How to choose LED downlights and LED spotlights?

In home decoration, we often get confused when we install the lights. It is difficult to install a set of lighting fixtures that we like. On the one hand, there are many kinds of lamps, such as ceiling lamps, chandeliers, downlights, spotlights. On the other hand, the lighting industry itself is a high-profile, low-profile industry. Users are familiar with it but don’t understand it. Plus, the industry is really developing very fast. It’s also normal to buy tips and create confusion.

In the home decoration, the downlights and spotlights are used the most. On the one hand, the auxiliary lighting fixtures such as downlights and spotlights are needed in the home. On the other hand, the spotlights are not limited by the decoration style. Basically, each decoration style is suitable. Downlights and spotlights, all styles are eaten, which causes the downlights and spotlights to be used the most. Not only that, but also the use of downlights in commercial places, shopping malls, shops, office buildings, hotels, restaurants, etc. However, in the purchase, many owners do not know the difference and the difference between the two, so here to share the similarities and differences between LED downlights and LED spotlights and purchase guidance.

Why choose LED downlights and LED spotlights? Because LEDs have many advantages, energy saving, environmental protection, no infrared ultraviolet light, pure light color, intelligent dimming, etc., specifically, more than 90% energy saving than incandescent lamps, Compared with the fluorescent lamps commonly used in the past, the energy saving is more than 50%, and the life is very long. The theoretical life can reach 50,000 hours, basically no need to change the lamp for a lifetime. Therefore, these advantages have led to LED becoming the mainstream nowadays. Incandescent lamps and fluorescent energy-saving lamps have been replaced one after another. Therefore, this article also focuses on LED downlights and spotlights.

The following is a formal introduction to the same and different LED downlights and spotlights and installation instructions.

Downlights and spotlights are very similar in structure. They are composed of face ring, lamp body, radiator, light source, power supply, etc. The installation method is mostly embedded installation, which is embedded in the ceiling and only shows the ring, so it does not destroy. The integrity of the ceiling, the room is also very neat.

The biggest difference between downlights and spotlights is the difference in illumination angles, which creates a difference in structure!

Downlight: mainly used to provide uniform light, just like the sun light, everything shines! But the downlight can't be as big as the sun, so it is designed from the angle of illumination, the angle of illumination of the downlight is generally larger, usually in At about 120 degrees, the acrylic mask is commonly used, so that uniform light can be obtained, and the light is soft and not glare.

Spotlights: Mainly through small angles of glare to highlight key objects like TV background walls, murals, ornaments, goods, etc., or to increase the contrast of light and darkness, create an atmosphere, like the flagship store of big-name clothing, the contrast between light and dark is very strong. In order to achieve this effect, the angle of illumination of the spotlight is generally small, usually 30-60 degrees, so that even if it has the same power as the downlight of the same type, the total amount of illumination is the same, but the illumination area is small and the brightness is high. . Structurally, spotlights often use a lens or a reflective bowl to achieve small angle concentrating, and the illumination angle can usually be adjusted so that the illuminating object can be adjusted as needed during installation.

First, the use of the place

In the home decoration, downlights and spotlights can often be replaced by each other, such as living room, aisle, dining room, balcony, kitchen, bathroom, study, entrance, etc., because these places are not very demanding on the angle of light. It is provided with auxiliary lighting. But like in the background wall, TV wall, it is best to use spotlights, because it shines on the wall, you can make beautiful spots, there is a strong contrast between light and dark, the space will be very artistic.

Second, the structure of LED downlight spotlights

The anatomy is carried out from the structure of the LED downlight.

1, the lamp body

The lamp body is made of aluminum, such as die-cast aluminum and aluminum. There are many factors in selecting aluminum, the heat dissipation performance is good, the aluminum profile is easy to process, and the aluminum surface is oxidized to form a dense layer of alumina, which is resistant to corrosion, and the aluminum is lighter, the ceiling pressure is small, and the price of aluminum is further reduced. It is also relatively cheap, low cost, and easy for users to accept. In addition to aluminum, plastic is also a common raw material, because the cost of plastic is lower, but the sacrifice is the ability to dissipate heat and quality, excellent and cheap, by Jun.

2, face ring

There are also many surface treatment processes for face rings, such as drawing, sanding, baking varnish, etc., mainly to meet the various needs of different users. Like brushed to show the unique texture and luster of the metal, the matte can have a matte texture, and the paint is painted on the face ring at a high temperature, and the texture is extraordinary. The color of the face ring is also various. The commonly used ones are gold, silver, white, and there are also multi-color combinations such as Phnom Penh white, some face rings and carved decorations, all of which are extended to better meet customer needs. .

3, the light source

Light source, now basically use LED, the advantages have been explained clearly before, no longer repeat them.

4, the drive power

The driving power supply is the first step for 220V mains to enter the LED light source. The LED light source uses low-voltage DC power, so it needs to use the power supply to convert 200V mains into low-voltage DC. There are many kinds of driving lights for downlights and spotlights. At present, the high-end is the intelligent constant current drive with IC. The fluctuating current is converted into a smooth current so that the lamp does not flicker, is very eye-protecting, and has a long life. The only drawback is that the cost is high.

5, the radiator

When the light source is emitting light, it is often accompanied by heat. LED is a semiconductor, which is sensitive to temperature. If the temperature is too high, it will reduce its life. Therefore, it is necessary to use a heat sink to help the heat dissipation of the lamp. At present, the mainstream radiators on the market include solar radiators and blade radiators.

Third, about the installation

The installation of downlights and spotlights is also relatively simple. Moreover, these installation work is generally done by professional decoration companies. The most important thing to pay attention to is the size of the opening. The 3W or 5W LED spotlights are commonly used in home improvement. The 3W opening is usually 7-9 cm, and the 5W opening is 9-10 cm. It should be noted that according to past experience, many owners have taken a detour in the size of the opening. It is easier to open the hole. It takes a little labor to re-increase. If the hole is wide, the lamp will be installed. If you don't go in, you only have to change the lights, and the energy is not a little bit. (Remarks: Recommended opening: inner diameter <open hole <= outer diameter – 25px, should take the middle value).

Fourth, the classification and selection of color temperature

Downlights and spotlights are generally white, but white light also has a color change. The terminology is expressed in terms of "color temperature", as shown in the figure below, from 1800K to 7500K. The color temperature of 3000K is often called warm white (often confused with yellow light!), 4000K often (called natural white), 5500K-6000K is often called white, and more than 6500K is often called cool white. In fact, light color is also a good choice, because everything includes human beings, living in the sun, the color of the sun, from the warm white in the morning to the white at noon, and return to warm white at night. Therefore, choosing the color of light and following the sun is right.

Warm white or white color temperature is often used in the home. If there is natural white, it is better. This is the longest white light in the day. Warm white is characterized by warmth, and the characteristics of white are bright, because there are main lights such as ceiling lamps and chandeliers in the home, as well as auxiliary lamps and lanterns such as downlights, spotlights, wall lamps and light strips. It is best to be white and warm. Use with white.

It is worth mentioning that there are now intelligent dimming LED lamps, which are mainly beneficial to the advantages of LEDs. One lamp can bring out the natural white, white and warm white and white warm white, one light three Use! This is unimaginable in the past incandescent and fluorescent energy-saving lamps, this is the advantage and charm of LED!