What is LED Lighting

LED Lighting (Light Emitting Diode) is an electronic source of light and one of the most efficient light sources in the world. Normal Incandescent globes produce around 95% heat & 5% light, Halogen globes produce 75% heat & 25% light.  In LED globes those proportions are reversed, Giving the maximum light for the least heat.
The Coolmax brand is at the forefront of light output & quality, exceeding most other brands of LED lighting by far.
When choosing Coolmax globes it is wise to remember several things.
1. Base type
2. Dimming ability
3. Light Colour
4. Beam width
The MR 16 base is 12 volt ac and is dimmable with a suitable transformer or driver throughout the Coolmax range.The GU 10 is a 240 volt base and does not use a transformer and is not dimmable,although the Coolmax 6 watt GU 10 is dimmable.

 Lighting Colour, The Shades of White

In the past Designers, Architects & Specifiers were about the only people to dictate lighting colour.
With the Coolmax range now everybody can give their Home or Showroom the best lighting colour to suit the function or decor.
The colour of light at midday is about 6500k, as evening falls the colour drops to about 3000k.Over the eons the human body has learnt to adapt to these changes. Generally speaking , as the colour number lowers, the body naturally relaxes. So, we tend to use 6500k in offices, 4000k in Shops and 3000k in relaxing rooms, ie; lounge or bedroom.
It is a brave lighting designer to try to alter the course of human biology.
The Coolmax colour range is:
2700k Warm White                  Bedrooms
3000k Domestic White           Reading room, Lounge room, Dining room, Hallways
4000k Commercial White      Cafe's, Shops, Showrooms, Restaurants
6500k Display White               Jewelry Case Display, Product  Display areas.

Beam Width and Light Spacing

If you are replacing existing halogen downlights, then spacing cannot be changed and a beam width of 45 degrees is acceptable, although, a 60 degree beam will give a better light spread on most 2400mm ceilings. If you are installing from new, the rule of thumb dictates that on a taller ceiling you use a narrower beam, (30 or 45 degrees) and on a lower ceiling or bulkhead use a wider beam. (60 or 120 degrees) The beam should cross at about 1100mm above floor level, for even light distribution.

On a globe with a 45 degree beam this would mean an optimum spacing of 1200mm, with 60 degrees beam this becomes a wider spacing. However, lighting is a tremendously personal thing and many interesting lighting effects are achieved by not following set rules.

  Simple Do's and Dont's

Halogen versus LED brightness

Transformers and Drivers for MR 16 Globes

If you are using GU 10 based 240 volt globes then you have no worries. However if you are using MR 16 based globes or need a dimming function, you will be using a Transformer or Driver to power your lights.

Many electronic halogen transformers will not work successfully with LED globes. It is critically important to use the correct transformer/driver with MR 16 based LED globes.
The brightness, smoothness of light output and life of the LED globe is dependent on the transformer or driver you use. Generally speaking wire wound transformers will successfully run most LED globes, but, they are not tuned to give the utmost in performance or globe life.

Be aware that many cheaper electronic transformers used to power halogen globes will not run LED globes at all, or will run them with a noticeable flickering.
Many electronic transformers have a "VA" rating or a  load rating "20- 60" stamped on them. If this is the case they will not recognize a load of only 4, 6 or 9 watts.

Coolmax LED globes draw so little power that the electronic transformers do not see them as a load and the transformer will not turn on.

 Effective dimming of an LED globe has been an elusive goal for many. When dealing with a broad use retrofit globe this task doesn't get easier. Trying to make a globe dim smoothly when it could be connected to the myriad of dimming controllers & the hundreds of transformers that are installed is not possible.

Most of the worlds  major globe & lighting manufacturers have gone down the path of an integrated driver & matching LED globe bundled together & sold as one unit., which will work on a published list of dimmers.This way they are controlling as many of the variables as possible.

We have achieved a very respectable level of dimming on our MR16 Coolmax globes & with our Coolmax  6 watt GU10 globes.When coupled with a wire wound transformer all our MR16 globes will dim reasonably smoothly. The level of dimming will depend on the dimmer control. With the Clipsal or HPM dimmer you can expect dimming to about 20%. When using the Coolmax Dimming Driver with the Coolmax dimmer, you can get to 5%.The Coolmax 6 watt GU 10 globes will dim with the  Clipsal dimmer to about 20%.

Our experience is that if you need the best dimming function, use an Integrated or High Performance downlight. 

LED lighting will save you money.

This is a fact.
You will save money in three ways.

Firstly, you will save money on replacement costs, due to the LED globes long life.
Secondly, you will save money on running costs, due to the small amount of electricity they use.
Thirdly, Halogens use 75% of there power producing heat, Coolmax globes, only 15%, You won't need as much Air conditioning power.

To demonstrate this I have drawn up an example for a Home running 10 globes for 5 hours per day.
Not counting the power saved on airconditioning running costs
The savings shown are made over an LED globes lifetime

For a Café, Restaurant, Shop or Showroom these savings should easily double.
One 9 watt Coolmax Commercial (30,000 + hour life) globe will outlast over seven 50 watt Sylvania Superia

(4000 hour life) Halogen globes.
Both these globes are the best of their type.

This example shows a saving in a normal home, both on purchase and on running costs over a 30,000 + hour life span of $2876.23 at present electricity prices (2009, Globes are rated at 50,000 hrs, Estimated Savings are on more conservative figures)

The savings achievable for a Shop, Cafe, Restaurant or Showroom should easily double this figure.

As Electricity prices rise and we gain an Emissions Trading Scheme this saving will increase dramatically.

Ecosparks  Warranty

All products on the Ecosparks webshop have a full 12 months replacement warranty. If any of our product fails within 12 months, just send it back to us & we will replace it immediately. The High Performance Integrated fittings and the Outdoor fittings have a 2 year warranty.

We make every effort to ensure the products you buy are fit for the uses intended and they are of the highest quality.
An autopsy is performed on any failed products to improve future models.

 Further Information

For more information or clarification you may look to our YouTube site www.youtube.com/user/ecosparks for practical information and usage of our products. If you still have questions please send us an email from our "Contact Us"  page. We will answer you accurately and promptly.

If you include your phone number and contact times (Australian Eastern Standard) we will ring you back with the answers .

You may buy cheaper LED globes, but you will not get the quality and light output, for the price we offer.