Q.  Is LED or compact fluorescent more efficient?
A.  The efficiencies of LED and compact fluorescent lights are similar.  LED’s may seem more efficient because they are usually focused.  Both are at least 4 times as efficient as an incandescent and about 3 times as efficient as a halogen light.

Q.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of LED’s and compact fluorescent light bulbs?
A.  Both compact fluorescent lights and LED’s have a longer life and much better efficiency than incandescent or halogen lights.   LED lights are more expensive than compact fluorescent lights for the same wattage, but LED lights have a much longer life.   All fluorescent lights are slow to start and slow to give full brightness in the cold and if it is too cold they will not start.  If you want a light for generally lighting an area (not focused) the compact fluorescent light is the best choice.  LED lights start immediately in the cold and at full brightness.  The efficiency of an LED light increases in the cold so they are the best choice for outdoor lights in cold areas.  The LED light has no limit to ON OFF cycles so it is the best choice in bathrooms or pantries where the light may be turned on and off many times a day. 

 

Q. What is the difference in lifetime between LEDs and compact fluorescents?
A. Led’s have an average lifespan 10 times that of compact fluorescents.

Q. Why use LED lights when compact fluorescent lights are much less expensive?
A.  The life of an LED light is often 10 times that of compact fluorescent light.  Sometimes a focused LED lights is better suited to a task such as track lights in a kitchen or for reading.  LED lights are better outdoors if the outside temperature is cold.

Q. Why use 12 or 24 volt DC lamps when I have an inverter that allows me to operate 120 volt AC lamps?
A. Most inverters will not give you their stated efficiency when the load is below about 2/3 rated output. In most cases, you will be lucky to get 50% efficiency from your inverter if only operating a few lights.

Q.  Why are 12 or 24 volt DC CFLs more expensive than 120 volt AC CFLs?
A.  There is an inverter in each 12 or 24 volt DC CFL which is matched to that CFL so the efficiency is very high but the inverter makes the cost more that a 120 volt AC CFL.

Q.  Does the power consumed by the lamps change with temperature?
A.  LED lamps draw less power when cold, compact fluorescent lights change very little.

Q. Which colour lamp is best for tasks and reading and which colour is best for dining or just relaxing?
A. The daylight lamps are best for tasks and reading or where you want to be able to see true colours. The soft white are preferable where a soft warm light is needed such as dining or general relaxing. The soft white lamps are similar in colour to an incandescent lamp.

Q.  What is colour temperature?
A.  The kelvin unit is the basis of all temperature measurement, starting with 0 K equals (minus273.16° C) at the absolute zero temperature. Technically, color temperature refers to the temperature to which one would have to heat a theoretical "black body" source to produce light of the same visual color.

Some typical color temperatures are: 

1500 K - Candlelight

2680 K - 40W Incandescent Lamp

3000 K - 200W Incandescent Lamp

3200 K - Sunrise/Sunset

3400 K – Tungsten Lamp

3400 K – 1 hour before dusk

5000 K – Xenon Lamp/light arc

5500 K – Electronic photo flash

7000 K – Sunny Daylight