To get the best out of an LED luminaire, it must be designed specifically for this technology. It requires the right design, ballast and cooling to guarantee the level of efficiency and life span that makes the investment worthwhile.

Retrofit

Is it enough just to replace the lamp?

From a short-term, capital outlay perspective it may appear more profitable to simply replace the light source within the existing luminaire to LED. There are many types of retrofit LED light sources on the market which can be used to replace traditional sources, for instance cold halogen lamps (HRGI) of up to 50 W and other types of halogen lamps. This type of light sources can be used in locations where light flow, light quality and efficiency are lower, for example in a home environment.

In areas which place a high importance on light output and quality, retro-fitted LEDs are not always suitable. There are LED tubes on the market that are designed to replace T8 fluorescent tubes (26 mm) and run on conventional lighting ballasts. A luminaire developed for a traditional light source, generally will not perform to its full capability and some LED replacement lamps have been shown to have structural flaws which can make them dangerous.

What does the law say?

An important consideration when retro-fitting LED light sources is that responsibility for the entire luminaire passes over to the person who replaces it as the existing fixture has been tampered with. As such, the luminaire requires re-labelling and revised documentation including a new declaration for CE marking. As a CE marking generally requires a trial period, and few have the opportunity to implement such an activity, many of these types of installations are illegal.