Español
Horticutral Lighting
Have you ever considered converting to LEDs?
LED lighting has become a popular option for replacing existing lighting in industrial businesses all over the world as electricity bills have risen and people have become more aware of energy shortages. This is because LED lights are energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and long-lasting. Switching to LEDs provides several benefits, such as reducing energy costs and improving lighting quality.
There are many options for LED retrofitting, including LED retrofit kits and new LED fixtures. LED retrofit kits seem to be a cost-effective option. However, budgets and needs vary with every application. LED retrofit kits may be best suited for some applications, while only new fixtures will provide the desired results for other places. Therefore, you should carefully consider whether an LED retrofit kit or a new fixture is right for you.
What is an LED retrofit kit
An LED retrofit kit is a conversion to replace and upgrade existing HID and fluorescent lights. It involves an LED driver and an LED light panel. The key feature of LED retrofit kits is that they can improve lighting quality and efficiency without changing the look and design of the original fixtures. Therefore, LED retrofit kits are best for places where you want to keep the current housing as well as upgrade the actual lighting inside the fixture.
For example, our customer said the end user is not willing to change the heat sink of the previous tunnel light installed several years ago. This is because their original heat sink has very good anti-corrosion performance. Meanwhile, just retrofitting the inside light part can save a lot of money. To solve the problem, we develop retrofit kits for traditional tunnel lights, which can maintain the previous housing, save costs, and improve lighting performance at the same time.
LED retrofit kits VS new fixtures, which is better
Both LED retrofit kits and new fixtures contribute to more energy savings and better light quality. The key advantage of using LED retrofit kits is that they enable you to maintain the original look and design. While new fixtures allow you to change the look and achieve the longest lasting. Your choice is highly dependent on your affordability, needs, and acceptance of change.
Here is a table of the comparison of LED retrofit kits and new fixtures.
|
Retrofit option |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Installation time |
Energy savings |
Upfront cost |
|
|
Retrofit kits |
Use existing housing for longer life; Better heat management; Potential dimming and control capabilities; Less labor cost. |
Require electrician. |
< 15 min |
Up to 75% |
$ |
|
|
New fixtures |
Maximum energy savings; Optimize lighting performance; Maximum potential for adding lighting controls; Lowest failure and longest lasting. |
Require electrician; Long time to install; Require costly redesign for maximum efficiency. |
> 30 min |
Up to 75% |
$$ |
Are LED retrofit kits worth it
In general, LED retrofit kits are worthy. From the comparison, we can see that LED retrofit kits require less installation time, labor costs, and upfront costs than new fixtures. Retrofit kits keep the existing housing as well. But not all retrofit kits are available with dimming and control capabilities. To figure out whether LED retrofit kits are the right choice for you, here are some considerations:
- What is your budget?
If you have to retrofit existing lighting to LEDs on a tight budget, LED retrofit kits are a better choice for you. New fixtures not only require higher prices but also higher installation costs. LED retrofit kits would be the most affordable option.
- Do you want to change the look of existing fixtures?
If the fixtures have unique designs or high-quality housings, or you want to keep their charming look, LED retrofit kits are great solutions to upgrade your lighting system. For example, retrofit kits allow for optimizing the lighting quality and lifespan of historical lanterns without damaging their elegant and classical appearance.
- What are the conditions of existing lighting fixtures?
If existing lighting fixtures are in decent shape, using LED retrofit kits is the best option. Simply replacing the inside light part is cost-effective. However, if the fixtures in question are near the end of their life, you should lean towards replacing existing fixtures with new LED fixtures.
- Do you need dimmable and intelligent lighting?
Consider purchasing new fixtures if you want the lighting to be dimmable, color-changing, or have integrated sensors and controls. Not all LED retrofit kits are equipped with dimming and control capabilities. Even if you use dimmable and controllable retrofit kits, they cannot provide the same level of functionality as LED lighting fixtures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an LED retrofit kit is the right choice for you when you are on a tight budget, ask for keeping the housing of existing fixtures, and don’t have strict requirements for intelligent lighting control. But sometimes utilizing retrofit kits is not possible. Furthermore, LED retrofit kits are not available for some LED lighting. You should purchase new fixtures under these conditions.
Whether you need LED retrofit kits or new LED fixtures, just contact us. We will provide the best solution that fits your budget.
