Refrigeration lighting is the installation of light fixtures in refrigerators, freezers, walk in coolers, etc. Refrigerator lights are used to illuminate cooling systems. For commercial cooling appliances, refrigeration lights are used to light up the freezer. They are also used in transparent chillers to attract customers by effectively displaying your products. However, they need to have a high Color Rendering Index (CRI) to properly display your goods.
The lights in cooling systems are designed to resist a range of temperatures. They are designed to work from -40°c to 80°c.
What To Consider When Selecting Refrigeration Light
Usually, new freezers and refrigerators will come with a light bulb, but whenever they stop working, they have to be replaced. Aside from replacing a light that is no longer functional, you may need a new bulb for other reasons such as aesthetics. When selecting a light bulb for your cooling system, you should consider the following essential factors.
- Energy Consumption: Paying electrical bills is a hassle, and it is even worse if the electricity consumption is unnecessary and results in energy wastage. To save costs spent on electricity, bulbs that are used in a cooling system should be those that will not use up much energy, like the LED bulb.
- The Size of the bulb: The bulb selected for use should not occupy a lot of space. The bulb base is the part of the bulb that connects with the fitting. The size of a fridge's bulb base is usually A15 against the regular bulb, which is A19.
- The coating of the bulb: The refrigeration light is exposed to water and water vapor, so it needs to be waterproof to prevent the light from getting bad. You should also clean it regularly since food and edible materials are stored there. The bulb's IP (Ingress Protection) value should be at least IP65. A bulb with an IP65 rating can withstand low water pressure jets coming from different directions.
- Color Temperature: The color temperature of the light should be considered when choosing the light bulb. You need a cool light to display your drinks, meats, etc., properly. This is especially important when the cooler is for commercial purposes.
- Heat Generation: The refrigeration light should produce low heat to not increase the refrigeration system's load. Unlike other light bulbs, refrigeration bulbs work well at temperatures between -40°C and 80°C. Light in a refrigeration system is specially built to withstand the sudden temperature changes in the cooler.
Most Suitable Light for Refrigeration Appliances
Bulbs come in different types: incandescent, halogen, LED, or CFL. Traditional bulbs are not suitable for refrigeration appliances because they are not designed to withstand the temperature difference. The power produced from the lighting of a bulb used in a cooling system should be 40 watts and below, yet enough to properly illuminate the entire compartment. So for refrigeration lighting, LED bulbs are the best option as they have suitable characteristics. Their watts (energy consumption) are low, and at the same time, they have high lumens (measurement for brightness).
Importance of LED Refrigeration Lights
LED refrigeration lights are the best lights for refrigeration. They can last above 50,000 hours. LED lights provide bright lights as their lumen output is high and they also emit low heat which is suitable for the cooling system. LED lights do not flicker and they come on as soon as the refrigerator is opened because it does not require extra time to preheat. For commercial coolers, LED lights have a high color rendering and color temperature that can adequately display goods in their original color to attract customers.
Why Are Led Bulbs Suitable for Refrigeration Lighting?
- Long-Lasting and Environment friendly: LED lights can last as long as 50,000 to 70,000 hours before burning out. Refrigeration lights only come on when the refrigerator or fridge is open and are not generally used for a long time, which means these LED bulbs would even last longer than usual and thus, might not need any replacement.
LED bulbs don't contain mercury which is considered unsafe for the environment. The fact that it doesn't contribute to the greenhouse effect is an excellent reason to choose LED bulbs if you want to avoid environmental pollution.
- Saves Energy: LED lights consume less energy than other lighting systems, so they will save electrical costs. If the bulb you initially installed in your cooler gets bad, it will be wise to change it into LED lights that will save utility bills.
LED lights also produce a lesser amount of heat compared to other bulbs. This lessens the strain on the cooling system. LED lights, therefore, contribute to making refrigeration appliances last longer.
- Easy to Set up: The installation of an LED light is easy and cost-effective. When changing the bulb in your fridge or refrigerator to an LED bulb, you have to consider the size and shape of the old one to know what will fit.
- Low maintenance cost: LED lights last for a long time, so the replacement frequency will decrease. The maintenance cost is low, and the effectiveness of the LED bulb will cover the initial purchase cost.
- Color Temperature: This describes how cool or warm a light bulb is. LED lights have a cool color temperature. This color temperature is bright and appealing, especially if you use the cooling system commercially and want it to appear attractive to customers.
Conclusion
Refrigeration lights are light bulbs designed to work in refrigeration appliances. They help users locate things quickly. These lights are designed to come on when the refrigerator is opened and go off when it is closed. This way, energy is saved.
LED lights have more advantages for refrigeration lighting than traditional bulbs. In recent years, manufacturers of coolers favored the LED light against traditional bulbs because of the benefits users can gain while using LED lights. Aside from the dull glow that the incandescent bulb gives, they also consume a lot of energy and produce much heat, which is unsuitable.
