Product Quality
The main characteristics of Valopaa products are reliability, energy efficiency, easy maintenance and meeting the requirements for achieving desired lighting.
- Reliability: The current strength of the LEDs, thermal control and tight-proof structures
- Energy efficiency: Choosing the right components, current strength of the LEDs and product design and intelligence
- Maintainability: Changeable and repairable modules, software updates and remote control of intelligent solutions
- Lighting: Design and implementation of optical structures, controlling the amount of light in intelligent luminaries
-> The current strength of the LEDs, thermal control and tight-proof structures
LED luminaires vary far and wide. When discussing LED lighting, one should note that LED lighting products vary as much as vehicles do as means of transportation, compared to speaking only about cars. An Indian rickshaw and a German Mercedes are both means of transportation, but fundamentally, they are quite different.
LED components function completely opposite to traditional light sources. A traditional light source works better and more energy-efficiently the hotter it is, i.e. the luminaire does not need to dissipate the heat. The LED components, however, function more reliably and energy efficiently the cooler the temperature is. The structure of a reliable LED luminaire needs therefore to differ from traditional luminaires. The LED light luminaire needs to transfer heat efficiently from the LED module to the ambient air. The lifespan and lighting capacities of the LED components are directly proportional to temperature.
The photometric qualities of LED components depend on current. The current can be doubled, which increases the amount of light by one and a half. However, this nearly halves the operational hours of the LEDs. The purchase price can thus be reduced, simultaneously shortening the lifespan.
A reliable LED luminaire should be implemented with LED components and optical components that are dust and waterproof (IP65). The lifespan of a led component shortens if it is exposed to moisture. The optical components fade if dust gets inside the structures, thus decreasing the lighting capacity. A LED luminaire is an electronic appliance, in which high-class components increase the reliability significantly.
The temperature, the load and the connecting device in general have vital roles in the reliability of LED luminaires. The lifespan expectancy to connecting devices can be calculated according to thermal conditions. The connecting device is an electrical device, and in electronics there is a rule of thumb: the lifespan expectancy is halved with a ten-degree increase in temperature.
In the product development of the Valopaa products special attention was given to thermal control, which can clearly be seen in the structure of the products. All luminaires have been designed to keep the LED and the connection device temperatures low to fulfil the long, up to 30-year minimum life requirement for street lights. In addition, the Valopaa products meet the high IP requirements in terms of being dust and moisture proof. These properties substantially increase the lifespan expectancy and reliability of the Valopaa products.
LED components function completely opposite to traditional light sources. A traditional light source works better and more energy-efficiently the hotter it is, i.e. the luminaire does not need to dissipate the heat. The LED components, however, function more reliably and energy efficiently the cooler the temperature is. The structure of a reliable LED luminaire needs therefore to differ from traditional luminaires. The LED light luminaire needs to transfer heat efficiently from the LED module to the ambient air. The lifespan and lighting capacities of the LED components are directly proportional to temperature.
The photometric qualities of LED components depend on current. The current can be doubled, which increases the amount of light by one and a half. However, this nearly halves the operational hours of the LEDs. The purchase price can thus be reduced, simultaneously shortening the lifespan.
A reliable LED luminaire should be implemented with LED components and optical components that are dust and waterproof (IP65). The lifespan of a led component shortens if it is exposed to moisture. The optical components fade if dust gets inside the structures, thus decreasing the lighting capacity. A LED luminaire is an electronic appliance, in which high-class components increase the reliability significantly.
The temperature, the load and the connecting device in general have vital roles in the reliability of LED luminaires. The lifespan expectancy to connecting devices can be calculated according to thermal conditions. The connecting device is an electrical device, and in electronics there is a rule of thumb: the lifespan expectancy is halved with a ten-degree increase in temperature.
In the product development of the Valopaa products special attention was given to thermal control, which can clearly be seen in the structure of the products. All luminaires have been designed to keep the LED and the connection device temperatures low to fulfil the long, up to 30-year minimum life requirement for street lights. In addition, the Valopaa products meet the high IP requirements in terms of being dust and moisture proof. These properties substantially increase the lifespan expectancy and reliability of the Valopaa products.
-> Choosing the right components, current strength of the LEDs and product design and intelligence
The manufacturers of LED components are very different from each other. There are vast differences in processes and competences, and differing definitions of quality. The technical level of published product documentation varies from one-page printouts to hundreds of pages of professional reports. This also indicates how great the differences between LED components from different manufacturers tend to be.
Selecting the best applicable LED component, energy efficiency of the LED component, and the mechanical structure of the luminaire affect the energy efficiency of LED luminaires. The energy efficiency of a LED component improves with cooler operating temperatures and lower currents. In practice, product costs increase with more energy efficiency and longer life. With good optical implementations of LED luminaires, light loss is smaller than in the traditional luminaires. E.g. the light loss from reflectors and shading of the light source are nonexistent in LED luminaires that have good optical design.
Compared to lighting with discharge lamps, the energy efficiency is superior by using LED luminaires with quality components and good design. Some luminaire manufacturers present the amount of light in theoretical figures, omitting light losses caused by connecting devices, optics and temperature, so being cautious is advisable on the LED luminaire market.
The Valopaa products are leaders on the market in energy efficiency and lifecycle cost-efficiency. Valopaa develops and releases new LED lighting products continuously on the market. The light amount and distribution of Valopaa luminaires have been measured in the lighting laboratory of Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The amount of light is presented as luminous flux in room temperature.
Intelligence increases energy efficiency considerably. Intelligent lighting control generally cuts energy consumption in half compared to traditional lighting control systems without intelligence. Intelligent control reduces unnecessary lighting significantly. However, intelligent lighting control also enables increasing the amount of light when the conditions warrant it, in order to improve safety.
Selecting the best applicable LED component, energy efficiency of the LED component, and the mechanical structure of the luminaire affect the energy efficiency of LED luminaires. The energy efficiency of a LED component improves with cooler operating temperatures and lower currents. In practice, product costs increase with more energy efficiency and longer life. With good optical implementations of LED luminaires, light loss is smaller than in the traditional luminaires. E.g. the light loss from reflectors and shading of the light source are nonexistent in LED luminaires that have good optical design.
Compared to lighting with discharge lamps, the energy efficiency is superior by using LED luminaires with quality components and good design. Some luminaire manufacturers present the amount of light in theoretical figures, omitting light losses caused by connecting devices, optics and temperature, so being cautious is advisable on the LED luminaire market.
The Valopaa products are leaders on the market in energy efficiency and lifecycle cost-efficiency. Valopaa develops and releases new LED lighting products continuously on the market. The light amount and distribution of Valopaa luminaires have been measured in the lighting laboratory of Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The amount of light is presented as luminous flux in room temperature.
Intelligence increases energy efficiency considerably. Intelligent lighting control generally cuts energy consumption in half compared to traditional lighting control systems without intelligence. Intelligent control reduces unnecessary lighting significantly. However, intelligent lighting control also enables increasing the amount of light when the conditions warrant it, in order to improve safety.
-> Changeable and repairable modules, software updates and remote control of intelligent solutions
Well-designed LED luminaires do not need much maintenance. Led modules function reliably up to 20-30 years, as opposed to traditional light sources that need service every 2-4 years. (Here 1 year equals 4500 operating hours.)
When we have plenty of the same luminaires in use, it becomes crucial to be able to service and repair them without replacing luminaires with differing models during the long lifespan. Our LED modules and the connection device are designed to be changeable and repairable, which increases the lifecycle cost-effectiveness of each product.
The Valopaa products are developed on Valopaa´s own product platform. The modular structure of the product platform enables good maintainability. Individual LED modules and power supplies can be replaced, prolonging the lifecycle of the luminaire. The led modules are also repairable. Valopaa has developed a unique led module structure, enabling maintenance regardless of the current development phase of LED technology.
Valopaa maintains a database over all delivered LED luminaires. The serial numbers of the luminaires provide information of e.g. energy efficiency, amount of light and precise colour temperatures (bin). This ensures maintaining the desired lighting, whether luminaires are added, repaired or replaced.
Intelligent solutions bring an altogether new level into maintainability. Software, parameters and networks are updated wirelessly. The system also provides data back into maintenance, e.g. information about defects and energy consumption.
When we have plenty of the same luminaires in use, it becomes crucial to be able to service and repair them without replacing luminaires with differing models during the long lifespan. Our LED modules and the connection device are designed to be changeable and repairable, which increases the lifecycle cost-effectiveness of each product.
The Valopaa products are developed on Valopaa´s own product platform. The modular structure of the product platform enables good maintainability. Individual LED modules and power supplies can be replaced, prolonging the lifecycle of the luminaire. The led modules are also repairable. Valopaa has developed a unique led module structure, enabling maintenance regardless of the current development phase of LED technology.
Valopaa maintains a database over all delivered LED luminaires. The serial numbers of the luminaires provide information of e.g. energy efficiency, amount of light and precise colour temperatures (bin). This ensures maintaining the desired lighting, whether luminaires are added, repaired or replaced.
Intelligent solutions bring an altogether new level into maintainability. Software, parameters and networks are updated wirelessly. The system also provides data back into maintenance, e.g. information about defects and energy consumption.
-> Design and implementation of optical structures, controlling the amount of light in intelligent luminaries
The function of a luminaire is to produce desired lighting. Without additional optics, the light produced by LED components is typically spherical (ball-shaped). In most cases, this is not what we are after, and hence the light needs alignment. With good optical design and implementation, the light from a led luminaire can be directed precisely according to wish. In fact, the lighting produced by LED modules is more controllable and more energy efficient than lighting produced by traditional luminaires, due to the small size and how the LEDs function.
The energy efficiency of a well-designed LED luminaire increases with more precise alignment and stricter elimination of wasted light. Precisely aligned lighting obviously dictates that the light alignment must also be changeable.
Different optical solutions have been created in the Valopaa product development in order to create various lighting patterns and desired light alignments. The optical Valopaa solution in our LED modules is to place a lens on the LEDs. There are lens alternatives varying from street lighting to area and spotlighting. The optics of Valopaa LED luminaires decrease the amount of wasted light, which simultaneously increases energy efficiency. Valopaa also offers customised optical solutions to meet the needs of our customers.
The amount of light is changed according to need in intelligent solutions. The lights are dimmed or turned off completely, if needed. The amount of light can also be increased, or turned off lights can be turned on, if desired. The Valopaa intelligent LED lighting system can easily control the lighting creating by hundreds of luminaires.
The energy efficiency of a well-designed LED luminaire increases with more precise alignment and stricter elimination of wasted light. Precisely aligned lighting obviously dictates that the light alignment must also be changeable.
Different optical solutions have been created in the Valopaa product development in order to create various lighting patterns and desired light alignments. The optical Valopaa solution in our LED modules is to place a lens on the LEDs. There are lens alternatives varying from street lighting to area and spotlighting. The optics of Valopaa LED luminaires decrease the amount of wasted light, which simultaneously increases energy efficiency. Valopaa also offers customised optical solutions to meet the needs of our customers.
The amount of light is changed according to need in intelligent solutions. The lights are dimmed or turned off completely, if needed. The amount of light can also be increased, or turned off lights can be turned on, if desired. The Valopaa intelligent LED lighting system can easily control the lighting creating by hundreds of luminaires.
The Buyers´ Guide to Proper LED Luminaires
Here we are looking at a case where the luminaire will be used as long as possible, and energy efficiency and the type of lighting need also to be taken into account.
Long lifespan:
- The manufacturer of LED components should be well known and product documentation on the LED components should be available, including information on the lifespan expectancy, light loss factors and probable defects.
- Thermal control: what is the temperature of the semiconductor junction and the average current in a normal use? How many operating hours does the manufacturer guarantee with those values?
- Are the LED and optical structures dust and water proof (IP65 or more)?
- Is the casing of the electrical connections, current supplies and devices satisfactory?
- Is the luminaire maintainable, and at which level is the maintenance possible? Does the structure of the luminaire have changeable parts, and what is the estimated lifecycle of these parts?
- Are the load bearing structures made of aluminium or stainless steel?
- Are all visible plastic parts UV protected?
- Does the luminaire endure the local climate? E.g. -40C temperatures in the Nordic countries?
- How much power does the luminaire use from the electrical network (W), and how much light does it produce to the desired area or object (lm)?
- How is the light loss (lamp lumen maintenance factor) reported and is it credible?
- Does the luminaire satisfy the lighting requirements? Is all the necessary information available? Are third party measuring results available, such as light distribution files? Under which conditions have these been reported?