The present lighting applications include office lighting, retail space lighting, residential lighting, hospital lighting, mood lighting among others. These applications have diverse lighting requirements and can only be fulfilled by certain lighting types.
The five major lighting trends include tubular and compact fluorescents, LEDs, HIDs, and incandescent lamps. Private residences and hotels mostly go for LED and compact fluorescents.
CFLs have supplanted radiant lights because they are easy to install and also, they decrease energy expenses. Offices normally are fitted with tubular fluorescent lamps because the floor area is quite extensive.
These lighting technologies have distinctive electrical attributes, and each trend needs unique control circuitry. In this review, we will dive into the details of these lighting technology trends.
These Trends in Lighting Technology Include:
Lighting-Emitting Diode (LED) Lights
LED bulbs are an emerging lighting innovation because due to recent breakthroughs in lighting tech. LEDs have consistently been alluring light sources due to their low power consumption and extensive lifespan.
Previously LEDs had been limited to just a few hues and brightness levels. Today High-power LEDs are accessible in numerous hues; this has enabled this tech to go mainstream and be used in multi-purpose lighting applications such as mood lighting, residential lighting, hospital lighting, and even traffic lights.
LEDs are easier to operate than other light sources, but they still have their own prerequisites and problems. LEDs don’t require to be pre-heated, but the current level should always be steady for them to work correctly.
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL)
A CFL, as the name suggests, is composed of a small lamp that has been forged into a compact outline. It also has a polycarbonate mid- area with the hardware that powers the bulb and an Edison screw top from where the bulb is fitted into the socket.
The fluorescent bulb comprises a glass duct loaded with a small quantity of mercury and Argon gas. The filaments are situated at each end of the duct and, for the most part, are covered in Boron to help discharge electrons.
As the electrons stream across the duct from one filament to the next, they collide with the mercury particles. The energized mercury particles emit light, which is then transformed into visible light by the phosphorus layer inside the duct.
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights
HID lights are accessible in sodium or mercury form and are typically used as streetlights and in lighting arenas and concert halls. These lights are renowned because they are effective, and the light output is relatively high.
Sodium HDP lights are twice as efficient as typical fluorescent lamps. However, they produce light in a similar method to fluorescent bulbs where a minimal pressure mercury fume emits lots of UV light that energizes a phosphorous layer inside the duct to produce light.
Tubular Fluorescents Light (TFL)
TFLS have similar electrical attributes as CFLs, but the controls should satisfy extra performance and safety prerequisites. The main contrast between TFLs and CFLs is the extra power factor correction (PFC) circuitry.
In European countries, PFC inclusion is a must for electrical currents above 25 watts. The PFC gives a sinusoidal input charge aligned with the input current and regulated the Direct Current (DC) current constantly.
This means there is a constant flow of current so that the level of light intensity from the bulb remains constant when the bulb is on.
Halogen Lamps
Halogen lights have a tungsten fiber that is enclosed inside a crystal cover. Similar to incandescent bulb light, the electric charge makes the tungsten fiber heat up to over 2500°C. This turns the filament white, and thus it produces a brilliant white light.
Halogen bulbs use warmth to energize particles. In halogen bulbs, the cover is very close to the filament. Thus, to keep it from liquefying, the cover is produced using crystal.
Final Thought
All in all, the lighting scene is constantly changing hence all the upcoming trends that we have illustrated above. It all comes down to the quantity of light required in a space; then, it’s easy to choose which lighting is best.