Skip to main content

Report finds LED replacement lamps don’t meet criteria

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has been conducting evaluations of LED replacement lamps, most recently those with a mogul base. Its report on phase 1 of the project, Mogul based LED replacement lamps, provides details of the market characterisation and pilot photometric testing of 18 representative mogul base LED lamps alone and in luminaires. LRC found that only four of the 18 lamps met the minimum DesignLights Consortium Qualified Products List criteria for retro
January 13, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has been conducting evaluations of LED replacement lamps, most recently those with a mogul base. Its report on phase 1 of the project, Mogul based LED replacement lamps, provides details of the market characterisation and pilot photometric testing of 18 representative mogul base LED lamps alone and in luminaires.

LRC found that only four of the 18 lamps met the minimum DesignLights Consortium Qualified Products List criteria for retrofit kits when the lamps were placed in area lighting and roadway luminaires. The lamps tested in wall pack and high bay luminaires did not meet the applicable minimum efficacy criteria for retrofit kits.

LRC also conducted a comprehensive survey of specifiers to identify key considerations for lamp selection and relevant luminaire performance characteristics for various lighting applications, such as light output, intensity distribution, size, to support the development of a performance testing plan, the results of which are also included in the report.

Phase 2 is now underway, consisting of additional performance testing of mogul base LED lamps in representative luminaire types. The results of Phase 2 testing will be released as they become available.

The report was funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) as an assessment of the state of technology development and the potential for emerging technologies to increase the efficiency of electricity use. BPA is undertaking a multi-year effort to identify, assess and develop emerging technologies with significant potential for contributing to efficient use of electric power resources in the Northwest.

“The market is changing so rapidly—and with any new product, it’s important to understand the full range of quality and performance available to consumers,” said John Wilson, Commercial and Industrial Lighting program manager at the Bonneville Power Administration. “This research will help utilities in the Pacific Northwest to make smart and reliable investments in energy efficiency.”

Related Content

  • January 31, 2012
    Next-gen LED LightBar System
    Cooper Lighting has upgraded its outdoor LED LightBar technology to improve lumen output and efficiency, while continuing to offer up to 75% in energy savings over traditional high intensity discharge (HID) outdoor lighting sources.
  • December 24, 2012
    Evolucia introduces next generation LED roadway lighting
    Manufacturer of LED (light emitting diode) lighting products, Evolucia, has launched its next generation of LED replacement roadway luminaires. They claim the new Evolucia G2 aimed optics LED Cobra Head roadway luminaires offer substantially increased light efficacy when compared to traditional lighting technologies such as high intensity discharge (HID). "The G2 Evolucia Aimed Optics Cobra Head roadway luminaire packages high quality illumination, long life and extraordinary energy efficiency, a breakthro
  • December 16, 2016
    Study reveals unexpected effects of replacing fuel tax
    Eric O’Rear, Wallace Tyner and Kemal Sarica examine the far-reaching implications of replacing fuel taxes with a mileage tax. Lawmakers at both the federal and state level are frustrated over declining fuel tax revenues as they struggle to fund projects for constructing and maintaining state-wide infrastructure.
  • February 28, 2014
    AGD retrofit LED pedestrian signals aid carbon savings
    AGD Systems’ 924 and 924R LED wait indicator solution provides UK local authorities with the means to upgrade pedestrian crossing wait indicator bulb units to the latest high intensity LED technology, as traditional filament light bulbs are gradually phased out, AGD can provide a cost effective retrofit LED kit or a complete. Delivering power savings of up to 80 per cent over existing lamp-based units, AGD’s 924 and 924R retrofit kits are easy to install and fully compatible with all main industry cont