Heat:
Typical halogen undercabinet fixtures will run between 70°C – 90°C. This adds heat to an already hot cooking area, can cause cabinet discoloration and delaminating, and can dry-out or melt perishables stored on the shelving above. By comparison, LED fixtures will typically run at less than 40°C and are safe to touch.Size:
LEDs are extremely small and low profile. This characteristic allows lighting designers to create lower profile fixtures, which are easier to conceal. In addition, LEDs can be arranged to create a fixture of any length.Life and Power:
When utilized 4 hours per day, the average life of a halogen bulb is approximately 4 years. By comparison, LEDs in the same application will typically maintain more than 70% of their initial intensity after 34 years of use. Also, at the same 4 hours per day, consuming power at $0.10 per KWH, a single 22˝ LED undercabinet fixture will save its owner $7.68 per year in energy costs.Optical:
In an undercabinet application, light is required everywhere from the front edge of the counter top to where the wall meets the cabinet. This is typically a 130° range when viewed from the light source. All light falling outside this range is undesirable and wasted. Due to the fact that LEDs are directional in nature, a fixture designer can better focus the light where it is needed using asymmetric engineered diffusers or any number of optic techniques. Dimming:
Most people consider dimming an absolute must for kitchen applications. Electronically speaking, LEDs are extremely versatile and can be designed into circuits utilizing diverse dimming methods. One can even design an undercabinet system that can be dimmed using common off-the-shelf dimmers. Environment:
LEDs do not contain harmful elements such as mercury or lead. This provides environmentally responsible designers and manufacturers the opportunity to produce a "green" product, which can even meet strict RoHS standards.For more information, please contact Norlux at 630-784-7500 or visit us at www.norluxcorp.com.
