Tag Archives: Back to Basics

Back to Basics: Powering LEDs

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Backlit handrail on a blue wall. The light dims on and off.

In our previous Back to Basics blog posts, we’ve explored aspects of LED lighting, delving into light quality, color temperature, and Color Rendering Index. Today, we embark on a crucial journey that bridges the gap between LED selections and their functionality: powering LEDs.

LEDs are energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and offer an incredible array of lighting options. However, without a proper understanding of the power sources required for different LED strips, customers might find themselves lost in a sea of options. We are here to shed light on this vital topic, helping you make informed decisions for your lighting needs.

120V AC Driverless LED Strips

Let’s start with the simplest option, 120V AC Driverless LED Strips. These strips are a marvel of simplicity as they can be directly plugged into any standard electrical outlet and are IP65 waterproof. The convenience they offer is unmatched, making them an excellent choice for quick installations, outdoor accent, or temporary lighting solutions. With no need for a transformer or dimmer, these driverless LED strips are ready to brighten up your space right out of the box.

24V DC LED Strips and Transformers

With our standard and most popular 24V DC LED Strips, we encounter a slightly more complex setup. These strips require a transformer to convert 120V AC voltage to the 24V DC power needed to operate. Although this may sound like an additional step, it brings several benefits to the table including increased safety and lower power consumption

Electronic Transformers vs. Magnetic Low Voltage (MLV) Dimmers

When it comes to dimming your LED strips, you have two primary options: electronic transformers and Magnetic Low Voltage (MLV) dimmers.

  • Electronic Transformers: These transformers are compatible with our dimmer/controllers sets, which allow you expert control of your LED strips. However, there’s an important consideration with electronic transformers—they require a 15% buffer on the total voltage used. This means if you are using a 72W LED strip, you’ll need our 96W transformer to accommodate the buffer. This prevents overloading the transformer and ensures smooth dimming functionality.
  • Magnetic Low Voltage (MLV) Dimmers: On the other hand, MLV dimmers offer a more user-friendly approach. Compatible with a variety of wall switches, these dimmers allow you to adjust the brightness of your LED strips just like any other light in your household. Unlike electronic transformers, you can fully load these dimmers to their maximum voltage without any complications.

Solid Apollo’s Wall Dimmer and Driver

At Solid Apollo, we always strive to provide innovative solutions to our customers. Our Wall Dimmer and Driver is an all-in-one transformer and dimmer that conveniently fits into a standard gang box. This powerful device can handle up to 100W of 24V DC LED strips, making it a versatile choice for both residential and commercial applications. With the Wall Dimmer and Driver, you get the best of both worlds – the simplicity of a direct plug-in and the flexibility of dimming control.

In summary, powering LEDs is a fundamental step that significantly impacts performance and versatility. Understanding the differences between 120V AC Driverless LED Strips, 24V DC LED Strips, and dimming options allows you to make an informed decision based on your specific needs.

There’s no need to fear powering your setup. At Solid Apollo, we are committed to providing high-quality LED lighting solutions and service and are here to help you plan, supply, and troubleshoot your project. If you’re ready to take your lighting game to the next level, explore our wide range of LED products and illuminate your world with brilliance and efficiency.

Back to Basics: Color Rendering Index

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In our last Back to Basics blog we covered Correlated Color Temperature or CCT. We touched on the importance of selecting the correct CCT for various applications, from ambient lighting to task lighting, in homes, offices, and commercial spaces. However, not all LED strip lights are created equal in terms of color quality, which can affect the way we perceive colors and objects in the environment.

Color rendering is the ability of a light source to accurately and vividly reproduce colors, as perceived by the human eye. It is measured by the Color Rendering Index (CRI), which is a numerical scale from 0 to 100 that indicates how well a light source renders colors compared to a reference source such as sunlight. The higher the CRI, the better the color rendering ability of the light source.

High CRI lights are particularly important in business applications, where color accuracy and consistency are critical for visual aesthetics, product displays, and customer satisfaction. For instance, in retail stores, restaurants, art galleries, and museums, the lighting can significantly influence the way customers perceive the products and artworks on display. Poor color rendering can make the products or artworks look dull, distorted, or unappealing, leading to lower sales and reduced customer satisfaction.

Here at Solid Apollo we offer ULTRA High CRI LED strip lights that have exceptional color rendering properties. Our ULTRA High CRI lights have CRI ratings from 95 to 97, which means they can reproduce colors with high accuracy and fidelity, as seen in natural sunlight. Moreover, they have high ratings for R9 and R12, which are two crucial color rendering indices for red and blue tones, respectively.

Image of a shelf with colorful markers appearing dull due to low CRI. A caption on the bottom reads "Standard LED strips." Image of a shelf with colorful markers appearing vivid due to ULTRA High CRI. A caption on the bottom reads "ULTRA High CRI LED strips."

Take a look at the two images above simulating how objects in a retail store may appear under standard lighting like florescent tubes vs our ULTRA High CRI LED strips. Notice how the colors are richer under high CRI lighting, especially reds and blues referenced by R9 and R12.

R9 is a measure of how well a light source renders deep red colors, which are important for accentuating and enhancing warm colors in fabrics, flowers, and other objects. Solid Apollo’s ULTRA High CRI lights have R9 ratings up to 97, which is among the highest in the industry, indicating that they can produce deep red colors with exceptional accuracy and saturation.

R12 measures how well a light source renders blue hues. The high R12 rating of Solid Apollo’s lights means that they can accurately render blue hues, which are important for various applications such as medical procedures and clothing or retail stores, where accurate blue hues are critical. Solid Apollo’s ULTRA High CRI LED strip lights have R12 ratings up to 95 which is again among the highest in the industry.

Color rendering is an important factor to consider when choosing LED strip lights for business applications, where visual aesthetics and customer satisfaction are critical. Solid Apollo’s ULTRA High CRI LED strip lights offer exceptional color rendering properties, with high ratings for R9 and R12, making them an ideal choice for retail, hospitality, and other commercial spaces where color accuracy and consistency are paramount.

Back To Basics: Correlated Color Temperature

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This spring as we think about refreshing our spaces and bringing in upgrades like new LED, it’s important for us to take a moment and get back to basics. Let’s review the importance of color temperature in LED lighting, especially in spaces designed for commerce.

As LED lighting becomes more prevalent in retail environments, it’s important to understand the impact of correlated color temperature (CCT) on customers. CCT is a measure of the warmth or coolness of a light source, measured in Kelvin (K), with lower temperatures indicating warmer, reddish light and higher temperatures indicating cooler, bluish light. Understanding CCT and its effects on customers can help retailers create more effective and appealing environments. Take a look at the color temperatures we offer at Solid Apollo on the chart below.

A chart showing the range of LED light temperatures Solid Apollo sells. From left to right, 2400K, 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K, 5000K, and 6000K.

One of the most significant effects of CCT is its impact on mood and perception. Warmer, reddish light (CCT below 3000K) is often associated with comfort, relaxation, and intimacy, while cooler, bluish light (CCT above 5000K) is often associated with alertness, focus, and productivity. This means that retailers can use CCT to create specific moods and experiences in their stores.

For example, a high-end clothing retailer might use warm, reddish light to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere that encourages customers to browse and try on clothes. Conversely, a grocery store might use cooler, bluish light to create a bright, energizing environment that keeps customers alert and engaged as they shop.

CCT can also affect how customers perceive the colors of products in a store. Different CCTs can make colors appear warmer or cooler, which can impact how customers perceive the quality and desirability of those products. For example, a jewelry store might use a cool, bluish light to enhance the sparkle of silver, diamonds, and other gemstones, while a bakery might use warm, reddish light to make its products look more appetizing.

Overall, the importance of CCT in retail lighting cannot be overstated. By understanding the impact of CCT on mood, perception, and color, retailers can create more effective and appealing environments that attract and engage customers. Solid Apollo LED’s products offer a range of CCT options to help retailers achieve their desired lighting effects and create the perfect atmosphere for their stores. Take a look at our LED light strip selection, organized by CCT.

When you’re ready to invigorate your space, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 425.582.7533. We can’t wait to help you light up your way to success!