Garden Lighting FAQ's

Q. Why do the colour of LEDs vary so much?(Colour binning)

A. Unfortunately because Luxeon LED are at the cutting edge of technology and LED production, the colour temperature of the Luxeon LED cannot be guaranteed. Although Luxeon do currently grade LEDs into colour 'bins' the colour variation within these bins is still significant to the human eye. When designing schemes using Luxeon LED, it is important that they should be designed to not be sensitive to the colour temperature of the LEDs light.

Q. Why must Luxeon LEDs be wired in series?

A. To achieve the same current throughout a circuit, it is necessary to wire in series. Circuits wired parallel will have a constant voltage, and circuits wired in series will have a constant current for all components in the circuit.

Q. What voltage do the Luxeon LEDs run on?

A. There is no answer to this question, except somewhere between 2 and 4 volts. Every Luxeon LED requires a different voltage but a constant current.

Q. What is the output voltage of the constant current drivers?

A. The output voltage varies depending on how many LED are wired into the circuit. The more LEDs wired into the circuit, the higher the voltage.

Q. What is the maximum voltage of the constant current drivers?

A. Each driver has it's own maximum voltage, but all Collingwood drivers have a maximum voltage of below 50v DC ie. SAFETY EXTRA LOW VOLTAGE.

Q. Can Luxeon LEDs be used in bathrooms and swimming pools?

A. Yes, (assuming the enclosure has appropriate IP rating) but always bear in mind the maximum voltage of the driver in the event of open circuit. Be carefull when selecting the driver. Certain areas of bathrooms and swimming pools have maximum voltage requirements of less than normal Safety Extra Low Voltage eg. bathroom zone 1, max voltage 30v DC this means that PLR and PLS could be used, but PLU and PLK could not.

Q. Can Luxeon be used in saunas?

A. Yes and no. All equipment installed in sauna areas C and D must be suitable for ambient temperature of 125degrees centigrade. As with bathroom areas, saunas have specific voltage requirements. If an LED is run constantly high temperature it's life and light output will be severely limited. Only fit LED products where the temperature of the LED can be effectively controlled.