve Hamburg, an environmental studies professor at Brown University, and Fred Krupp, the president of the advocacy group Environmental Defense.

“You need to look at what is being sold on the shelf,” Mr. Hamburg recalled telling Mr. Scott over a dinner of turkey and mashed potatoes. He began talking excitedly about compact fluorescent bulbs. “Very few products,” he said, “are such a clear winner” for consumers and the environment.

Soon after returning from the trip, Wal-Mart publicly embraced the bulbs with the zealotry of a convert. In meetings with suppliers, buyers for the chain laid out their plans: lower prices, expanding the shelf space dedicated to them and heavily promoting the technology.

Light-bulb manufacturers, who sell millions of incandescent lights at Wal-Mart, immediately expressed reservations. In a December 2005 meeting with executives from General Electric, Wal-Mart’s largest bulb supplier, “the message from G.E. was, ‘Don’t go too fast. We have all these plants that produce traditional bulbs,’ ” said one person involved with the issue, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of an agreement not to speak publicly about the negotiations.

Philips, despite protests from packaging designers, agreed to change the name of its compact fluorescent bulbs from“Marathon”to “energy saver.” To keep up with swelling orders from the chain, Osram Sylvania took to flying entire planeloads of compact fluorescent bulbs from Asia to the United States.

At the same time that it pressured suppliers, Wal-Mart began testing ways to better market the bulbs. In the past, Wal-Mart had sold them on the bottom shelf of the lighting aisle, so that shoppers had to bend down. In tests that started in February, it gave the lights prime real estate at eye level. Sales soared.

To show customers how versatile the bulbs could be, Wal-Mart began displaying them inside the lamps and hanging fans for sale in its stores. Sales nudged up further.

To explain the benefits of the energy-efficient bulbs, the retailer placed an education display case at the end of the aisle, where it occupied four feet of valuable selling space — an extravagance at Wal-Mart. Sales climbed even higher.

One proposal, headed by Lawrence Bender, who produced Al Gore’s 2006 documentary,“An Inconvenient Truth,”is to create a Web site that would track sales of compact fluorescent bulbs at major retailers like Walgreen’s and Target. The result would be a real-time map, with data collected by a third party, showing how much Americans have saved by using the energy-efficient bulbs.

But Home Depot and Lowe’s balked at the idea of cooperating with their larger rival. “We don’t think we need an organization like that to sell more CFLs,” said Ron Jarvis, the vice president of environmental innovation at Home Depot, using the bulb’s industry nickname.

Then there is the mercury inside the bulbs, a problem Wal-Mart is working with the federal government and environmental groups to resolve, possibly by collecting the bulbs at its stores or off-site locations for recycling.

Helen Capone encapsulates the challenge. Ms. Capone, 68, said she “curses the energy company every month” because of her electricity bill and loves the five-year-old, trouble-free compact fluorescent bulb in her attic. But she won’t switch to the energy-saving bulbs in the rest of her