Meanwell’s New Power Supplies for LED Lighting

Here we are again, giving you another dose of LED lighting news. This week, Meanwell, a power solution provider, has enhanced the power of their LED power supply products to 90 W with the introduction of the LPF-90(D) series. This series is ideal for various LED applications, such as outdoor/indoor LED lighting, commercial lighting, wash-wall lighting, LED stage and theatre lighting, and LED decorative lighting.

The LPF-90 series is equipped with built-in active power factor correction and a host of useful functions. With additional, three-in-one dimming features, the LPF-90D series trumps the competition by having a 1 to 10 V d.c. PWM signal or variable resistance to provide amazing brightness reduction and significant energy savings.

Additional features of the power supply series include an important IP67 protection. The supplies are covered in a durable plastic case with 94V-0 fire prevention level. Even the supply’s internal shock absorption is high: they can last through 5 G vibrations. With up to a 91% efficiency rate, the new power supplies can also withstand -40°C and +70°C temperatures, making it safe for all types of weather.

Moreover, the products are contained in double isolated, cable-style input/output connections, which makes it highly safe for regular use. The LPF-90D features extra wires to provide the perfect dimming controls.

Questions or comments about this product? Share them below! We are glad to hear from you!

New Hyper-Efficient Bulb May Be Too Costly

Cree has recently released their new hyper-efficient bulb in the stores and while, we’re super excited about a new LED light out in the market, it may be too expensive for consumers to buy.

But, wait, let’s talk about why it could be worth the extra dollars. The Cree bulb only uses one-tenth of the electricity a 75-watt incandescent bulb absorbs. Additionally, the bulb produces 152 lumens per watt versus incandescents, which only produce 14.6 lumens per watt (‘lumen’ is a measurement of the visible light emitted by a bulb). In total, the Cree bulb produces a whopping 1,300 lumens, certainly exceeding the innovation goals  of the U.S. Department’s L Prize Competition.

With these great statistics, the Cree bulb can actually reduce energy usage in the United States by 16.5 percent, as the company claims. However, this claim may be difficult to prove considering the bulbs are a bit too costly for the consumer market. On average, LED lighting costs $18 per kilolumen produced, while incandescent bulbs were around $2.20 per kilolumen. LEDs are expected to lower in price, but this may not happen until a few years later, when demand for LEDs will increase since the Energy Act of 2007 will eliminate incandescent light bulbs from the market.

So, for LED manufacturers, there will surely be a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Excited about Cree’s hyper-efficient bulb? Share your thoughts below.

New Bulb on the Block

A new LED bulb is now available for sale online! Royal Philips Electronics has just released a 17-watt LED bulb that equals to a 75-watt-equivalent incandescent bulb. The innovative bulb uses a whopping 80% less electricity than incandescents and lasts 24 times longer. In fact, the bulb has a lifespan of 25,000 hours.

Want it now? Well, the 17-watt LED bulb is exclusively available for $39.97 on HomeDepot.com. If you want a cheaper alternative, Phillips also already sells a 60-watt equivalent LED that is currently priced at $20.

As the U.S. approaches the 2014 deadline banning the sale of incandescent light bulbs, many consumers are getting more and more interested in LED lighting. Cost-effective and energy-saving, LEDs promise better deals in the long run since they last for several years, some as long as 17 years.

What do you think of this hot new product? Will you go out and get these bulbs yourself or think they are too expensive? Share your comments below.

PRIMA LIGHTING’S 14th ANNIVERSARY CATALOG RELEASED!

Highlights include NEW Mini-LED Wall Washer
NEW Super Thin LED Recessed / Puck Light

The wait is finally over! PRIMA Lighting’s 14^th Anniversary Catalog is now available!

This completely re-designed catalog includes multiple installation photos from our recent and past projects. Fine quality images and high definition 3D rendering present you the best of each fixture. It also features our new System Compatibility Indicators, distinctive icons that will help you identify the various elements of each fixture:

Our new catalog focuses on our latest products and innovations. You’ll be excited to know a wide variety of new extensions from our current product families have recently joined the line-up: new Italian glass, LED Recessed Lighting, bendable line voltage track… everything was uniquely designed and built to the “PRIMA” standard.

Mini-LED Wall Washer

The combination of ultra-low consumption and high-output LED modular units are now available on PRIMA’s Mini-LED Wall Washer. This amazing product is ideal for PRIMA’s Minirail track system, a sleek and low-profile track system perfect under kitchen cabinets, bookshelves, and jewelry display cases.

The Mini-LED Wall Washer is available in both adjustable and fixed styles. They come in 24 or 48 LED, fully dimmable when combined with PRIMA dimmable transformer and low-voltage magnetic dimmer.

Super Thin LED Recessed / Puck Light

1.46-inch diameter, 0.63-inch thickness, the new SUPER THIN LED Recessed/Puck Lighting highlights the best of PRIMA’s amazing collection of LED fixtures. Fits under most cabinet fixtures, this versatile lighting system is offered in both recessed and puck styles. With only 1.2W of power consumption, it is truly a brilliant innovation!

VantagePoint Predicts LED Lighting Prices Will ‘Plummet’ By 2015

As more and more demand for green technology rises and the number of competitors increase, VantagePoint Capital Partners, investors in Silicon Valley, expect the price of LEDs to drop by 2015. In fact, VantagePoint’s CEO, Alan Salzman, predicts that prices may fall 90% within three years.

Since the incandescent light bulbs are being phased out, it leaves much room for LEDs to gain hold of the 40 billion dollar global lighting market. Today, Europe has begun phasing out incandescent bulbs and with the recent energy efficiency policy in the U.S., 100-watt bulbs will soon be obsolete in 2012.

However, since the phasing out has just begun in our part of the globe, there hasn’t been much LEDs on the shelves for sale yet. But, Salzman expects that once incandescents are eliminated, more and more startups will develop low-cost LEDs for the general public.

Eager to improve the environment and take a piece of the growing green industry, VantagePoint has invested approximately $750 million in 32 clean technology companies, which include top LED manufacturers.

Wondering why LEDs are so important to the environment? Well, basically, an average LED bulb will save U.S. consumers as much as $7 a year in energy costs compared with incandescent bulbs, and they’ll last for about 30 years, according to Salzman.

For more info, contact us at 1-562-407-3079 or visit http://www.primalighting.com.

Decorating Your Home with LED Lighting

So, you’re thinking about decorating your home, or at least playing with the idea? Well, while many may think decorating only involves furniture, framed art, and painting, it may be surprising to know that lighting significantly contributes to the overall style of a home.

Okay. Now that we have established that lighting is important, where to start? Today, there are a variety of lighting types in the market, making it difficult to choose the right kind of lighting for you. One idea to remember is maintaining a good balance between great ambiance and bright illumination. The best type of lighting that achieves this is the LED light. LED lighting provides pleasant brightness, suitable for areas where high illumination is needed, such as the kitchen and the bathroom. Yet, it keeps a cool system, producing little heat, which is good both for the environment and the wallet.

Moreover, LED is ideal for areas outside the home, such as patios. LEDs are durable and some LED lighting fixtures are even weatherproof.

However, many home owners are finding switching to LEDs a bit challenging since LED bulbs are still on the expensive side. But, if you think about LED’s long energy life, which averages to 25,000+ hours (or three years), it’s actually a better deal going with LED as opposed to incandescent light bulbs. Plus, like we said, LEDs are more durable, so you don’t have to worry much about it being as fragile.

In fact, because of these extraordinary qualities, some decorators are considering switching over to LEDs. They find LED light bulbs provide great ambiance, perfect illumination, durability and maintains this look for years.

Do you have trouble finding lighting fixtures? Shop online at PrimaLighting.com. We provide a wide variety of lighting fixtures for every space.

Embracing the Bulb Changeover

The news of extinguishing incandescent light bulbs have really disappointed many consumers, some of which are interior designers, who depend on the right lighting to produce their masterpieces. Wary of the bulb changeover, these designers are desperately hoarding incandescents before these bulbs are completely obsolete due to the congressional legislation.

However, there are some decorators who are not entirely dismayed at the idea of the changeover. Scott Salvator, an interior designer in Manhattan, has embraced LED lighting with excitement as LED promises longer life and durability, unlike incandescents. He believes that LEDs will make decorating easier, since it would maintain its lighting for a longer period of time. Salvator has been using a Philips A19, a dimmable ambient LED bulb with a 25,000-hour life span and a cost of $39.

Still, there are some consumers who dislike the idea of spending so much for lighting, when incandescent light bulbs cost $4-5. But, since LED lighting lasts much longer, incadescent light bulbs actually cost more in the long run.

What do you think? Do you love or hate this changeover?

2011 Gets Brighter and Brighter!

What a better way to start the new year than redecorating your living or work space with our sophisticated lighting systems! Prima Lighting has an extensive selection of designs to choose from. And, with our newest collection for the 2011 Season, there’s even more ways to add style and innovative lighting to your home or business!

Our collection includes new LED recess lighting designs that come in all shapes and sizes, including 3”, 4”, 5” and 6”. You can pair them with our various selection of trims, with styles ranging from techno to miniature die cast to glam. We even have a unique, square wall recess light that stands out from the standard round recess lighting systems.

We make it easy for you to keep your design flexible, with interchangeable glass pendants that have a wide range of styles to choose from, so there is one for every mood and taste. There are pendants that stand out on their own, becoming the focal point and conversation piece of any space. There are also pendants that have simple designs with a touch of elegance that will easily blend within the room.

One of our newest glass pendants is the Sahara Sunset Tiramisu, a contemporary design with delicious auburn hues in a whimsical swirl pattern. It’s sure to create a warm, inviting atmosphere in any space. Plus, we offer a wide range of lighting systems you can pair it with, making it not only stylish, but practical as well.

Want to see more? Check out our full collection of products on our website: www.primalighting.com and tell us what you think of our versatile designs by leaving your comments below.

Welcome to Prima Lighting’s Newsletter!

Welcome to our newsletter. Here, you’ll find the latest news in the LED, lighting, and interior design industries as well as tips and tricks on designing your living or work spaces, top lighting system trends, and valuable resources for affordable lighting. If you enjoy reading our articles, we invite you to add us to your RSS feed. Also, feel free to leave us a comment or two and let us know your thoughts and opinions about the issues we address here.

About Prima Lighting: Prima Lighting is the premiere manufacturer of Low Voltage & LED lighting systems for commercial, residential, retail and restaurant applications. Prima’s extensive product line includes bendable rail/track system, tensioned cable system, Energy Saving LED fixtures, decorative hand-blown glass pendants and monopoint light fixtures, as well as miniature recessed lighting systems.

Our mission is to deliver quality products of unique design with customer service that never fails to satisfy. While there are many similar products being offered in the lighting market, our goal is to continuously deliver the Best Value to our customers.

Your 100% satisfaction is always our number one priority!

For more information, contact us @ (562) 407-3079 or visit www.primalighting.com. You can also connect with us on Prima Lighting’s Facebook Page and Prima Lighting’s Twitter Feed.