Premier Lighting September 2016 Newsletter
Premier Lighting Case Study: Manufacturing LED Retrofit


Customer Profile: 

Since opening in 1961, Elk River Machine Company (ERMC) has grown to become one of the most prominent full-service contract manufacturing facilities in the Midwest. Their capabilities include complete in-house material processing, design-for-manufacturing, and a complete line of concrete processing and transportation equipment. 

Goal: 

ERMC provides finished products from industrial to aerospace and as such, lighting is very important to finished product quality. In addition to product quality, improved lighting was desired for safety and security.

Solution: 

ERMC contacted Premier Lighting and two other companies to propose and quote new LED lighting to replace the existing facility interior lighting which relied on 4, 6, and 8 lamp T8 highbay fixtures. Premier conducted an in-depth lighting audit including measurements of the existing lighting levels and a lighting optimization layout. 

Premier recommended a turn-key installed approach using 2 foot 234W LED fixtures. Premier also worked with Elk River Utility for any rebates.
LED Drivers 101 - Replacing the LED Driver in an LED Fixture
 

While the market for LED drivers has been heating up, LED lighting fixtures have actually been installed since the early 2000's. Why has it taken so long to catch on? Thanks to the long life cycle of LED technology, little focus had been placed on the replacement driver market. As LED fixtures mature and go past their warranty period and components begin to fail, there is a dilemma - do we replace the fixture entirely, or tend to the components that have failed? A big factor in this decision making process is how confident the installer is in selecting the correct LED driver for the fixture.

Types of LED Drivers

The two main types of LED drivers are Constant Voltage and Constant Current. Constant Voltage Drivers are typically used in outdoor fixtures and signs. These LED drivers provide a constant DC voltage output, typically in the 12V to 24V range. The LED module is connected parallel, designed to run at a specified voltage. With the aid of a current regulator, the current to the LED is controlled. Constant Voltage LED drivers are the ideal choice for signs due to their ability to connect a wide range of modules in parallel.

Constant Current LED Drivers utilize a different technology that ensures the current sent to the LED module is constant and within a specified voltage range. The driver may power just a single LED module or multiple LED modules within a given fixture. Driver Output Ratings can include output current as well as voltage range. Currents can be rated anywhere from 350mA to 1000-1400mA. 

Tunable LED drivers have made newer LED fixtures even more efficient. Tunable LED drivers are Constant Current LED drivers that have been finely tuned to provide a precise current to the LED module that is less than what the driver is rated for. This is done as a way to adjust light levels while minimizing heat loss.
Keystone LED Ubend 6" Leg Spacing 18W Type B
Keystone now has an LED T8 Ubend that bypasses the ballast and wires direct, replacing conventional fluorescent Ubends with 6" leg spacing. At 18W, these lamps save approximately 40% more energy than standard F32T8 lamps. Integral driver within the LED Ubend lamp eliminates the need for an external ballast or driver. Constructed with shatterproof coated glass for improved durability. Suitable for dry or damp locations. NSF Listed for use in food production environments.
News in the Lighting World
Our mission at Premier Lighting is to provide our customers with the optimal and practical lighting solution for their facilities. We stock a complete line of commercial-grade LED and traditional light bulbs, as well as ballasts, controls, sensors, fixtures, and replacement lenses. If you have a lighting project you would like us to help with, contact us today for a free assessment. 
Premier Lighting | info@premierltg.com | 651-490-0886 | premierltg.com