Retrofit LEDs: efficiency, technology and raw materials – what consumers need to know
Anyone looking for a new LED light bulb in a DIY store or specialist retailer today is faced with an almost overwhelming choice: classic bulb shapes, matt or clear, warm white to cool white, decorative filament bulbs, dimmable or smart controllable, including colour change.
It quickly becomes apparent that, since the energy label (A – G) was updated, efficient light bulbs are almost exclusively available in energy class A. Dimmable models are usually in class D or worse. Why is this?
Are dimmable LEDs less efficient?
Every LED requires a driver that converts the mains voltage into a current suitable for the LED. Non-dimmable lamps can manage with simpler electronics and are therefore more efficient and durable. Dimmable LED lamps require additional components to regulate brightness and detect dimmers. This leads to more heat, lower efficiency and typically 10–25 per cent lower light output compared to non-dimmable lamps.
High-quality dimmable LEDs are more durable due to lower heat generation. Inferior technology in LED light sources, on the other hand, generates more heat, provides less consistent light and causes the light sources to age more quickly.
The typical service life of non-dimmable LEDs is between 40,000 and 50,000 hours, while dimmable lamps often only last 15,000 hours.
Dimmable bulbs are only worthwhile in specific situations!
Dimmable LEDs are ideal for living spaces, atmospheric lighting and smart home applications. They allow for flexible lighting moods and reduce energy consumption through dimming – even if dimming reduces the energy efficiency lumen/watt. As a result, the efficiency class often falls to classes D to F.
Non-dimmable LEDs are suitable for work areas, outdoor lighting or anywhere where maximum efficiency and service life are required.
Important purchasing information:
- Efficiency class: A – B very good, D – F typical for dimmable and/or poor-quality models
- Check dimmer compatibility ( recommended)
- CRI (Colour Rendering Index in Ra) 80 Ra. Better >90 Ra if high colour rendering close to sunlight is required
- Service life: Products with a longer service life are usually more expensive, but pay off in the long term. Example: Double the price for triple the service life.
- Prefer branded products for stable drivers and longer service life
- Since March 2023, only the A – G energy label is permitted for LED products
The technology behind the light
LED lamps consist of complex materials and many non-renewable raw materials
- LED chips: semiconductors made of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, silicon; phosphorus for white light generation
- Conductor structures: copper, silver, gold, aluminium
- Electronics: Epoxy resin circuit boards, silicon components, ferrite-based coils, tin/silver solder joints
- Plastics: polycarbonate, PBT, silicone, epoxy resins
The design varies depending on whether it is replacing classic or technical luminaires:
- Filament- LEDs: retro look, thin glass or sapphire rods with LEDs, smaller heat sinks, decorative, wide beam
- R7s LED tube lights: elongated circuit boards, aluminium heat sinks, robust for floodlights or outdoor spotlights. Lights only on one side, like their old halogen predecessors.
- GU10 LED spotlights: Compact directional light (light cone), solid aluminium housing as heat sink, optical lenses or reflectors. Spotlights are often used for object lighting. Light utilisation is therefore calculated on surfaces using LUX (amount of light per surface area), not LUMEN (amount of light from the light source).
Each design is a choice between light output, efficiency, cooling and design.
LED retrofit lamps combine modern semiconductor technology with clever use of materials. The choice between dimmable and non-dimmable depends on the location, desired lighting mood and efficiency requirements. Thanks to retrofit lamps, existing luminaires with classic sockets and replaceable light sources can continue to be used. They do not need to be replaced with new LED luminaires, in which LED technology is increasingly permanently installed. This is because such luminaires end up as electronic waste at the end of their service life, together with their technology and housing.
The complete, detailed guide with background information on materials, designs and energy efficiency can be found at Oekotopten.lu
Translated by Deepl.com