LED + SSL

The U.S. Department of Energy has completed Series 20 of testing through the DOE Solid-State Lighting CALiPER program, available here. Report 20 evaluates the independently tested photometric performance of 38 LED PAR38 lamps, with results showing significant improvement versus earlier CALiPER testing of similar products. All of the LED PAR38 lamps tested offer substantial energy [...]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released Draft 3 of the ENERGY STAR Lamps V1.0 specification for review and comment. This specification is intended to replace the existing Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Integral LED Lamps specifications, as well as the certification requirements for GU24-based fluorescent lamps previously detailed in the Residential Light Fixtures specification. [...]

The 2013 Next Generation Luminaires Solid-State Lighting Indoor Design Competition has officially launched. Written Intents to Submit are due by January 18, 2013, and must be submitted online at www.ngldc.org. Physical product entries are due by February 8, 2013. Judging takes place in late February 2013, and results will be announced at LEDucation 7 in [...]

The U.S. Department of Energy has completed Series 17 of testing through the DOE Solid-State Lighting CALiPER program. A summary of the results is now available for download on the DOE SSL website here. Report 17 analyzes the performance of a group of six LED products labeled as AR111 lamps, a niche product. Results indicate [...]

More on OLEDs … Jeannine Fisher and Mike Lu of Acuity Brands’ OLED Lighting Design Center presented, “A Guided Tour of SSL Area Light Sources – Past, Present and Future” at LIGHTFAIR 2012. The presentation covers various technologies, including OLED, and clearly explains the merits and metrics of each with an informative visual presentation. Beyond [...]

Lighting designer Stephen Blackman, principal of Blackman Design Associates, has authored a whitepaper, “Are OLED Panels Ready for Prime Time?” It begins: “Right now we see many custom architectural OLED fixtures with high numbers of low brightness panels in exciting and sculptural forms at trade shows, in design magazine spreads and artistic installations as architectural [...]

The U.S. Department of Energy has completed Series 18 of testing through the DOE Solid-State Lighting CALiPER program. A summary of the results is now available for download on the DOE SSL website here. Report 18 analyzes the performance of 17 LED recessed wallwasher luminaires. The products tested were diverse in luminous intensity distribution and [...]

Mike Donovan of Edge Lighting describes AC versus dimming in the context of LED lighting and control in this humorous “monthly minute” video:

Below is an article I wrote about Zhaga, originally published in the October 2012 issue of TED: In a traditional light fixture, lamps, auxiliary components such as ballasts, and the fixture itself connect using standard interfaces, providing three key benefits. Manufacturers can specialize in what they do best—lamp, ballast/transformer or fixture design, facilitating product development. [...]