LED High Bays Explained
What to Consider when Sourcing LED High Bays?
Smithie LED has been marketing LED High Bays into the UK wholesale market since 2011. Since then, we estimate that over 6,000 of our MEGE High bays have been installed and continue to light up commercial areas across the UK. With LED being a relevantly new technology, we thought it would be a good idea to assist anyone who is looking to source LED High Bay lighting for commercial projects.
What are the wattage levels for Commercial High Bays?
The previous average wattage for incandescent high bays was 400w (metal halide lights) used for commercial and industrial purposes. These days you should anticipate 150w to 250w but there are many other factors to consider.
What amount of light is produced by commercial/Industrial LED High Bays?
When it comes to LED High Bays, the lumen output is measured by the amount of light produced per square meter. It’s calculated as a WATT x LM/WATT. Low value LED lights will emit 100Lm/w and therefore a 160w High Bay will provide 16,000 lumens (160w x 100Lm/w). Higher quality LED High Bays such as our MEGE Linears will emit 20,800 lumens (160w x 130Lm/w) resulting in 30% more brightness for the same energy cost.
How Bright are LED High Bays?
When it comes to LED lighting, the level of Lux is used to measure the brightness. Most industrial and warehouses will aim for a brightness level of around 200 Lux. Shops and Retail type premises with general public will require stronger levels of between 300 and 600 lux. We recommend that you source 3D Relux modeling of your premises to simulate the technical specification required which Smithie LED will do for FREE.
What Colour Temperature is best for Commercial and Industrial environments?
Color temperature is a way to describe the light appearance provided by a light bulb (lamp). It is measured in degrees of Kelvin (K) on a scale from 1,000 to 10,000. Typically, commercial and residential lighting application Kelvin temperatures fall somewhere on a scale from 2000K to 6500K. The color temperature of a light bulb (lamp) is assigned using the basis of correlated color temperature (CCT)
5000k is a very white light and is often also referred to as daylight as it simulates the light colour you would get from the mid day the sun, this is the ideal colour temperature for industrial, warehouse and supermarket space, whilst 3000k is a warmer yellow tone and is ideal to create a warmer ambience in restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops.
Want to know the science behind the Kelvin Temperature scale?
If you heat up a metal object, the object appears to glow. Depending on the Kelvin temperature that the metal object is being heated at, the glow will be various colors, such as orange, yellow or blue. The color temperature of light bulbs (lamps) is meant to replicate the Kelvin temperature of the metal object.
Why should I be considering beam angles?
LED light fittings can have either a narrow beam angle (which directs a lot of light in a narrow beam and thereby has a further reach). Or it can have a wide beam angle which directs the same amount of light in all direction (imagine flood lights), but delivering a lower total of lux. When it comes to LED lights, the beam angles are changed, using different reflectors or adding different lenses.
Why does the driver play an important role when selecting LED High Bays?
When it comes to choosing LED High bays always make sure the ones you select come installed with a well recognised and well-established brand, this will give you peace of mind when it comes to quality and reliability. For example an inferior driver will maybe last only two 2 years. Whereas a high quality driver from companies like Meanwell (Taiwan) or Phillips (EU) will include a 5-year warranty and you could anticipate them lasting up to 10 years.
The driver brand is the most important determent of the life expectancy of the led fitting. A poor driver will last only 2 years, whereas a high quality driver from companies like Meanwell (Taiwan) or Phillips (EU) have 5 years warranty and can last up to 10 years. Our MEGE High bays come with Meanwell drivers.
