Switch to LEDs has lightened load for Champaign's traffic and lighting workers

Like many homeowners, the city of Champaign doesn't have to spend as much time changing light bulbs as it used to. Champaign's traffic lights have gradually been moving toward LED lights, said Kris Koester, spokesman for the public works department. "Since switching to LED lights a few years ago, there are less occurrences of lights being completely out," he said. And the lights mostly run by themselves according to schedules pre-programmed into the electrical cabinet at most intersections.

10 best USB LED lamps for laptops

The tough part of working with laptops at night, or in a dark room is that the keyboard isn’t exactly visible. Even more, we might not be able to check the touchpad and mouse. Switching ON the tube light might not be feasible in many situations. This is where USB LED lamps custom designed for laptops are of use. They are basically small USB light, which when attached with the USB port of the laptop illuminate the keyboard and surrounding area, thus making work easier.

Connected light bulbs give off more than just light

Turning on a smart light bulb may be the latest way people inadvertently flood the internet with their personal information. A new Symantec report has revealed that some of these connected, Wi-Fi-enabled IoT devices are unsecure and can enable a hacker to quickly come away with passwords, email addresses and other important information. While looking at some of the lower-end models, the company’s researchers found that the security in place is far below what is needed for a device that resides on a home network. In order to obtain the most usefulness from these devices, the owner must download an app and create an account. Then the bulb can be controlled via a phone. However, this is where the first security issue was found.

Osram taps powerline communications to deliver IoT lighting at Berlin supermarket

Powerline communications (PLC), one of the lesser-known means for delivering Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled lighting, got a big boost when Osram revealed to LEDs Magazine that the technology is a key part of its Lightelligence IoT system, and that a Berlin supermarket has deployed it. PLC uses standard electrical wires to carry data. The Internet can thus connect via a building’s existing power cables to smart lights, carrying instructions for controlling light settings, and delivering information to support everything that a smart light might do, such as providing indoor navigation services, engaging shoppers with offers, tracking assets, and much more.

Warm White Light from a Single LED Material

Phosphor-coated LEDs have become a low-energy alternative to incandescent lighting. The blue-tinged light they give off, however, is not ideal for indoor living spaces, where consumers prefer warmer tones. Now, an international research team has discovered a material that the researchers believe could replace the LEDs’ phosphor coating and produce a warm white light while consuming even less energy. The material is a lead-free halide double perovskite. Metal halide perovskites are used in optoelectronic devices because they are tolerant to defects and are inexpensive to process. They also exhibit tunable emission across the visible spectrum. But many of those that perform best contain lead, an environmentally hazardous substance, and can be unstable.

Do you leave Christmas tree lights on for security? Technology may help

Larson Electronics Releases Mini Rechargeable LED Light Tower with Four 60W LED Lamps

Larson Electronics, a Texas-based company with over 40 years of experience spearheading the industrial lighting sector, announced the release of rechargeable mini LED light tower with the capacity to illuminate up to two acres with 21,600 lumens. This unit contains six 250aH 12V 8D sealed lead acid batteries and can illuminate an area for up to 12 hours on a single charge. This unit is equipped with four 60-watt high-output LED bulbs and an adjustable height tower. The WAL-ML-RPS-4XWP60E mini portable LED light tower features two adjustable LED light heads mounted on a telescoping mini light tower mounted on a wheeled cart base. The tower can extend to 12 feet and collapse to seven feet and features a single hand crank to easily raise or lower the tower. The lamp mounting platform can be removed for easy transport and storage.

Let’s Look At Some Cool Old LEDs

LEDs are now a mature technology, with all manner of colors and flavors available. However, back in the 1970s, it was early days for this fledgling display tech, and things looked very different. Imsay Guy happened to work at the optoelectronics division of Hewlett-Packard during their development of LED displays, and has a handful of prototypes from those heady days. The video is a great look at not only vintage display hardware, but also rarely seen prototypes that seldom left the HP offices.

Ford Amps up its Energy Conservation Program With LEDs

Green manufacturing not only benefits the environment by minimizing natural resource use. It also benefits the manufacturers. Ford Motor Co. knows this, and has replaced many of its traditional high-intensity discharge and fluorescent lights with LED fixtures to lower its energy use by 25 percent per vehicle produced. “Moving to LED gives us impressive efficiency improvement,” says George Andraos, director of energy and sustainability at Ford Land, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Co. and a full-service provider of real estate, construction and facility services. “We worked closely with its scientists and suppliers to investigate and follow the rapid development of LED lighting. In 2013, we selected Dialight Corp., a leading LED industrial fixture manufacturer, to develop light fixtures that meet [our] global needs.”

Philips finally fixes the single most annoying thing about Hue lights

I love Philips Hue lights – we have an apartment full of them. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have their annoyances, and the single biggest one was what happened during a power outage. Once the power comes back on, all the lights switch themselves on – and at full brightness – no matter what state they were in before. I once had the power go out at around 3am and return a few minutes later. I learned this when I was woken by all the bedroom lights switching themselves on. The rest of the house was also ablaze with light. But the latest version of the Philips Hue app, version 3.11, fixes that. You can now configure lights to return to their previous state when power is interrupted then returns.

AC-Direct LED Lighting Technology Explored and Explained

The LED lighting revolution is now a lighting evolution. With LED luminaires progressing from the uncommon and costly to the familiar and economical, both exterior and interior lighting applications are moving towards more effective LED lighting solutions.

LED technology has become more efficient and affordable however, the operating platform has remained the same over the past few decades. An operating platform that has relied on the failure-prone DC driver.

Recent technological advances have led to the elimination of the LED driver resulting in more efficient, longer lifetime and higher efficacy LED luminaires. These driverless LED solutions are easier to maintain and offer extremely long lives, often over 50 years.

The CEU (Continuing Education Units) course, “Re-inventing the LED Luminaire: From DC to AC-Direct”, will examine the state of the LED luminaire industry today with regards to the current construction industry. This course meets the requirements of both IESNA (The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) and the AIA (The American Institute of Architects).
“AC-Direct driverless LEDs are both an industry game-changer and disrupter,” said Roger Whyte, CEO and President of LiteSheet Soutions, a leader in AC Direct LED lighting technology, “Because of AC-Direct’s impact on lighting, LiteSheet decided to create and launch a CEU course that explores and explains this technological innovation.”

The Changing Glow Of D.C. As Streetlights Make The Switch To LEDs

By 2022, the District’s streets could look vastly different at night. D.C. is hoping to convert all 75,000 of its warm, yellow streetlights to cheaper, more energy-efficient LED bulbs. The conversion to the brighter streetlights would be the largest project in the region, although other localities, including Montgomery County and Takoma Park in Maryland and Fairfax County and Arlington in Virginia, have tested the technology.

Gardiner moves forward with LED conversion

As early as perhaps February, the traditional streetlights in Gardiner and surrounding towns could be swapped out for a version that uses less electricity, cuts down on light pollution and will take a smaller bite from municipal budgets. Two companies have signaled interest in doing the work — Affinity LED Lighting of Dover, New Hampshire; and RealTerm Energy, with offices in Annapolis, Maryland, and Montreal. Both companies are in the business of replacing the streetlights municipalities lease from their electric utility — in this area, it’s Central Maine Power Company — with fixtures that use light-emitting diode technology.

Wiltshire Council plans to replace thousands of street lamps with LEDs

The council will replace its older street lamps with light emitting diode bulbs. Highways managers plan to dim the LED lights from 8pm to 6am in the morning. They say the plans will reduce energy use by two-thirds. The plans, which were approved by Wiltshire Council's cabinet yesterday morning, must now be rubber stamped at full council. Assuming councillors back the plans, the bulbs could be installed from 2019, with the project lasting two years.

Osram infrared LED tells growers when to harvest crops

Osram has upped its game in the agricultural LED market, adding another near-infrared chip that reads the content of crops such as fruit or cereal to determine when they are ready for harvesting.
The new SFH 4736, part of Osram’s Oslon Black line, is designed to fit into a smartphone or tablet, and marks an improvement over Osram’s earlier SFH 4735 LED, which was positioned for the same horticultural niche. Like the 4735 and other similar Osram chips, the new LED deploys near-infrared spectroscopy. In the case of the 4736, the technology scans a grain or fruit to ascertain the amount of sugar, water, and fat. Growers use this information to determine whether the crops are ready or whether they require more time before harvest.

Light up your holidays with a $40 kit that converts any car’s headlights to LEDs

If you find yourself filling with envy every time you pass a luxury car on the road and see those bright, beautiful LED headlights, this post is for you. The Sealight LED Headlight Bulb Conversion Kit comes in six different sizes to fit all cars, and it does exactly what the name suggests. In about 20 minutes, just about anyone at any skill level can install these headlights and enjoy all the benefits that come along with them. They don’t just look better, they illuminate the road ahead much better. For just $40, you can’t afford not to get them.

Wireless Smart Lighting Lamp Dimmer Starter Kit

If flexibility is what you’re looking for in a smart plug, Lutron’s Caseta Wireless Smart Lighting Lamp Dimmer kit is worth serious consideration. Whether you simply want to add a dimmer to an existing outlet or wish to integrate the system with a more complex smart home setup, Lutron has you covered. Lutron’s kit is unique in that it includes a variety of components that don’t all necessarily have to be used. In the box you’ll find two plug-in dimmer boxes, each with controls built into the face. Four buttons—on, off, dim, and brighten—fill the face of the switch.

Buyout specialists eyeing Osram

As a financially struggling Osram continues to try to revamp itself away from general lighting and more toward digital goods and services, it is catching the attention of suitors looking to buy it out, according to news reports. Bloomberg reported last week that Boston’s Bain Capital “is exploring a takeover bid” for the Munich-based company, which has a market value of €3.8 billion euros ($4.3B). “Other potential suitors including rival buyout firms are also eyeing the former Siemens AG unit, though the interest may not ultimately result in a deal,” Bloomberg said, citing sources “with knowledge of the matter.”

The C By GE Smart LED Bulbs Work Seamlessly With Google Home

The Google + C by GE smart bulbs are a great example of a smart device that makes life easier. Sold on its own or in a combo pack with a Google Home Mini, the GE Smart Bulb goes above and beyond with its basic functionality. They use the Google Assistant app to allow you to dim or brighten the lights instantly, schedule the lights to turn on or go off, and control them with the touch of a button. Some of the more well-known smart lights on the market take longer to power on, like Philips Hue’s lineup. It’s just a few seconds difference, but the GE C-Life bulbs stand out because they instantly power on and fills the room with light, rather than brightening gently over the span of a few seconds.

An over-engineered LED Sign Board

Never underestimate the ability of makers in over thinking and over-engineering the simplest of problems and demonstrating human ingenuity. The RGB LED sign made by Hans and team over at the Hackheim hackerspace in Trondheim is a testament to this fact. As you would expect, the WS2812 RGB LEDs illuminate the sign. In this particular construction, an individual strip is responsible for each character. Powered by an ESP32 running FreeRTOS, the sign communicates using MQTT and each letter gets a copy of the 6 x 20 framebuffer which represents the color pattern that is expected to be displayed. A task on the ESP32 calculates the color value to be displayed by each LED.

Optronics introduces corner-mount interior LED lamp

Optronics International has introduced the new ILL38CMB Corner-Mount Interior LED Lamp. According to the company, the modular, low-profile lamp can be installed in virtually any trailer as original equipment or as an aftermarket upgrade. One of the challenges of interior vehicle lighting is to evenly illuminate the largest area possible, and to achieve this, a central lamp location is often adopted. Unfortunately, the placement of even a low-profile lamp on the ceiling of a vehicle’s cargo or work area can make it vulnerable to being struck by cargo, dock equipment and forklifts.

Light bulb plant that employs 260 workers to close

A Kentucky plant that manufactures light bulbs will close next year. News outlets report Ledvance said in a statement that its Versailles Glass & Lamp manufacturing facility, which employs 260 workers, will close by September 2019. The company's statement says the move is due to decreasing demands for traditional light bulbs that are made at the facility.

Pasadena’s new streetlights are whiter LEDs

When a traditional streetlight’s yellow glow goes out, Pasadena crews increasingly have been replacing them with newer, more efficient technology: LEDs, which illuminate roads with a clearer, whiter light. This newer technology is in widespread use in cities across the country, including Los Angeles, because they use less energy and last longer. But the American Medical Association warns that there are right and wrong kinds of LEDs — and cities that use the wrong kind can harm residents’ health, including by disrupting sleep. On the other hand, lighting experts, including leaders of the Illuminating Engineering Society, say the AMA’s position may be overblown, and it’s important not to overlook other safety factors when it comes to lighting cities.

Optronics introduces corner-mount interior lamp

Optronics International, a manufacturer and supplier of heavy-duty LED vehicle lighting, recently introduced the ILL38CMB Corner-Mount Interior LED Lamp, which it expects to deliver to the market in early 2019.

The modular, low-profile lamp can be installed in virtually any trailer as original equipment or as an aftermarket upgrade, the company said.

“The ILL38CMB Corner-Mount Interior LED Lamp is a smart design that takes interior lighting out of harm’s way,” said Brett Johnson, president and CEO of Optronics. “This lamp combines practicality with safety and automation to create a unique new lighting solution.”

Royal Philips ramps up its lighting business

When news broke recently that Philips Photonics will double the size of its vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) plant in Germany, it was a reminder that Royal Philips is still in the lighting business, despite having famously shed its LED, bulb, and luminaire operations to concentrate on medical and health gear. Like LEDs, VCSELs are light-emitting chips. They are gaining popularity in some of the digital applications where LEDs are also making headway. As such, the two technologies are competing against each other to some extent. Both, for instance, are positioned as infrared light sources that can provide facial recognition helping to protect access to smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets.

SOFTlab creates circular light installation of movement responsive mirrors and LEDs

New York based design studio SOFTlab has designed two light installation projects that create a circular array of responsive mirrors and LEDs. The first, ‘iris’, has been installed in the klementinum mirror chapel as part of prague’s 2018 signal festival, the mirrors rotate in response to the movement of people in the circular space while the LEDs respond to ambient sound, generating a totally immersive experience.

Albany council OKs borrowing $29.3M for LEDs

Mayor Kathy Sheehan's office got approval to borrow up to $29.3 million to purchase and upgrade Albany’s streetlights. The money will allow the city to install energy-efficient LED lighting as well as additional equipment that could pave the way for citywide internet. Common Council members on Monday approved borrowing the money for a 15-year period, but not without some trepidation.

Where's the solution for LED traffic signals that can't melt snow?

We know from last week's storm that freezing rain, snow and high winds are a recipe for an epic fail with usually dependable LED traffic signals. There's no shortage of ideas to fix the flaw in LEDs but no magic bullet yet, local and national experts say. LEDs generate much less heat than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, which melt ice and snow. "The issue of snow on LED signal heads is something that municipalities have been concerned with for years," Lake County Traffic Engineer Jonathan Nelson said.

B&R lighting system optimizes machine-vision performance

B&R’s integrated vision system features innovative lighting components. The flexible light bars and backlights ensure optimum results even in difficult lighting situations. Lighting control is synchronized with the automation system in the sub-µs range. As integral parts of the automation system, both cameras and lighting are easy to synchronize with other sensors, motor positions and events in the machine application. Lighting control with microsecond precision is even guaranteed when synchronizing multiple cameras and light sources.

The LED faucet light that changes color based on water temperature

The DLAND RC-F03 Water Stream Multicolor LED Faucet Tap isn’t going to change any lives anytime soon, but it really is an awesome little device. It screws onto any standard bathroom faucet and water passes through it just like the cap on your faucet now. With this one, however, there’s an integrated LED light that shines blue if the water is cold, red if it’s hot, and green if it’s just right!

LED Street Lights Are Coming to Fairfax County

Plans are in the works for Fairfax street lights to be converted into more energy-efficient LEDs, but it could be five years before LED light touches streets in some parts of the county. In August, Fairfax County signed an agreement with Dominion Energy to convert its streetlights to LED technology, but Matthew Kaiser, information officer for the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, said the plans are still in a very preliminary stage with no timetable established for which areas will be converted first. Kaiser said the conversion process is expected to be a five year program. The current street lights are high-pressure sodium, metal halide and mercury vapor.

Holst and Fraunhofer claim world’s longest OLED

Two leading innovation and research groups, Holland’s Holst Centre and Germany’s Fraunhofer FEP, said they have created the world’s longest OLED, rolling a 15m (49.2-ft) version off a pilot production line at Holst facilities. The development could lead to a much-needed decline in production costs for the technology, something that has prevented widespread use of OLEDs as a light source for architectural and general illumination. OLEDs are swatches of material that light up in response to electricity. They have for years been heralded as the future of lighting because they can be woven into the fabric of buildings, furniture, decorative items, clothing, and just about anything — especially those that are flexible rather than rigid.

Grand Rapids holds tree lighting ceremony

Grand Rapids is officially welcomed in the holiday season with its tree lighting ceremony on Saturday. City leaders flipped the switch on the tree’s lights at 6:30 p.m. Organizers of Light Up Downtown 2018 have strung 150,000 lights downtown.

Learn a little more about bulb basics with the ABCs of LEDs

It’s true that the advanced technology LED lighting requires for use will cost you a little more when you purchase the products. The good news, however, from EnergyStar.gov indicates that LED lights can last 30 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lights. So, while you’ll pay more at first for LED lights than you would for an incandescent or CFL product, you’ll actually be saving money when you factor in the LEDs’ much longer lifespan. The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewal Energy estimates that good quality white LED lighting products can be expected to have a useful life of 30,000 to 50,000 hours — maybe even longer. This is a significant improvement over typical incandescent lamps that only work for approximately 1,000 hours or CFL products that last 8,000 to 10,000 hours. (3)