Selaras Citra Nusantara Perkasa - We Manufacture and Export Home Appliances & Medical Equipments by Rudy P.

Selaras Citra Nusantara Perkasa - We Manufacture and Export Home Appliances & Medical Equipments by Rudy P.: The company was first established on January 24, 2000 under the name PT Selaras Citra Nusantara Perkasa domiciled in Bogor Regency as stipulated in the Deed of PT Selaras Citra Nusantara No.12 dated J...

What You Need to Know Before Buying a Solar Light Post?

Solar energy is all around us, but most people don’t notice it. For instance, the power source for many emergency phones on freeways is powered by it. This brings us the subject of solar post lights.

Solar energy started to come into popularity in the 1970s, when technology advances combined with massive oil price increases to make solar a popular alternative energy source. Back then, the world was just starting to become more aware about the risks of using so many non-renewable resources, and people wanted to decrease their dependence on fossil fuels. Now, solar power is being used by many different people all across the world, both in big and small ways. One of the small, but still important ways it is being used is in solar post lights.

Often, people want to light their driveways or backyards. Aside from running expensive extension cords to lamps, using battery after battery, or running lines in underground pipes, there really weren’t many choices to power their lamps. Now, solar post lights are regularly used by those who want the convenience of not having to change batteries, and those who want to save money on their electric bill. 

Solar post lights work by using very small solar panels, which are attached to an energy collector. These solar panels stay out in the sun all day, attached to your post, and they soak up all of the sun’s solar energy. The energy collector in many of the solar post lights is a NiCad rechargeable battery, most of which can go up to 1000 charges! That is about three years. The light that is powered by the battery is an LED light, which takes very little power but emits a bright light. LEDs can last up to 25 years, making solar post lights a very economical investment. These lights will emit their soft glow for many hours during the night, depending on the amount of solar energy they received during the day.

Other advantages to solar lights are that there are no wires needed, so installation is very easy. Also, you can often buy the lights individually, so there is no need to buy a large package of the lights if you only need a few to illuminate your way. Each light runs independent of the others, so if one light malfunctions, the rest will still be there and glowing.

Whether you choose to buy a few or a lot of the solar post lights, they are still the most economical and ecology minded choice for your driveway and fence lighting needs. With a long lifespan and easy installation, these lamps are the perfect thing to shine through the dark of your front yard.

How to Choose the Best Outdoor Lighting for Your Grill Deck?

There are a number of attractive outdoor lighting grill decks available today; all you have to do is first choose the type of lighting you want and then evaluate the different brands in order to select one that is most appropriate. Often times, the choice may be restricted to a particular brand or shape. The choice will surely settle on the product that adds luster to the grill deck, and which suits the budget as well.

The outdoor lighting grill deck gives an added dimension, and if the lights are placed strategically, they can help in setting the mood and prove to be safer as well as help to focus attention on the grill deck. This is important because grill decks are becoming more popular every day, and they are essential to entertaining guests as well as for relaxation. They are becoming an extension of the indoor living area while also blending style with proper finish.

Outdoor lighting grill decks help in focusing attention on the outdoor space such as trees, shrubs or flower beds and you can choose from coach lights, flood lights, down lights and up lights. As far as design considerations of the outdoor lighting grill deck is concerned you can choose from antique bronze finish, coach lights with round or square styles, and finishes having patina that helps resemble an aged deck light.

Mounting Clamp and Flexible Arm

An attractive shape with low voltage will make for an appropriate outdoor lighting grill deck that will properly illuminate the food on the grill. It may need to have a universal mounting clamp and the arm should be flexible enough to attach to the gas or charcoal grill. What is important is that the illumination is powerful and it should have a good finish so that it makes the grill deck appropriately bright.

The outdoor lighting grill deck must complement the deck grill, which is a stylish as well as practical piece of equipment meant to last for a lifetime. It is usually a wonderful fixture ideally suited for the warm summer evenings. You may also need to decide whether to go in for low voltage, or high voltage outdoor lighting deck grill as the two have different plus points and negatives.

Low Voltage Bulbs

If you choose to have a low voltage option you may require a transformer, but it is at the same time safer and is also less costly while providing energy efficient service that costs less to operate. Finally, the twelve-volt bulbs last longer and are available in different wattage and colors options.

High Voltage Bulbs

If you go in for the high voltage bulbs for your outdoor lighting grill deck, there is no need for a transformer though it is not as safe especially near, or in a body of water. This option is also costlier and it uses up more energy while lasting for less time than the low voltage bulbs. Further, there is less variety available for this kind of bulb.

A Quick Guide on How to Buy Your Outdoor Lights

Its dusk and your outdoor party is just starting to get good. People are talking, laughing, and having a great time, yet with the sun going down, nobody can really see what the heck is going on and unfortunately, things are starting to get a little dangerous as people start tripping over each other. Instead of ruining the mood and heading indoors, just have some outdoor lamps in place that you can flip on to keep things rocking and rolling. However, you need to have them in place before your next party and here is a quick guide on how to buy yours. 

First off, you need to look at your space and determine where you need the lighting. Like, if you just need a little accent lighting to make things safe while walking around, or, maybe you want some lighting that makes it easy to eat dinner or play cards on your deck or patio. Whatever the case, there is one that is perfect for your space and two of the most common types of outdoor lamps to choose from include those of the standing floor variety and ones that are meant to be put on a table. The standing floor option can be between four to seven feet tall and is meant to be placed directly on the floor. A good spot for one of these would be in the corner of your deck or patio, but you could also place them wherever you like depending upon how you have your spaced laid out and where you need the light. The table top option is ideal for putting on a patio table in the middle of your space for those late night dinners or card games. You could also place then on any end table for a little accent lighting like mentioned earlier. Along with the two main types, there are also other styles including ones that you could attach right to the wall along with other ones that can be hung from an overhang or post. To see everything that is available, log onto the internet and check out the different online stores.  

Now on to step two and what you like. Outdoor lamps come in a wide variety of eye-catching styles and designs, which will enhance the overall appearance of your outdoor space. Some can feature very decorative designs that while others can be very plain and simple. For example, you could get one that has a base made to look like a tree to give your space a rustic feel or you could get one that features just a slender, metal base. Each is very beautiful in its own way and would complement any lamp shade very nicely. The lamp shades also are available in a number of styles as well, making it easy to find something that suits your style. The third and final step on finding some for your space is simply making the purchase, and before you jump in the car to head to the store, remember you can still hit the internet and shop there, which is a time saving option for any busy person. 

What makes outdoor lamps such a great buy, is that they are designed to withstand the elements. So, if you do not feel like bringing yours indoors, you do not have to because they can stay outside since they will not get damaged by the weather. When searching for yours, make sure that whatever you buy is described as being weather resistant, especially the fabric of the lamp shade. One of the best fabric options available is Sunbrella fabric, which is mildew resistant, water repellant, and resilient to fading. 

So, the next time you host an outdoor party, make sure you have a few fabulous outdoor lamps throughout your space. That way, when the sun starts setting you can just flip them on to keep the party going.

Top Benefits of Buying Solar Motion Lights for Your Home

Motion lighting is very convenient security platform for homes. Solar motion lamps take the benefits to the next level with more efficiency and reduced utility bills. 

Motion sensor lamps can be an excellent choice for your home. These lamps offer the security of having a bright light shine into the eyes of any would be intruder, thus deterring them from staying on your property. There are several different types of motion lamps available for the protection of your family and home, but the best option by far is to use solar motion lamps.

Solar power is a clean and ecologically sound alternative to electric, battery and other sources of power. There is no pollution produced, no non-renewable resources used, and it costs far less than other power sources. Even if you don’t choose to use solar power for all your household needs, you can still help the environment by choosing solar motion lamps. Every small bit of solar power used decreases the world’s usage of less ecological methods.

Solar motion lamps work by collecting solar power during the day through solar cells located on the light. This solar energy is used to recharge a battery (usually a NiCad rechargeable battery), which in turn powers the lamp at night. Some models of solar motion lamps include solar panels that are strong enough to collect energy even in overcast conditions, making the lamp even more useful. Motion lamps also have settings to customize. You can set the duration that the lamp shines when it detects motion (any where from .5 minute to three minutes), as well as being able to position it so that it can detect motion up to 90 feet away. The trigger for the motion lamp is a passive infrared motion detector that is safe for use around all people and animals, and does not require additional high tech equipment. You also have the choice of mounting your solar motion lamps on a post (this will be provided) or on the side of your house or garage.

Solar motion lamps usually use a strong LED lamp. LEDs are an excellent choice for solar lamps because they use far less power than traditional bulbs and halogen lamps. Motion lamps are built with weather resistant materials, so they can be left on your homes exterior in all types of conditions.

Solar motion lamps are an excellent way to keep your home and property safe from intruders and other problems, all while being cheaper and more “green” than other choices. If you need just one or many, the solar powered versions of motion lamps are the easiest choice for your lighting needs.

Questions and Answers on Lighting

What are the different types of lighting?

The different types of lights are incandescent, tungsten-halogen, compact fluorescent lamps, tubular fluorescent fixtures, and HID (high-density discharge).

• Incandescent lights have a relatively short life. They can only withstand between 1000 and 3000 hours of continuous use. They are also the least efficient source of regular lights.
• Tungsten-halogen are lights that belong to category of incandescent lamps. They have become gradually popular in recent years. They generate a white light with more intense standards.
• Dense florescent lights are a kind of fluorescent light but generate color more similar to some incandescent lamps. They combine the standard features of other lights.
• Tubular fluorescent lights are in tubular shape. They have a smaller diameter but are more efficient compared to other lights. They have a magnetic ballast that the lightning features depend upon.
• HID is a type of light that has a high output of light. Its components are mercury, metal halide, vapor and high pressure of sodium lighting.

What are the different kinds of fixtures?

An extensive diversity of fixtures is available for different purposes. In general, fixtures are practical, versatile, presentable, and durable to make the interior design colorful.

The three main groups of fixtures are end piece fixtures, ceiling lights fixtures, and landscape fixtures.

• End piece fixtures have a design to work with solid standard cable wire.
• Ceiling light fixtures are handled with modified cable with larger diameter and capacitors.
• Landscape fixtures are used for giving colors and additional attraction for the background of landscape.

What is a fluorescent light?

A fluorescent light produces energy from the atom. It is composed of many small particle pockets that expand to cause momentum. The basic unit of lights in fluorescent is “light photons.”

Atoms discharge light photons when the electrons heat up. The electrons travel around certain orbit to increase the net charge and produce energy levels. After that light is produced from the nucleus.

What is incandescent light?

Incandescent lights produce light by a shimmering filament. The filament is heated by white-hot electric current. Incandescence is the light-giving method. A glass container or lamp encloses the bulb.

It normally has a vacuum with a low-pressure to produce oxidation of filament with a high temperature.

What is halogen?

Halogen can provide brilliant illumination by the use of electric current to heat the filament of metal and tungsten until it burns. Halogen has a filament inside a container or envelope.

A halogen lamp works much the same way as an incandescent lamp. On the other hand, the chemical reactions between halogen lamps are proficient and brighter than incandescent lamps.

How to Build a Solar Power Lighting System?

From the first time I saw, first hand, a solar cell making electricity, I was hooked. It was magnetic. I was going to have one, making electricity for me, one day. I didn't get around to trying it, until about 1979. I ordered $400.00 worth of solar cells from a company in California. I made a makeshift solar panel with them, which worked for a while.

Much later, in 1993, I tracked down a company in Calgary, who sold solar panels. I bought 1 for about $500.00. It was about the size of a large beach towel. It was blue in color and was mounted inside an aluminium frame. My first attempt at making a solar power lighting system worked but wasn't very efficient. I used a little incandescent bulb from a reading lamp hooked up to a car battery, that was charged by the solar panel. I mounted the solar panel in the most sunny window I had to put it in. At that time there weren't compact florescent light bulbs. I liked that solar panel so much that I bought 3 more like it from the same company. Each panel made about 50 watts in direct sunlight.

A solar cell reacts with sunlight making a positive and negative charge. When you link the two charges by attaching a wire to both ends of the solar cell, charged electrons move along the wire, and an electric current flows. When the cells are joined together, to increase the voltage and amperage, you have made a solar panel. So all this makes the electricity your light uses.

Once you have the electricity, you have to store it somewhere, or use it right away. Since the whole point of a light is to use it in the dark, and solar panels only work in sunlight, you need a battery, to store the electricity until you are ready to turn the light on.

To keep the electricity in the battery while the solar panel is connected, a diode is used. A diode is an electronic device which only allows direct current to travel in one direction. If the current tries to go in the other direction, then the diode stops it. This happens when a big dark cloud moves in front of the sun. Your panel makes so little power the battery has more voltage push, than what is coming from the panel. So the voltage from the battery tries to send current out from the battery. We want the battery to charge, and not waste the electricity until we turn on the light.

To use the direct current electricity in a battery, to run an alternating current or household current compact florescent light, you need to convert the electricity from the battery, to the kind of electricity the light will use. This device is called an inverter. It makes AC electricity out of DC electricity. The inverter is connected to the battery and the power cord from the light is plugged into the inverter.

When you switch your light on, you are using the power from the sunlight captured during the day time. The advantage of using compact florescent light bulbs is that they are very energy efficient, using little electricity, and giving out the same amount of light used by a 60 watt regular light bulb. You make your own power and don't care if the power from the electric company goes off. Your lighting system will still work.

Learn About LED Strip Lighting

The power and strength of LED strip lighting emanates from LED lighting lamps whose revolutionary approach to illumination will soon change the entire lighting industry. LED lighting lamps utilize semiconductors and diodes to produce low voltage lighting with minimal heat. LED lighting lamps consume far less energy than any other form of light bulb, and with reduced heat they offer little, if any, fire hazard and no damage to their immediate environment. Phantom’s LED lighting lamp technology offers the best and most technologically sophisticated value for task and aesthetic lighting needs of both residential and commercial clients.

Phantom strip lighting employs LED lamps that operate for up to 50,000 hours and produce ZERO UV rays. Patrons of the art find LED lighting lamps the optimal solution to the problematics of heat and UV radiation that can damage oils and canvases. They especially appreciate the added value of longer burn time, as LED’s do not have filaments that emit heat. LED lighting lamps feature an on board heat sink to dissipate heat and extend lamp life. LED technology offers backward compatibility benefits as well. LED’s can be used as replacement lamps for any lighting strip operating at 12V. Their miniature size and high output diodes benefit users with maximized effects and reliable performance. Virtually maintenance free and requiring only rare replacement, they continue to rise to preeminence as the favored lighting technology of designers, manufacturers, and contractors.

Phantom Lighting uses the finest light emitting diodes on the market with tight lumen output and color binning that produces up to five times the output of typical festoon lamps. LED lighting lamps are available in four color temperatures: 2950K, 3500K, 5000K, and 6500K, each with specialized application to task, functional, aesthetic, and commercial lighting needs. 2950K LED lighting lamps produce levels of brightness comparable to 7-watt incandescent festoon lamps up to 42 lumens. Our 6500K LED lighting lamps produce up to 50 lumens and produce a level of brightness and clarity that commercial and retail establishments find equal, if not superior, to more costly halogen and fluorescent light sources. Phantom strip lighting clients range from commercial entities such as jewelry storeowners, industrial manufacturing facilities, fine art galleries, on to residential arenas such as private art collections, bookshelf and fine furniture lighting, and task lighting for work areas and kitchens.

If technology continues to evolve at its current pace, LED lighting lamps may soon replace all other forms of lighting. As energy prices continue to fluctuate problematically, the cost effectiveness of low-voltage lighting is readily apparent as an energy saver. Furthermore, as environmental awareness mounts worldwide, gasless lighting offers a “green” alternative to toxic gases used in older technologies. Reduced risk of fire hazard, lower maintenance costs, and longer burn time per unit offer added value to LED lamp lighting-all of which translates into reduced overhead and superior illumination throughout both industrial and commercial markets.

LED Lights - Welcoming the Era of Next-Generation Indoor And Outdoor Lighting

Light Emitting Diode or LED lighting has been in existence for many years, mainly in niche applications like small trinkets and indicator lighting. However, due to LED lighting being highly energy efficient, not to mention technologically superior over other light sources such as incandescent and fluorescent lighting, it is forecasted to reach beyond electronic applications into commercial and home LED lighting as well. In a recent report by Global Industry Analysts it is predicted that the market for fluorescent and LED lighting could climb to $97 billion by 2010. The spike in growth would be mainly from construction and industrial development industries.

As more individuals become aware of the energy efficiency of LED lighting, the price of such items as LED bulbs will decrease in price. Currently, the price of one LED bulb is substantially higher than the price of incandescent or fluorescent lighting. However, the initial price for LED bulbs would more than pay for itself in the long run. On average, one incandescent 60-watt bulb lasts 1,000 hours whereas one 2-watt LED light bulb lasts 60,000 hours. Therefore, one would need to purchase 60 incandescent bulbs for every one LED light bulb.

Home LED lighting is a cut above the rest when it comes to energy efficiency. As compared to incandescent lighting, LED lighting wins hands down where energy consumption is concerned. For every 60,000 hours of usage, incandescent lighting uses approximately 3,600 kWh of electricity where LED lighting uses 120 kWh. Bottom line: energy efficiency equals a significant cost savings. LED lighting gives off directional light. Therefore, it is useful as a source of light for reading or spotlighting in the home. Its powerful light output also makes it great for outdoor floodlighting and path illumination. LED bulbs are now available that can replace most halogen or fluorescent light bulbs used in the home.

Although LED lighting may not be useful for all home lighting needs, replacing a few bulbs with LED bulbs would have a noticeable affect in the amount of electricity used.

LED light displays are already used in signs and videos in many indoor and outdoor sporting events and concerts. LED video displays and signs are often preferred because of their higher brightness, which is critical when people are viewing a sign or video from a long distance. Added advantages of LED video displays are their capacity to incorporate curves and 3-D design. This makes LED video displays technologically superior to currently available large screen displays. Research and developers in the consumer electronics space are eager to take advantage of this overwhelmingly useful technology in future products.

Other uses for LED lighting include LED flashlights and key chains, automobile taillights and interior lights, and LED based projection televisions. LED lighting is also being used in the military for LED flashlights that work with night-vision goggles, UV-LED canteen water treatment devices and the sterilization of surgical equipment.

With LED lighting being more energy efficient and technologically superior to many other light sources, numerous LED light applications are sure to evolve. Future generations can expect to consider LED lighting as the standard light source for most lighting applications.

Assessment of Compressive Attributes of LED Lighting

The appeal of using LEDs in lighting applications is growing rapidly. The numerous and significant benefits of using modules that incorporate a matrix of LEDs are being recognized by design engineers in several key industry sectors, including aerospace, architectural lighting, and the “golden egg” automotive market.

Attributes such as design flexibility, low power consumption, even and reliable light, and long lifetime distinguish LED modules from designs based on traditional filament lamps and fluorescent tubes. LEDs can also have knock-on benefits, such as greatly reducing the size and complexity of the module and simplifying the lens design.

A good example of some other benefits of LED lighting is demonstrated by an application in the cabin of a passenger aircraft. A retrofit LED unit that replaced a fluorescent-tube lighting module enabled finely controlled dimming and also provided mood lighting through the use of differently coloured LEDs.

Thermal management

Perhaps the most challenging issue when realizing a module design that uses LEDs is to manage the temperature of individual device junctions during normal operation. If the considerable amount of heat produced by all the devices in a module is not managed correctly then the junction temperatures may reach a level where the LEDs’ expected life is shortened and reliability is compromised.

LED modules typically comprise a matrix of many surface mount devices. These LEDs are soldered to an etched copper layer that provides the interconnects between the individual LEDs as well as other passive and active components that are required to complete the circuit. The small size of the LEDs and the close proximity with which they can be mounted means that designers have a huge amount of design freedom and can achieve complex lighting patterns with high levels of brightness.

The etched copper circuit is separated from a base plate – usually made of aluminum – by a thermally efficient, electrically isolating dielectric material. The characteristics and capabilities of the dielectric layer are key to the design flexibility and performance of the overall module.

Dielectric materials are made by blending thermally efficient materials such as alumina and boron nitride with other ingredients, to provide a flexible yet resilient coating on the base plate. An important characteristic of the dielectric layer is the amount of electrical isolation it provides between the copper on the topside and the metallic base plate on the underside. This is known as its dielectric strength. A typical dielectric material may possess a dielectric strength of around 800 V/mil and be coated onto the base plate to a thickness of 8–12 mils (1 mil = 1 inch–3 = 25.4 µm).

Dielectric materials used on insulated metal circuit boards usually have a thermal conductivity figure in the region of 3W/mK. This is approximately 10 times the performance achieved by FR4 (flame retardant woven glass reinforced epoxy resin) PCB material. 

A further key requirement of the dielectric layer is to be able to compensate for the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the copper track on the topside of the assembly and the aluminum base plate/heat spreader on the bottom side. 

Going three-dimensional

Flat sheets of insulated metal circuit board comprising copper foil, a dielectric layer and an aluminum base plate have been available for several years. In the eyes of the forward-thinking LED module designer, the main problem has been that flat sheets of insulated metal circuit board limit them to 2D shapes.

To address these limitations, new dielectric materials are becoming available that have a low modulus, meaning that they are compliant with mechanical stress and strain. These materials not only accommodate the coefficient of expansion of the metal elements of the construction, but also enable parts to be formed into right angles, and even through 360 degree. This enables designers to realize complex-shaped designs and ones that form a complete circle with either internal or external copper traces.

When designing with new, formable insulated metal circuit board materials it is possible to route the tracks around corners, which alleviates the need to use connectors and hard wiring. There are several benefits to this, including enhanced reliability resulting from having fewer junctions and interconnects. Despite the slightly higher cost of the new materials, the overall cost is reduced because fewer components are needed, and assembly time is reduced.

Strength and durability

LEDs themselves are inherently durable. Mounting them on metal based circuit boards only serves to enhance their robustness and that of the finished module, providing excellent resistance to vibration and mechanical shock. 

Automotive lighting clusters provide a good example of how LED modules can provide superior performance compared with traditional filament lamps. On-vehicle applications experience high levels of vibration and wide operating temperature ranges that can cause premature failure of filament lamps. In some operating conditions LEDs can last up to 100,000 hours, which means that they should not require any attention for the life of the vehicle. 

The long life of LEDs also simplifies the designers’ task because it is less important to make the lighting module accessible for servicing in the finished product. This can result in a neater, more integrated installation and also in potential cost savings.

Temperature modelling

Thermal analysis software packages are available to help prove LED based module designs before they are committed to manufacture.

These software packages gather data from an integrated database about LED performance and specifications along with those of other devices that are mounted on the insulated metal circuit board. This data is combined with other information about elements of the design, including the copper traces, power and ground planes, and vias. The collated information is then processed to produce an accurate representation of the thermal performance of the design. 

User-friendly graphical representations of the results enable the design engineer to quickly pinpoint areas that may require attention, right down to component and track level. 

Thermal analysis software can bring significant commercial and design benefits by helping speed the time to market and reducing the number of iterations needed to reach a production-ready solution.

Advantages of Fluorescent Lightings and How They Work

You may be used to your standard watt light bulb. But nowadays it seems that fluorescent lightings are really gaining popularity.

Unfortunately, over the years fluorescent lightings have carried the negative stigma that they provide flickering, sickly, green-tinted, institutional-like, headache-inducing, noisy light. But, those lights that used to be favored only for lighting the garage are making their way into other rooms.

Today, the way of fluorescent lighting has changed. It is not only one of the most efficient options offered, giving the longest-lasting bulb, but it also comes in a variety of colors, types, and sizes. And, best of all, thanks to the new electronic ballasts, they are very quiet.

But you may wonder what exactly makes a fluorescent light a fluorescent light.

Fluorescent lightings are phosphor-coated, glass tubes that are filled with an inert gas and also a small amount of mercury. Since different brands also can have different mixes of the gases that are inside, fluorescents produce a wide assortment of color light that can easily match the warm glow often given off by incandescent.

In order to operate correctly, all fluorescent lightings need a controlling ballast. The ballast alters the electric current that flows through the fluorescent tube, activating the gas that is inside, causing it to glow. Newly developed electronic ballasts have the ability to eliminate the once annoying flicker and buzz that was so commonly associated with old magnetic ballasts, which were also quite a bit heavier and less efficient. 

Now there are even more impressive improvements to the design of fluorescent lightings. In order to create the same amount of light that is created by an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent tube uses only ¼ to 1/3 of the energy. In addition, fluorescent lights last 10 to 15 times longer, about 10,000 hours or even more.

When these new designs were introduced in the early 1980s, they definitely revolutionized lighting. Compact fluorescents, a variation on the fluorescent tube, works the same way. The only difference is the tube has been made smaller and is folded over in a way that it makes them fit into spaces that are designed for incandescent bulbs, with even a screw base that fits a normal light bulb socket. In addition, they operate on a quarter of the energy that is used by incandescent, also lasting ten times longer.

Since fluorescent lightings last so much longer and use less energy, they can really help you to reduce your monthly energy bill. By replacing just 25 percent of your highly-used lights with fluorescents, you can cut your energy bill nearly in half.

There are also environmental benefits of fluorescent lights, too. A single, 20-watt compact fluorescent lamp that is used in place of a 75-watt incandescent will save you about 550 kilowatt-hours over its lifetime. So, if your electricity is produced in a coal-fired plant, much like many areas are, that savings represents nearly 500 pounds of coal that doesn’t have to be burned. That means that 1,300 pound of carbon dioxide and 20 pounds of sulfur dioxide will not be emitted into the atmosphere.

How Do You Convert Your Pool Light to Solar?

There is much debate about the application of solar energy as a global energy platform. There is no debate, however, on smaller applications such as pool lighting.

Solar energy has been used by man since the beginning of time. The power of the sun, and its ability to warm the Earth, has kept civilization alive. In the 1830's, John Herschel, a British explorer, used the first modified solar collector to cook food on an African expedition. Since then, man has come up with other ways to harness the sun's power in both big and small amounts. One of the smaller ways that the average person can use solar power on a cost effective basis is for pool lighting.

Many homeowners employ the use of pool lighting so that they can enhance the look of their backyard, as well as use their pools at night. Unfortunately, traditional lighting is either a drag on your electric bill or a pain in the derriere if you go the battery route. In the case of floating pool lights, you're stuck with batteries – which make them a time consuming to change out and costly item to run. Batteries need replacing, and they are also harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly.

You might be wondering if there are any other options for illuminating your pool that are more cost effective and easier to work with. There is an option that solves all the problems – solar pool lighting. These lights work by floating on the surface of the water. All day, they collect the sun's energy via solar collectors located on the top of their waterproof case. The collected solar energy charges a rechargeable battery located within the light, and then the solar pool lights are turned on automatically at night via a light sensor. The stored power within the battery powers a LED light which takes very little energy to run – therefore, the pool light can stay on for eight to ten hours at a stretch.

Going with solar pool lighting may seem a small step in the duel battle against the utility bill and fossil fuel usage. In truth, every little step we take as a society helps. Remember, changing even one light bulb in your house to an energy efficient version saves money and thousands of tons of pollutant from fossil fuel energy production. If we all convert to solar pool lighting, it will make a difference give the sheer number of pools.

Lamps: The History and Evolution

Numerous references from olden ages have illuminated the fact that lamps have been used to spread light, even before electricity was invented, and lighting was given a new meaning. The use of lamps can be broadly classified into two eras: The pre-electrical era and the post electrical era.

Lamps: The Pre-electrical Era

The invention and first usage of lamp can be dated back to 70,000 BC. At that time, there was no metal or bronze to make lamps instead the then civilization used hollow rocks and shells. These hollow rocks were filled with moss and other natural substances and then soaked in animal fat. Animal fat acted as oil and this is how the first lamps were ignited. 

With the advent of pottery, and the bronze and copper age, humans started to make lamps that imitated other natural shapes. Wicks came into existence much later and were used for controlling the flame or the rate of burning. In the 7th century BC, Greeks started using terra cotta lamps, which replaced the handheld torches. The word lamp has been derived from the Greek word lampas, which means torch. 

Lamps and the Design Change

There was a major change in the design of lamps in the 18th century, when the central burner was invented. With the invention of the burner, a separate fuel source was made from metal. Another small change made was the addition of a metal tube that could be adjusted to control the intensity of the flame or light.

This was an important discovery in terms of lighting because with adjustment, humans were able to diminish the lighting or make it bright as required. Another aspect was added to the new lamp, which was in the form of small glass chimneys. The role of the glass chimney was to protect the flame as well as control the air flow. 

Swiss chemist Ami Argand used the hollow circular wick in an oil lamp for the very first time in 1783. 

Fuels for Lighting

Different kinds of fuels have been used for lighting a lamp between 70,000 BC and now. Most of the early forms of fuel were beeswax, olive oil, animal fat, fish oil, sesame oil, whale oil, nut oil etc. These were also among the most commonly used forms of fuel for lighting a lamp till the late 18th century. 

Around 1859, the first drilling process was initiated to find petroleum and with the advent of kerosene, which is a derivative of petroleum, lamp became more popular and usage increased. Kerosene enabled lighting was first introduced in Germany in 1853.

During the same time two other products were used for lamp lighting purposes and they were natural gas and coal. The first use of coal gas lamps was in 1784.

Electrical Lighting Lamps

Lamps have actually come a long way from usage of coal gas to electricity. In 1801, Sir Humphrey Davy of England invented the electric carbon arc lamp, which was the first of its kind. The working principle for this lamp was simple and included hooking of two carbon rods to an electrical source. 

The carbon rods were kept at a distance from each other so that electrical current could flow through the arc and thus vaporize carbon to create white lighting. Around 1857, A.E. Becquerel of France came out with the theory of fluorescent lighting in lamps. In the 1870’s, the unthinkable happened with Thomas Edison inventing the first electric incandescent lamp. Since then incandescent lamps were used for lighting purposes in homes till about the early 20th century. 

In 1901, Peter Cooper Hewitt patented his new invention, the mercury vapor lamp. This was another type of arc lamp that enhanced lighting using mercury vapors, which were enclosed in a glass bulb. The Mercury vapor lamps set the prototype for fluorescent lighting lamps. 

The Neon lamp was invented by Georges Claude of France in 1911 followed by Irving Langmuir, an American who invented the electric gas-filled incandescent lamp in 1915. In 1927, Hans Spanner, Friedrich Meyer, and Edmund Germer patented the first fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent lamps provided better lighting as compared to the mercury vapor lamps because they were coated from inside with beryllium. 

Since then we have been using different form of lighting in lamps, which includes Mercury vapors, incandescent lamps and even today, in some corners of the earth people still use the old wick and oil lamp for lighting their homes.

How Homeowners Can Give New Life to Their Rooms by Installing LED Lights?

More and more home, apartment and office owners are looking for ways to go green.  The benefits not only improve the quality of our environment, but they also make for significant tax deductions at the end of the year.  As energy efficiency is becoming more prevalent in household lighting and home lighting design is becoming more popular, it is no surprise that LED lights are coming to the forefront as a leading choice for illumination.  

We are all familiar with the traditional incandescent light bulb.  These bulbs are filled with a gas and then a filament is stretched across the inside.  When electricity is run across the filament, it heats up to often very high temperatures.  The bulb’s glow is a result of the filament heating up.  The heat is a result of wasted energy. Incandescent bulbs also suffer from inherent fragility.  These lights weaken over time as the heat separates atoms from the whole and causes thin spots in the filament.  Eventually these thin spots will break and you will need to replace the bulb.  

An alternative light to the incandescent is the halogen bulb.  In a halogen bulb the envelope that holds the filament is a lot smaller, made of quartz and is filled with a halogen gas.  These bulbs can burn a bit brighter and will last for longer periods of time. It is halogen lighting that is currently used quite often by movie theaters, television studios and movie sets. These bulbs are still heat inefficient, however.  The most common halogen light used for indoor and outdoor home lighting is the twelve volt MR16 halogen light. 

The LED, light-emitting diode, bulb is a culmination of the best of both the incandescent and halogen worlds but with the efficiency that neither can provide. In an LED bulb, the science on which it is based is completely different from the other two options. There is no filament and very little heat.  The light source is a diode that emits light when electricity is applied.  This mechanism for creating light allows for much lower energy use, brighter light, and longer lasting bulbs.

One of the most common LED home light bulbs available is the LED Lenser Leflector. These bulbs can replace any halogen bulb up to twenty watts. The leflector can burn continuously for more than 50,000 hours before needing to be replaced.  That is more than five years of continuous use and over thirty years if the bulbs burn an average of four hours a day.  LED home bulbs are over ninety percent more efficient than a halogen bulb and can be operated for pennies a year. These features make them perfect for moving your home – kitchen, living room, game room; you name it - to a more environmentally conscious dwelling. 

Outdoor applications for LED lights are many.  They work well for outdoor accent lighting because of the many color options available and can be adjusted to be both spotlights and security flood lights.  

Updating light fixtures in a home or office is an excellent way to reduce household costs, save energy and at the same time improve upon your home lighting design.  

Tips for Choosing the Right Commercial Outdoor Lighting

Luminous billboards, shop signs and twinkling lights create a fairy tale ambience, luring bargain hunters and casual observers to malls, eating places, gaming centers and commercial establishments. Las Vegas would be a desert town if it did not have glitzy, leering neons in all shapes and designs shining in the night sky. Or imagine a scenario where there is a single commercial outdoor light for a cluster of salons and stores. Outdoor lighting evolved over the years and in process lost its bearing.

The abundance of electricity gave place to haphazard placement and usage leading to energy wastage and pollution. It is a health hazard as too much exposure causes eye problems and momentary blindness leading to automobile accidents. Poorly lighted or skewed fixtures have similar effect as in glares or rotating beams inconveniencing neighbors and residents. 

Whatever the after effects of too much or too little, commercial outdoor lighting enhances the location and is best possible advertisement for product and premises. Excessive use multiplies the electricity bill of the establishment. The answer to this is an environmentally efficient commercial outdoor lighting fixture powered by solar energy.

This is economical and environment friendly as only fixtures responsive to this lighting system are used. Another way to save on electricity bills is usage solar energy or new LED or light-emitting-diode technology to create brighter lights. LED technology is efficient and can be used effectively in commercial areas. 

With urban areas expanding and rebuilding, commercial outdoor lighting is much in demand. Streets, schools, colleges, shopping and financial establishments, cultural and sports centers all require appropriate lighting arrangements. One need not invest in old designs but select contemporary and modern designs that are durable and water-resistant.

Other contemporary designs in commercial outdoor lighting include bronze fixtures mounted on matching fiberglass poles ideal for parking lots or recreational areas. Another popular design is cobra head fixture perfect for parking lots, highways or city streets.

Guidelines on the Use of Copper Tape to Wire Your Dolls House

Lighting your dolls house can be one of the most rewarding aspects of building and owning a dolls house. The use of working lights, fires and even televisions can really add life to your house and make it a centre piece of the room in which it is housed. 

The use of copper tape to light your dolls house is just one of the methods that can be used (others will be discussed in future articles). This method uses thin strips of self adhesive copper tape to conduct electricity around your house. 

The first stage is to decide on the location of your dolls house lights. The socket should be removed from the end of each light and a small hole drilled to allow the wire to pass through (in this case to the back of the house). For ceiling light the hole should be drilled through the ceiling into the room upstairs and then out of the back of this room. This way wires can be covered over with carpeting etc. For wall lights that are not on the back wall these too can be trailed up the wall and then out to the back from the room above (small groves can be made in the walls to hide the wire and keep a smooth surface for decorating).

Next we need to decide on the position of the copper tape. For a front opening dolls house this would be the back of the house. The copper tape is laid down in two strips that run parallel to each other (they must not touch or they will short circuit). Where the copper tape overlaps use masking tape between the two tapes to insulate. Tape should be positioned so that the lighting wires can be easily connected and so that the wire creates a circuit. 

Once the light has been installed the wire on the outside should be cut to the appropriate length to allow connection to the copper tape without lots of excess wire. To connect the wire to the copper tape separate the wire into two strands, strip the plastic coating off and solder one to either side of the copper tape circuit taking care that the copper cores do not touch.   

Plug in the transformer and check that each light is working as you go – don’t wait till the end to try a figure out which light isn’t working! 

While creating lighting circuit for your dolls house is relatively straight forward it should be remembered that we are working with an electrical circuit and must follow safe practices. Remember to always use the correct transformer for the job and NEVER connect straight to the mains.

Important Questions You Need to Ask Yourself When You Are Shopping for a Diving Light

Every diver must think of underwater kinetics at some point. Unless you want to feel around in the dark every time you go under the water you’ll have to consider what kind of flashlight you need. Here are a few tips for choosing the right scuba light.

First, let me give you an introduction. The basic types of light include LED, HID, and Xenon. Each, of course, has its special characteristics and which one is right for you depends on your diving goals. Let’s examine each type of scuba light on its own merits.

LED

LED stands for light-emitting diode. These lights are long lasting and use very little power, which makes them quite useful to divers.

HID

High-intensity discharge lights are useful if you need more light at longer distances. They tend to be more expensive but worth the extra price if you are charting darker territory.

XENON

Xenon lights use the highest intensity available for more light, longer durations and super super power. These are the underwater lights for the experts.

All three kinds of dive light have a host of features you can try on for size. You can get them with lanyards, clips, head mounts, key rings, fiber optic probes, and various battery sizes and unique features for type of light. But which one is right for you?

What type of diver are you? Do you dive for sport and entertainment, are you an instructor, or do you go on dangerous shark hunting missions? That makes a huge difference in the type of light you need. For most of us, a simple LED light is ideal. This is especially true if you are a beginning diver.

If you are new to diving you should get a mini-light. They are less bulky and chances are you’ll be going out with a more experienced diver who has a more powerful light. But you’ll still want one of your own.

If you are more experienced and tend to dive for longer periods of time then you will want a more powerful light. If your dive sessions tend to be for hours on end then you want a light that can stand the test of time. You want one whose battery isn’t going to fizz out while you explore those coral reefs.

For divers who like to explore dark, unexplored corners of the sea, you’ll want something that offers some brightness. What sense does it make to go into an underwater cave with a flashlight that only operates at 2 lumens?

Are you a photographer? Do you like to shoot pictures of marine wildlife? Then you’ll definitely want a head lamp. Get something that has enough power to illuminate at greater distances, particularly if you plan to photograph exotic sea life or dangerous creatures like sharks and other aqua predators. It’s imperative that you have your hands free to fiddle with the camera.

If you dive in places where there is a possibility of bumping into other divers then you should probably wear a beacon. This lets other divers see you before they harpoon you. Put one on your back because you will not always meet other divers eye to eye.

But you’ll also want to wear one on the front side of your body as well. If possible, put one on your head and one on your foot or leg as many divers like to scale the floors of the waters in which they dive. You want your beacon to be seen from any direction – front, back, side, top or bottom.

The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a diving light, next to safety, is personal style and taste. What makes you comfortable? Do you like holding the pistol grip in your hand and pretend you are James Bond under the sea?

Or do you prefer having your hands free? Do like your light bouncing around as you dive as they tend to do with a lanyard, or do you prefer to have them clipped to your wetsuit or other gear?

These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself when you are shopping for a diving light.

How to Find Proper Outdoor Lighting for Female Sea Turtles?

Improper outdoor lighting is one of the greatest issues affecting sea turtles - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Let's face it... light pollution and sea turtles just don't go together. Many species are on the verge of extinction... and improper outdoor lighting is a major cause. Not quite sure how this can be? Let's look into this a little further...

Female turtles return to the same area to nest each year. If they return and find bright outdoor lighting, one of two things happens.

1) The female will simply swim on by... essentially removing herself from the breeding population.

2) She lays her eggs, and then several weeks later the hatchlings emerge under cover of darkness and begin their journey to the sea. They've evolved through millions of years to seek out the brightest horizon. This is generally the ocean... with crashing surf and moon and star light reflecting on the water. 

Unfortunately, if bright lights were installed along with some recent development, the hatchlings emerge and crawl towards the bright lights... and away from the ocean and a chance at survival.

These then get run over by cars as they cross streets, wander till exhausted and are eaten by predators or simply roast in their own shells in the heat of the sun. In excess of 80% of hatchlings can die on light polluted beaches.

Many communities have enacted outdoor lighting regulations designed to come to the aid of declining sea turtle populations. These generally require the use of full cutoff fixtures.

Full cutoff fixtures simply control the output of light... forcing it down towards the ground where its needed... and preventing it from shining up into the night sky... or horizontally when it can cross property lines... and illuminate turtle nesting beaches.

Starry Night Lights has a greatly expanded selection of turtle friendly outdoor lighting solutions. Working with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, they’ve combined the largest selection of full cutoff outdoor lights with “monochromatic” turtle safe lights to offer a number of solutions to communities that border sea turtle nesting areas.

They offer bollards, wall packs and pole mounted solutions for businesses and municipalities as well as a huge selection of fixtures for homeowners and condo associations. The combination of full cutoff fixtures and monochromatic lights has been found to be least disruptive to sea turtle hatchlings.

How LED Light Sources in the Home, Office and Outdoors Can Help Future Generations and Save Money?

LED lights are a wonderful invention that has changed the way the world is lit. Not only are they long lasting, they have many environmental benefits. LED lights are four times more efficient than a regular incandescent light bulb and last 10 times as long. LED lights also use between 50 and 80 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb.

LED lights are considerably less expensive to operate, however are a little more expensive to purchase. LED home lighting requires only one third of the energy that an incandescent bulb will use.

A single 18-watt LED light can replace a 75-watt incandescent and in the lifetime of the LED light, will save 570 kWh of energy. At a basic eight cents per kilowatt rate, that equals $45 dollars in energy bill savings.

By switching to low energy LED home lighting in your home, even one bulb will keep one half of a ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere through the lifetime of the bulb instead of using incandescent bulbs. Switching also keeps sulfur oxide and nuclear waste out of the atmosphere as well, leading to a cleaner world and one that will last much longer.

By simply switching, our environment could easily revitalize itself without having to deal with the excess carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide and nuclear waste emissions that are currently being released into the atmosphere every day. Even changing one lonely bulb in every home to LED home lighting would make a significant impact on the environment. 

If every home in the United States were to switch to LED home lighting, 90 power plants could be retired, a potentially powerful impact to the long-term health of the environment. Being energy efficient and environmentally conscious doesn’t have to disrupt your entire life.

The switch is as difficult as changing one light bulb in your home, the results of which would save you money on your electricity bill each month. Just one home lighting fixture, one light bulb can be a positive step forward for your household. Take a look around your home and count how many bulbs you use and consider how often you change them.

Say, for example that you change a bulb every two months. Now, consider that by changing them all to LED lighting for your home, you could leave them and not have to replace them for 20 months. The slightly higher upfront costs of LED lights make sense. 

LED lighting is finding its way into many niche markets. You can get a LED flashlight that also uses less battery energy, ensuring that the next time the power goes out in your home, you can be confident that your batteries will last.

There are also LED lanterns that you can choose from that are ideal for camping or hunting. They last for considerably longer than other lanterns because they use 10 times less energy to run than standard incandescent bulbs and even less energy than a kerosene lantern.

For LED home lighting, there are many options available other than just bulbs. You can find LED light fixtures for your home, indoor and out, that will provide low energy, environmentally-friendly lighting that can save you money on your energy bill. 

We all are challenged to do our part to conserve energy.  By making small adjustments to the way we live, we can begin to make an impact on our world.  One small change we all can make is to switch our home and outdoor light fixtures to LED light options.

There are a large number of options for LED home lighting and LED camping and hunting outdoor equipment available on the market, all of which provide the energy efficiency benefits inherent in LED products.  The benefits can become apparent very quickly as we begin to see our energy bill costs reduce over a period of a few months. 

How Flexible Neon LED Lighting Can Help You Attract More Customers to Your Business?

There are many ways to get your business noticed. Signs, flashing lights, bright building paint colors, banners, and window displays can all attract more customers to your establishment.

But a new innovative method that many businesses are now using to get attention is the addition of flexible neon LED lighting to their building. Flexible neon lighting such as NeoFlex neon offers many benefits, dollar savings, and an easy way to spruce up an older building.

Uses for Flexible Neon LED Lighting

There are many uses for this unique type of neon lighting. You can decorate your building in a great way by installing the lighting around the entire building or storefront.

Many businesses place the neon border tubing along the edges of building borders and roofs. In the windows, you can create unique neon signs for open/closed signs, slogans, special sales, or even the name of your business. You can also create amazing logos with the neon tubing. 

These neon lights and signs not only attract attention while customers are entering your store or business, but they also attract attention from the highway, especially at night. The more people see your storefront, the better chance you'll have of getting them to enter your store. You can get their attention with neon, and then make a special offer on a sign to bring in targeted customers. 

These types of lights are great for car wash neon lighting, bar neon lights, stage lights, casino neon lights, and restaurants or pubs. They do wonders for hotels and condos, or any business that's open after dark.

Benefits of Flexible Neon Lights

Using flexible neon LED lighting for architectural lighting offers numerous benefits. The tubing is bendable so it can be molded and shaped to fit almost any surface. It is easy to install, and many business owners install it on their own for smaller lighting projects.

Flexible neon tubing can be cut to any length to meet any lighting need. Also, it is made with a thick rubber coating that protects it from weathering, vandals, or flying debris. 

This type of lighting can be plugged into a regular 110-volt outlet, so no special power supplies are needed. Also, it is cost-efficient. You can save up to 80 percent in energy costs when compared with standard neon lighting. This lighting has up to 100,000 hours of life expectancy and is also cool to the touch.

Colors and Surfaces

There are also a variety of colors so you can match the neon lighting your business logo colors. These include red, purple, green, white, blue, yellow, and orange. You can decorate in one color or all "rainbow" colors if you want your business to really stand out.

Flexible neon LED lighting can be installed on several surface types such as wood, steel, plastic, and concrete. Up to 300 feet of continuous border tubing can be stretched along your building's exterior or interior to create eye-catching building highlights.

If you're searching for an affordable, but noticeable, way to draw more attention to your storefront, LED neon lighting is a great alternative lighting solution. Easy installation neon lighting gives your business its opportunity to shine!