Internet Over LED Light?

Will you be able to connect to your light fixture at work to access the internet? Believe it or not this new technology exists! At Nextwave we were excited to take part in a webinar this past week to learn about that interesting new technology called Li-Fi. Here are some basics on this technology:

• What is Li-Fi? Li-Fi is a wireless technology that uses LED bulbs to transmit data.

• How does it work? A data connection is connected to your light fixture. Data is transmitted through the LED bulb to a device by modulating or flashing the LED light so fast that it cannot be seen by your eyes but can be picked-up by a receiver in your electronic device.

• Why might this be better than Wi-Fi?

  • Because it is not RF (Radio Frequency) it does not interfere with sensitive electronics so it can be used in environments such as Hospitals or Airplanes.

  • It is more secure because the signal is contained within that respective room and does not “bleed” to other areas beyond the room.

  • Li-Fi is able to transmit large amounts of data quicker than Wi-Fi.

  • For those that are worried about the RF from Wi-Fi systems constantly hitting your body; this may be a healthier alternative.

Please have a look at this short video by Signify which is one of the leaders in this technology.

If you are interested in this or any other ways LED lighting can be beneficial for your home or office; please give us a call at Nextwave, we would be happy to help!

Nextwave Electric is proud to call Stratford home and to service the Fairfield county and New Haven county communities since 2003.

When Did Lightbulbs Become So Complicated?

Years ago when you wanted to change a Lightbulb in one of your fixtures, you would go by the sticker that tells you the maximum wattage Lightbulb that can be used or just replaced it with the same wattage Lightbulb that was in there before. These days when we purchase an LED replacement, we are faced with different choices such as Lumens or Color Temperature and that can be confusing. Here are some things that might make things easier when replacing that Lightbulb or deciding on a new fixture.

Lumens: A “new” way of knowing how bright the LED bulb is. The higher the Lumens, the brighter the light. The equivalent wattage to a Conventional Lightbulb is usually shown on the packaging but sometimes not shown if you are purchasing an LED fixture. Here are some general guidelines:

• Conventional 40w Lightbulb = 450 Lumens LED

• Conventional 60w Lightbulb = 800 Lumens LED

• Conventional 75w Lightbulb = 1,100 Lumens LED

• Conventional 100w Lightbulb = 1,600 Lumens LED

Color Temperature: Measured in Kelvin (Example 2700K) is the measure of the lights color. Here are some examples:

• 2700K is a warm type of light and is most like a Conventional Lightbulb

• 3000K is a bright white type of light that is similar to the light you would see outside on a bright, sunny day

• 5000K is a cool type of light that is more blueish in color

CRI: Often overlooked, the Color Rendering Index measures the ability of the light to accurately reproduce the colors of the object it illuminates. The higher the CRI the better the light reflects the colors accurately, the lower the CRI the more unnatural the colors appear. Did you ever look at something such as a paint swatch in a store and when you took it home it looked different? This might be why. Here are some general guidelines:

• A CRI of 80 is the general baseline of acceptable color rendering and is considered mid-range to low on the scale

• A CRI of 90 and above are considered high CRI lights and work great for places such as Hospitals, Printing Facilities, Photography Studios and Retail where color appearance may be important

At NextWave Electric we hope that you and your family stay safe and healthy – especially during these challenging times due to the coronavirus. Do you have any questions or possibly a project in mind? Contact us and we’ll be happy to answer them or come to your home when it’s safe to do so.

We are proud to call Stratford home and to service the Fairfield county and New Haven county communities since 2003.