Induction Lighting vs LED

LED lighting is the new buzz in lighting, clearly the best option for every lighting option on the face of our planet, or so it is said by most if not all LED sales representatives. In actual fact, LED lighting is the best technology for most, but not all lighting applications.  Induction lighting is as energy efficient, very much cheaper and in many cases a superior lighting technology for various area lighting applications.

   The following is a point by point comparison between Induction lighting and LED lighting for areas where Induction lighting is competitive against LED lighting.

• Both lighting technologies have extremely long life expectancy when compared to other lighting technologies. Even though Induction light is the longest life light source, it is not by a huge margin over LED lighting and for the purposes of comparing lamp life is not a major factor.
• Glare is the major advantage of Induction lighting over LED lighting in area lighting applications. LED Highbay light fittings come in two main types. The first, cheapest and most common is the single or multi-point non-diffused unit, boasting outputs of 110 lumens per watt and more. But they are an extremely intense single or multi point light source which causes mild flash blindness when looked at for more than a split second. This short term visual impairment is quite frustrating and even dangerous for persons working with Forklifts, rotating machinery or product inspection roles. High glare LED fittings also present these same issues in sports halls where many participants are looking up for much of their activities in sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, gymnastics, etc.
• Induction light is a high output fluorescent technology which is very low glare in comparison because the light source is quite large. This makes them ideal for all indoor sports as well as providing a high quality and safe form of area lighting in factories and warehouses.  
• The second and increasingly common type of LED Highbay is the multi LED domed diffuser type. These lights do not have the intense glare of their single source cousins, but they do have a massively reduced output. We have seen expensive high quality low glare LED Highbay fittings with outputs as low as 75lumens per watt. Our Lightingretrofit Highbay lighting outputs at 80+ lumens per watt of high quality, low glare light for less than $300 per fitting. Why would you pay $750+ for less light from the same power usage?
• Warehouse ceiling areas in the eastern states of Victoria, NSW and Queensland can get very hot in summer, with temperatures above 60degC common in the afternoon. Many, many LED Highbay fittings have not been able to handle these temperatures for extended periods and fail early. We wish you the best of luck in your efforts to claim these failures under warranty. Induction lighting, on the other hand is quite happy in temperatures of 50degC and above. In high temperature roof spaces, bakeries and other hot working environments it would be advisable to either try lighting technologies other than LED or pay very, very high prices for fan forced LED fittings. For ambient temperatures above 75degC we would recommend you should not use any technology which contains electronics in the fixture ballast, including Induction lighting.
• Food industry factories have ongoing issues with insects and other creepy crawlies in production areas. Our Lightingretrofit Highbay fittings are designed and manufactured with a minimum of flat or fluted horizontal areas for insects to infest. New age LED Highbay fittings have very complex fluted heatsinks which are separated by a small distance from the light body itself. Both the heatsink (usually horizontal) and the separated parts will provide many types of insects flies and moths with the perfect environment to set up home and raise their families. LED salesperson will say there is no glass in LED’s so they are the best option, but our Induction fittings use clamped PVC diffusers which negate any risk to product in food processing while our fixture shape eliminates insect habitat unlike LED Highbay heatsinks.
• For most other lighting applications LED lighting is superior to Induction lighting but for Highbay lighting in factories, warehouses and indoor sporting facilities our Lightingretrofit fixtures are a very high quality light source at a very competitive price, worthy at least of a close comparison test. For area lighting applications in Victoria and NSW we offer obligation free basic lighting design plans from the supply of simple building dimensions and lighting requirement information.