LED strip lights are turning into a more popular lighting option for different organizations and home also. It is growing to be more functional and innovative way of indoor design in the home. Strip Lights are also well-known as LED Tape or Ribbon which help the customers to add great lighting in their workplace and home. There are mainly two types of strips and these are single color and color transforming strips for creating attractive and realistic light in the home.


If you want to decide on LED Strips for your home you need to think about some important factors. You need to think about the size, the number of LEDs inside a meter of the strip, the color, the versatility of the strip, Volts, the way of LEDs on the strip, IP rating and holding potential of it. Among these factors, you must consider the type and size of the LED most significantly.  The holding capacity of strips is usually very low. If you want to buy LED strips for your home you shouldn’t choose heavy strip lights because these are for industrial use. IP rating is so essential for choosing the right strip for your need. If you want to install strip lights at wet locations, outdoors then your items needs to be partly or entirely water proof and In this case the IP rating is 68 for the strip.

LED Strip Lights have many positive aspects over different conventional lights. Like other LED lights, it uses less electrical power to produce more light. Normally it will use 7.2 watts power to generate more lights than other conventional lighting options. Because of different color option it can generate warm white, cool white and many more. It has a greater lifespan than conventional bulbs. Generally the lifespan of a Strip Light is up to 75,000 hours.

A strip light is more adaptable than normal lighting bulbs. These bulbs are also very long and thin. They are easy to set up than other bulbs so they can be used in below kitchen cabinets, shelves, bookcases and many more places. It has a self-adhesive supporting which allows installing it more easily. These lights are very safer to use than normal lighting bulbs because they generate less heat than conventional bulbs.

LED strips can be used in various places as a great lighting option. These are very useful as a lighting option because it can be cut to precisely the right length. If you are thinking about the lighting option for bookshelves and display shelves then LED strip lighting can solve all the lighting issues. It can be used for light each area with a warm shine. Strips of LED lights are also very beneficial for lighting curved nooks and areas. By using strips, it is easy to light individual and curved niches. With subtle LED strip lighting or color changing strips, you can light your Bar. As LED strip lighting is easy to set up, and you can use it for lighting desk locations or work spaces.

At Shadow Lighting we carry LED Tape lights from Liteline and GM Lighting who are both known for their outstanding quality. If you have any questions about usage please give us a call at 604-372-2400. 

No one would have even thought about this but we were fortunate enough to work with one of our key electrical partners Neidig Electric and SYNLawn to create a unique putting green. LED's at the bottom of the cups (for those insomniac golfers) as well as perimeter LED lighting. An awesome design and one I am sure will get plenty of use. A special thanks to both Darren and Neidig Electric and the team at SYNLawn.

About Synlawn. SYNLawn is more than just a well-known and widely respected brand name in the artificial grass industry. We are a company whose origins producing synthetic grass solutions date back to 1964. The five decades since have been a time of innovation, research and development for our artificial turf products, which were first introduced to the Canadian market in 2005. The reception SYNLawn received in Canada was, and continues to be, exceedingly positive, and our network of distributors continues to grow our product line in every corner of this great country.

Mercury containing lamps such as fluorescent lamps are an energy efficient choice that can be used in many lighting applications. Mercury is in fact an essential component and no viable replacement has been found at this time. Therefore, the use of fluorescent lamps, which are far more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, can reduce energy consumption and may, as a result, decrease overall mercury releases. Through the Canada wide Standard for Mercury containing Lamps, manufacturers have committed to significant reductions in the amount of mercury in lamps. The best energy efficient lighting option remains choosing low-mercury, long-life fluorescent bulbs and disposing of end-of-life lamps properly.

Mercury-containing lamps should be treated as hazardous materials and should not be thrown in the garbage. Many municipalities have programs that accept household products that contain mercury. Some have implemented collection programs specifically for fluorescent bulbs, while others collect them as part of their household hazardous waste programs. If you wish to dispose of bulbs that were for personal use, you may wish to contact your local municipality or provincial authority for disposal information.

Tip: Keep your bulbs' original packaging and use it to store spent bulbs to prevent them from breaking in order to avoid mercury releases during transport to the disposal facility.

Depending on the circumstances and the quantities of waste, end-of-life fluorescent bulbs are in many cases classified as hazardous waste. This can be the case when commercial/industrial/institutional facilities generate waste fluorescent lamps. It is the responsibility of facility managers to be aware of the policies, legislation and initiatives that apply to their facility and the associated legal liability of the organization.

It is important that fluorescent lamps are properly disposed of in order to prevent mercury releases from the bulb. The best disposal method for fluorescent tubes is recycling. Used lamps must be handled carefully to ensure that they do not break or implode and release mercury. Fluorescent lamps should be left intact because of the dangers associated with mercury vapours, glass shards and dust. A convenient place to store lamps to prevent them from breaking is in the lamps' original packaging or in boxes that may be supplied by lamp recyclers. 

At Shadow Lighting we can advise you as to where you can recycle your old Fluorescent tubes as well as you PL style bulbs. (remember they are fluorescent to!!) If you have any questions please give us a call at 604-372-2400.

An occupancy sensor is a lighting control device that detects occupancy of a space by people and turns the lights on or off automatically, using infrared, ultrasonic or microwave technology. Occupancy sensors are typically used to save energy, provide automatic control, and comply with building codes.

Three basics types of occupancy sensors are:

1. Passive infrared sensor, which works on heat movement detection. Inside of device is a pyroelectric sensor calibrated to detect infrared radiation radiated by human body movement. Based on the detection, the sensor operates and starts lighting load connected to it.
2. Ultrasonic sensor, similar to radar. It works on the doppler shift principle. An ultrasounic sensor will send high frequency sound waves in area and will check for their reflected patterns. If the reflected pattern is changing continuously then it assumes that there is occupancy and the lighting load connected is turned on. If the reflected pattern is the same for a preset time then the sensor assumes there is no occupancy and the load is switched off.
3. Microwave sensor. Similar to the ultrasonic sensor, a microwave sensor also works on the doppler shift principle. A microwave sensor will send high frequency microwaves in an area and will check for their reflected patterns. If the reflected pattern is changing continuously then it assumes that there is occupancy and the lighting load connected is turned on. If the reflected pattern is the same for a preset time then the sensor assumes there is no occupancy and the load is switched off. A microwave sensor has high sensitivity as well as detection range compared to other types of sensors.

MH vs HPS

MH, or Metal Halide, and HPS, or High Pressure Sodium, are two types of High Intensity Discharge lights that give a brighter effect, and also help to save energy. Both the MH and the HPS are widely used for outdoor lighting. Well, both these lights have specific characteristics that differentiate one from the other.

The first difference that can be seen between Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lights, is their colour and the quality of the light produced. While the MH bulbs produce a blue-white colour, HPS bulbs produce amber white lights.

Another difference that can be seen between MH and HPS lamps, is their lumen. Even with the same electricity, MH produces less rated lumens than the HPS lamps.

Another thing that can be seen is, that in some lumens, the Metal Halide’s blue-white produces more sky glow than the HPS’ amber-white colour. Unlike HPS lamps, the MH has about 78 per cent to 95 per cent initial efficiency.

Well, it can also be seen that the Metal Halide lamps produce more light than that of the High pressure Sodium lamps. It has been  found that MH lamps are four to five times more efficient than HPS lamps.

When considering their light generation, the HPS lamps produce light through the excitation of sodium. On the other hand, the MH lamps produce light through the excitation of two to five different chemicals.

MH lamps last for more days than HPS lamps. For example, you will have to change the MH bulbs once in six to 12 months if it is used continuously for 18 hours a day, but, in the case of HPS bulbs, the replacement is needed once in six or 12 months if the bulb is used continuously for 12 hours a day.

Well, the HPS lamps are also used if there is a need for natural light. HPS lamps are good for places that do not have enough light, or for places that look grey. If there is no natural light, MH lamps are a good choice to use.

Last of all, when comparing the prices, the MH lamps are more expensive than HPS lamps.

Summary:

1. The MH bulbs produce blue-white colour; HPS bulbs produce amber white lights.

2. The MH lamps are more expensive than HPS lamps.

3. The MH lamps last for more days than HPS lamps.

Shadow Lighting carries both Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium so if you require either or just some advice please give us a call at 604-372-2400. 

You may be hesitant to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars upgrading the lighting in your warehouse. You shouldn’t be. Here’s why:

• Lower Monthly Bills – Your warehouse probably has high-powered lights running 24/7. Cutting down on energy usage (while maintaining or even improving performance) will have a dramatic positive effect on overhead.Top-notch LED lights, for example, use between 50 and 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent lights. Multiply those savings by dozens (or hundreds) of lights, and the financial benefits are immense.
• Better Performance – The lighting industry is undergoing a technological revolution, with high-performance, energy-efficient LED and halogen bulbs becoming better and more affordable by the day. In addition to using less energy, LEDs burn brighter and last roughly 25 times longer than their now-outdated rivals. Your warehouse will be brighter, safer to work in and require less maintenance, even as you spend less on monthly bills.
• Government Incentives –  BC Hydro Powersmart offers rebates to businesses that replace incandescent lights with Energy Star-certified products once an audit has been approved. By investing in a cost-saving and environmentally-friendly warehouse lighting retrofit, you can receive a rebate for every new fixture, potentially amounting to thousands of dollars. That’s right, BC Hydro Powersmart will literally pay you money to save on monthly energy costs!
• Better Service and Maintenance – Your current lighting was probably installed years ago. The products may no longer be covered by warranty, and the company that put them in may not be obliging when it comes to follow-up service. It’s another reason to invest in a warehouse lighting retrofit. You’ll get newer, better products for your business, and if you choose the right installation company, you can ensure that they’re covered by warranty and long-term service guarantees.

If you're tired of staring at a massive electricity bill each month and want new lighting that costs less, lasts longer and performs better, give Shadow Lighting a call at 604-372-2400 and we would be pleased to perform a no cost audit to show you what you can save.

Installing security lighting is a worthwhile investment to help keep your property protected against potential intruders. Whether you’re a homeowner or you own a local business, motion sensing security lighting is a tried and true solution for preventing crime on your property. This type of outdoor lighting is outfitted with sensors that detect infrared wavelengths emitted by moving objects. When the sensors detect something crossing their path, the light will turn on automatically. Many motion sensing security lighting systems have timers that you can set, and the light can stay on for anywhere from 1 to 20 minutes depending on your preferences. Motion sensing lights installed on your home can be arranged to cover walkways and driveways, as well as darker areas of your yard that could provide a place for an intruder to conceal themselves. Good outdoor security lighting is one of the most effective and budget-friendly ways to discourage intruders and keep yourself and your property safe.

Some of the many benefits of motion sensing security lighting for your home include:

• Your home stays protected even if you’re out of the house. Because the lights are automatic, they can continue to dissuade intruders whether or not you’re at home.
• You can find all different kinds of security lighting to fit your needs and budget. There are many types of outdoor motion sensing security lights available. You’re probably most familiar with floodlights being used for this purpose, but decorative outdoor lighting can also be outfitted with motion sensors for extra security.
• They allow you to see at night, as well as illuminating and dissuading undesirable personages. When you come home at night when it’s dark, the automatic security lighting will conveniently illuminate your path for you so you can see where you’re going and what you’re doing as you make your way toward your front door. They’re also a safety measure, preventing you from tripping or slipping in the dark.
• They can scare off nuisance animals. Deer, rabbits, possums, skunks, and other wild animals can be a nuisance, but motion sensing security lighting will spook them and scare them away. If you have a problem with raccoons digging through your trash cans or deer and rabbits helping themselves to your vegetable garden, motion sensing lights could be the solution.
• They’re cost-effective. Because they only turn on when motion is detected, and then turn themselves back off again, motion sensing security lighting is more cost-effective and energy-efficient than having lighting that stays on indefinitely.

For homeowners, property crimes like burglaries and break-ins are a very real threat. Motion sensing security lighting installed on your property is one of the easiest and most effective ways to discourage potential criminals. It also confers additional benefits like scaring off wild animals, which can be especially useful if you live in a relatively rural area where animal pests are a common problem. Your trusted local electrician can quickly and easily install these lighting systems to help keep your home secure and Shadow Lighting has a significant number of motion sensor lights for you to choose from..

Have a look at the attached photo. This is a brand new Viper Game Courts installation just completed on Friday. This one is for a quite popular NHL player who required this to be completed by Saturday as he has their top 7 draft picks coming to his house for some mentoring and working out. This quote is from the customer, "Good work you guys. we just hit a grand slam !!!!perfect light not even one shadow and the lights facing the house r great. totally do not bother the neighbors and brightens up the backyard perfectly".

If you have a need for an absolutely awesome back yard basketball, hockey etc. court give Rob at Viper a call and for any of your outdoor lighting needs give the guys at Shadow Lighting a call at 604-372-2400.

Halogen light bulbs come in many different types of styles. There are a few lights that are best served for specific functions.

Halogen  Floodlights

The halogen floodlight comes in two different types - soft glass or heavy glass. The soft glass type look just like the average incandescent light bulb and are labeled "R" or "BR." These lights are for indoor use only.

The heavy glass type is labeled "PAR" which stands for "parabolic aluminized reflector." This floodlight can be used indoors or outdoors as is able to stand up in severe weather, commonly used in boats, decks, parks and other outdoor areas. It is the only halogen light covered with glass thick enough to stand up in inclement weather. It is available in different diameters, from 1.75" to 4.75." It also is available with different beam widths.

J Type Halogen Bulbs

This halogen light bulb is double-ended and is commonly used as security lighting. A common J Type bulb base is a recessed single contact bulb (RSC) and is 3/8 inch. The J type bulb is available in different sizes and voltages. The volts vary from 12 to 277, and the lengths stretch from 78mm to 254mm. When handling this bulbs, never touch to bare sking. This is not because it will damage the skin; instead, the oils from human skin can reduce the life of the bulb.

JC Type Halogen Bulbs

This halogen bulb is a low voltage bulb, commonly found under counters, in desk lamps or as accent lighting. This bulb can be be purchased in various low voltage amounts, ranging from 6 to 28 volts. This bulbs come in capsule shape and have 2 pins at the base of them. There are two different sizes, a G4 which is 4mm between the pins on the base, and a GY6.35, measuring 6.35mm between the pins on the base. Just like the J type bulbs, a JC halogen shouldn't come in contact with bare skin since it can damge the bulb.

JCD Type Halogen Bulbs

These bulbs are commonly used in under-counter lighting, desk lamps, accent lighting or pendant lighting. They are similar to the JC type in that they have pins on the end, but they differ by using  line voltage, from 120 to 130 volts. They come in 3 different sizes, a G6.35 (6.35 mm between the pins), a G8 (8mm between the pins) and a G9 (9mm between the pins). The G9 uses 2 loops on the base instead of pins. JCD type halogen bulbs come in other frosted or clear glass. They should also be handled with gloves.

 JDD Type Halogen Bulbs

These bulbs are are used mainly in food service and come in the standard base size. They have  halogen filament that is enclosed in glass, then surrounded again by an overall glass jacket.

JDR Type Halogen Bulbs

These small reflector floods are commonly used in range hoods or as track lighting. They come in clear or frosted glass and with, or without, a glass cover. They are either screw-in or with a GU10 base.

A very basic introduction to how a light-emitting diode works.


In the simplest terms, a light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current is passed through it. Light is produced when the particles that carry the current (known as electrons and holes) combine together within the semiconductor material.Since light is generated within the solid semiconductor material, LEDs are described as solid-state devices. The term solid-state lighting, which also encompasses organic LEDs (OLEDs), distinguishes this lighting technology from other sources that use heated filaments (incandescent and tungsten halogen lamps) or gas discharge (fluorescent lamps).

Different colors
Inside the semiconductor material of the LED, the electrons and holes are contained within energy bands. The separation of the bands (i.e. the bandgap) determines the energy of the photons (light particles) that are emitted by the LED.

The photon energy determines the wavelength of the emitted light, and hence its color. Different semiconductor materials with different bandgaps produce different colors of light. The precise wavelength (color) can be tuned by altering the composition of the light-emitting, or active, region.

LEDs are comprised of compound semiconductor materials, which are made up of elements from group III and group V of the periodic table (these are known as III-V materials). Examples of III-V materials commonly used to make LEDs are gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium phosphide (GaP).

Until the mid-90s LEDs had a limited range of colors, and in particular commercial blue and white LEDs did not exist. The development of LEDs based on the gallium nitride (GaN) material system completed the palette of colors and opened up many new applications.

Main LED materials 
The main semiconductor materials used to manufacture LEDs are:

• Indium gallium nitride (InGaN): blue, green and ultraviolet high-brightness LEDs
  
  
• Aluminum gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP): yellow, orange and red high-brightness LEDs
  
  
• Aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs): red and infrared LEDs
  
  
• Gallium phosphide (GaP): yellow and green LEDs

Electronic Ballasts
Electronic ballasts alter the flow of electricity in the light bulb by using a series of induction coils that are separated from one another. In contrast, magnetic ballast uses 1 induction coil and not a series.

Another difference is that electronic ballasts change the frequency of the electrical current without changing the voltage. While magnetic ballasts in fluorescent lamps work at a frequency of 60 hertz, electronic ballasts greatly increase that frequency to 20,000 hertz.

Due to such a high frequency, you will not see the lights flickering and will not hear a buzzing sound with fluorescent lamps using electronic ballasts.

Please check out the updated Aimlite page for some new and exciting offerings.

First some information on just what a Halogen bulb is and what they are made of. 


A halogen lamp, also known as a tungsten halogen, quartz-halogen or quartz iodine lamp, is an incandescent lamp that has a small amount of a halogen such as iodine or bromine added. The combination of the halogen gas and the tungsten filament produces a halogen cycle chemical reaction which redeposits evaporated tungsten back onto the filament, increasing its life and maintaining the clarity of the envelope. Because of this, a halogen lamp can be operated at a higher temperature than a standard gas-filled lamp of similar power and operating life, producing light of a higher luminous efficacy and colour temperature. The small size of halogen lamps permits their use in compact optical systems for projectors and illumination.

Handling precautions:

Any surface contamination, notably the oil from human fingertips, can damage the quartz envelope when it is heated. Contaminants will create a hot spot on the bulb surface when the lamp is turned on. This extreme, localized heat causes the quartz to change from its vitreous form into a weaker, crystalline form that leaks gas. This weakening may also cause the bulb to form a bubble, weakening it and leading to its explosion. Consequently, manufacturers recommend that quartz lamps should be handled without touching the clear quartz, either by using a clean paper towel or carefully holding the porcelain base. If the quartz is contaminated in any way, it must be thoroughly cleaned with denatured alcohol and dried before use.

For all of your Halogen bulb requirements whether it be G4 right through to G9 or GU10, MR11/16, Shadow Lighting has the bulb for you. Also the following chart will help you to decode the Edison bulb base types:

Here are the most common Edison base codes.

• Medium (think household 60W bulbs) = E26
• Intermediate = E17
• Candelabra = E12
• Mini Candelabra = E11
• Miniature = E10
• Midget = E5

Remember to give us a call if you have any questions at 604-372-2400.

1. Frequent Switching Causes Early Failures. If the lamp is installed where it is frequently switched on and off, it will age rapidly.

2. Fluorescent Bulbs Contain Mercury. If a fluorescent lamp is broken, a very small amount of mercury can contaminate the surrounding environment. About 99% of the mercury is typically contained in the phosphor, especially on lamps that are near the end of their life.

3. Fluorescent Lights Give Off Ultraviolet Light. Ultraviolet emission Fluorescent lamps emit a small amount of ultraviolet (UV) light. A 1993 study in the US found that ultraviolet exposure from sitting under fluorescent lights for eight hours is equivalent to only one minute of sun exposure.

4. The "Buzz" On the Fluorescent Ballast. Magnetic single-lamp ballasts have a low power factor. Fluorescent lamps require a ballast to stabilize the current through the lamp, and to provide the initial striking voltage required to start the arc discharge. LED Tubes do not.

5. Power Quality and Radio Interference. Inductive ballasts include power factor correction capacitors. Simple electronic ballasts may also have low power factor due to their rectifier input stage. 

6. Not As Efficient At High and Low Temperatures. Fluorescent lamps operate best around room temperature. At much lower or higher temperatures, efficiency decreases.

At below-freezing temperatures standard lamps may not start. Special lamps may be needed for reliable service outdoors in cold weather.

7. Fluorescent Lamp Shape Cause Retrofit Problems. Fluorescent tubes are long, low-luminance sources compared with high pressure arc lamps and incandescent lamps. However, low luminous intensity of the emitting surface is useful because it reduces glare.

8. Most Fluorescents Are Not Able To Be Dimmed. Fluorescent light fixtures cannot be connected to dimmer switches intended for incandescent lamps.

9. Contaminants Cause Disposal and Recycling Issues. The disposal of phosphor and particularly the toxic mercury in the tubes is an environmental issue.

Governmental regulations in many areas require special disposal of fluorescent lamps separate from general and household wastes.

10. Light From Fluorescent Bulb Is Non-Directional. The Light from fluorescent bulbs is non-directional light source. When a fluorescent bulb is lit, it gives off lighting all the way around the bulb or otherwise 360 degrees.  

This means that only about 60-70% of the actual light being given off by the fluorescent lamps is being used.  The other 30-40% is wasted. 

For more information please contact Shadow Lighting at 604-372-2400.