Frequently Asked Questions

The light source of an LED luminaire does not fail abruptly like it does in an incandescent lamp. Instead, over an extended period, the LEDs undergo a gradual decline in their lumen output, also known as lumen depreciation.

This long-term decline can be measured and tested, but to the standard observer, the resulting decrease in brightness is undetectable. 

Switch Lighting LED luminaires are true ‘Fit and Forget’ devices. In most installations they will last decades before requiring replacement.

Compared to incandescent lights, LED luminaires reduce power consumption by well over 80%. Whilst in New Zealand 85% of our electricity is generated from renewable sources, the installation of power saving LED Lighting will assist the country to reduce the country's remaining reliance on fossil fuels. 

Simply put:

• Savings through energy efficiency
• Plus: Fit and Forget installations
• Equals: Lowest cost of ownership over lifetime

The driver of an LED luminaire ensures the LED(s) are supplied with the correct current/voltage to operate them within their rated/safe power range. 

Switch Lighting offers a diverse range of our own drivers, from compact units integrated into the luminaire to larger, stand-alone devices designed to power our down-lights. A selection of our drivers incorporate the functionality required for simple dimming, sunset dimming or colour/brightness tuning.

Picture a space where you have the ability to seamlessly transition from bright white illumination to warm, inviting mood lighting. Sunset Dimming is an ideal choice for rooms where establishing a calming atmosphere is key.

As you gradually lower the brightness, the light's hue mimics that of the sun setting, and the glow becomes increasingly warm and gentle. This facilitates the occupants to follow their natural circadian rhythm paving the way for a restful sleep.

Sunset Dimming can be specified for the ZELA, D-LIGHTZ and E-LIGHTZ collections of down-lights.

The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is a numerical scale, ranging from 0 to 100, that gauges a light source's ability to accurately reveal an object's colours compared to a natural light source, such as sunlight.

Higher CRI values indicate better colour rendering, allowing the human eye to perceive colours more accurately and vividly. Today a quality LED luminaire should be rated at a minimum of 90 CRI.

Not necessarily, the Watt rating of a luminaire solely relates to its power consumption.

The power consumption (in Watts) does not relate to the brightness or Lumen output of the luminaire.

A quality luminaire should be specified with a number of attributes such as:

• Voltage range (Volt)
• Power consumption (Watt)
• Brightness (Lumens)
• Colour Rendering index (CRI)
• Dimmable or non-dimmable
• Colour hue (degrees Kelvin)

Efficacy refers to the assessment of a lighting device's efficiency in terms of its performance.

It is calculated as the ratio of Lumens emitted per Watt of power used, which is expressed as Lumens per Watt. A greater efficacy value signifies a more energy-efficient lighting product, as it produces more light output whilst converting less of the input energy to heat.

The dimming of a luminaire refers to the functionality of decreasing its light output or brightness. The dimming feature allows users to control the amount of light emitted, pursue energy saving, or using Switch Lighting luminaires which incorporate Sunset Dimming to adjust the ambience to personal preferences.

Tunable White technology refers to the ability to adjust or change the colour of emitted light from an LED luminaire. It enables customisation of the lighting environment by changing the colour temperature or hue, providing personalised lighting experiences for different surroundings and preferences.

The term L70 refers to a metric used for evaluating the performance and lifespan of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights. It indicates the point at which the LED's light output has decreased to 70% of its initial output. In other words, when an LED unit reaches L70, it means it has lost 30% of its brightness since its installation. This measure is important because it helps to assess the longevity and degradation of an LED light over time.

LED flicker is a rapid, continuous variation in the intensity or brightness of light emitted by an LED (Light Emitting Diode). This fluctuation can occur due to several factors such as power supply instability, current fluctuations, or limitations in LED driver technology.

This flicker can be noticeable or unnoticeable to the human eye, depending on the frequency at which it occurs. A high flicker rate can lead to eye strain, headache, or discomfort for some people and affect performance in tasks that require visual concentration. LED Flicker can be an extremely debilitating health hazard particularly for people with a high degree of photosensitivity.

Switch Lighting LED luminaires only utilise drivers that minimise flicker to well below what is considered safe even for highly photosensitive people by International Standards.

IP stands for "Ingress Protection." It is an industry standard used to define the level of protection that a device has against solid particles (such as dust) and liquids (such as water). IP ratings consist of two digits, where the first digit represents the level of protection against solid objects and the second digit indicates the level of protection against liquids.

When specifying, ensure you choose the appropriate minimum rating of the luminaire for your application.

Below is a list of commonly used IP ratings:

IP00
No protection against contact or ingress of objects and liquids

IP20
Protected against solid objects larger than 12.5mm, but not against liquids

IP30
Protected against solid objects larger than 2.5mm, but not against liquids

IP40
Protected against solid objects larger than 1mm, but not against liquids

IP54
Limited protection against dust ingress and protected against water spray from any direction

IP55
Limited protection against dust ingress and protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction

IP65
Dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction

IP66
Dust-tight and protected against strong streams of water or powerful water jets from any direction

IP67
Dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion in water (up to 1m for 30 minutes

IP68
Dust-tight and protected against continuous immersion in water (depth and duration as specified by the manufacturer)