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Induction lighting

post #1 of 4
Thread Starter 

Induction lighting is the latest trend in lighting technology. Induction lamps are built to last and is cost efficient, browse through www.getdeco.com  to see a variety of induction lamps.  What is induction lighting? Well technically, it works when energy is transmitted through an electromagnetic field. Then a light emitting gas is energized within the bulb, which is induced through an inductor where alternating current is passed. Thus, an induction lamp lasts longer since electricity-conducting electrodes are not needed on the lamp. In place of ballast, induction lamps uses a generator with a power coupler.  An induction lamp has the capacity to save almost 40% in your electric bill against its fluorescent counterpart.  Also, some types of induction lamps could have a life span of 100,000 hours. This makes them last 7 times longer than T12HO fluorescent and about 5-13 times longer than metal halide.  Induction lamps are ideal for use with high- ceiling applications in which the lamps are difficult to access.  They could operate well in extremely low temperatures, as a conclusion, induction lighting could cater to a wide range of usage. It includes lighting up parking areas, roads, tunnels, gymnasiums, industrial buildings and could also be suitable for freezers and cold storage lighting.  Although induction lighting set-ups could be a little costly, you could still have higher savings since it needs only a little maintenance and has greater energy efficiency. Induction lighting has other advantages such as better colour rendition and better colour range shifting from daylight to soft white. Also, induction lamps are environment friendly since they use less mercury every hour of operation than traditional lighting due to their long life span. They also have instant-on and hot re-strike features, unlike traditional lamps that are used in industrial applications like sodium-vapor lamp, mercury-vapor lamp and metal halide lamp.  Investing on induction lighting that is suitable for your need could do you wonders.  It's still up to you on whether or not you should invest on one. If you are still in doubt, review the article that you just read and think about it. Good luck!

post #2 of 4

How would inductive lighting compare to LED?

post #3 of 4

The ski-area where I am an electrician is presently expanding the night-skiing terrain in a two-year project. I received a sales call from a firm selling the new induction lighting. This is actually old stuff, coming back to the surface with advances in material sciences. Effective induction lighting was first demonstrated by Nikola Tesla in the 1890, and there has been continual advances in the technology throughout the 20th century.

 

Electrical Approval

Unfortunately, for the level of illumination required, the company is unable to supply suitable outdoor fixtures that bear evidence of electrical approval (CSA, UL etc), and therefore their use is forbidden. Hopefully this will change in the coming years.

In the mean-time, this years night-lighting project will use a traditional mixture of High-Pressure Sodium & Metal Halide lamps (best efficiency available), mostly 400W & 1000W ea, about 70 fixtures total.

 

Availability

Once past the hurdle of gaining electrical approvals, I still need to have confidence that I can buy standardized fixtures & parts from any traditional electrical supplier. The induction lighting proponents have a very large marketing job ahead of them. A major manufacturer, Cooper Lighting, is now offering an approved induction luminaire, but these are way too small for ski-hill lighting. Good to see some availability though.

 

Price

For comparison, the cost of purchase & installation + 3 years of operation (energy & maintenance) of relatively low hours (only 600 hours/year of night-skiing). The best cost-performance lamp type must be a clear winner after only 3 years. Any longer & the money will be better spent on other more deserving energy efficiency projects. The acid test is always "payback in 3 years". At present, the cost payback for induction lighting, if it were legal & available, is more like 20+ years. Induction lighting fixture prices need to come way down.

post #4 of 4

What makes Induction lighting so expensive? We're looking at $800-900 for a 400watt lamp...

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