LED Load Calculations

[360Youth]

We just installed some LED landscape lights for a customer and one of the things we discussed was the energy savings as well as life of the lamp. It got me to thinking about a two part question: a) Do you think with the progression of LED lighting in homes and commercial (and I do realize commercial is "light" years ahead of residential) that code calculations will change to bring the va/sqft down, and b) is there already exceptions that allow you to lower a lighting load based on LED being installed.

 

[sfav8r]

We just installed some LED landscape lights for a customer and one of the things we discussed was the energy savings as well as life of the lamp. It got me to thinking about a two part question: a) Do you think with the progression of LED lighting in homes and commercial (and I do realize commercial is "light" years ahead of residential) that code calculations will change to bring the va/sqft down, and b) is there already exceptions that allow you to lower a lighting load based on LED being installed.

As far as I know there are no exceptions to loading calculations for use of LED lights. For those of us in California, LED lights actually work against you for purposes of meeting Title 24 requirements. Title 24 requires that at least 50% of lighting in the kitchen be "high efficacy lighting." That means for every watt of high efficacy lighting you can have one watt of incandescent lighting. So, if you install 10 26 watt fluorescent recessed can lights, you can have 260 watts of nice pendant lights. If you go to the super efficient LED lights for your cans, they're only 10 watts each so now you can only use 100 watts of pendants. Hopefully the new Title 24 will take this into consideration.

 

[resistance]

I'm sure we may be seeing a change to Article 220, or some new Article (In reference to lighting Load Cals) in the coming future--seeing that they are trying to do away with incandes..

The only acception would be how you design your lighting load--yet consideration to the NEC, and local codes should take president--when figuring DL.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

I dont see it changing for residential because the 3 watts is for general receptacles and lights. On commercial i think they need to give it some thinking,
Has anyone proved LED are actually cheaper with the high cost of led lamps ?
How long before i get my money to a break even point on a house over the use of the replacement flor ones ? I am all for the idea of saving energy but would be major investment to change my house over to all led

 

[ceb58]

Was in big blue today and noticed they had LED replacement lamps for can lighting. They were on sale from $48.95 down to $44.25 ea. I'm going to run right out and replace all of mine

 

[360Youth]

Prices are coming down, slowly. I almost bought some a-19 equivalents for the house the other day because they were only about $8 a pop. Still high compared to 50? for a 60w, but they were only 0.9w each.

Edit: the can lights are still expensive. Start at about$ 30 per. A little harder to justify.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Was in big blue today and noticed they had LED replacement lamps for can lighting. They were on sale from $48.95 down to $44.25 ea. I'm going to run right out and replace all of mine

Thats the part that kills the idea
I did buy a few led for dining room chandelier, they said = to 40 watts so doing fast math says 5 = 200 watts. With all 5 burning it might = 60 watts of inc. Prices will drop. Did buy some dice for my mustang to hang on mirror (i am one of them hippies from the 60's), they are blue led and look sharp but hardley what you could call much light.Electronics always start very high so give it 5 years and price might get down to 5 bucks a bulb. Sorta like solar panels, takes forever to pay for them self.