With every advancement in technology, life gets easier. And thanks to science, we're currently enjoying one of the most reliable inventions in the lighting industry.
LED lighting has overcome all the shortcomings of halogen, metal halide, and incandescent lighting. From a short life span to wasted lumens, LED bulbs have totally transformed several lighting applications. And they excel mainly as stadium lights because they're designed to produce the needed light output and illumination for a fraction of energy consumption.
In this article, we'll explain what LED light is and discuss in detail its advantages over traditional lighting solutions for stadium lights. So, keep reading.
What is LED Lighting?
LED lighting is the latest development in lighting technology, transforming how indoor and outdoor lighting applications can be designed and executed. An LED device is a semiconductor that generates light when electricity is passed through it, converting electric energy to light.
Ever since they were introduced to the market, LED bulbs have proved to be more durable than other lighting fixtures. Several companies, organizations, and institutions switched to them instead of other traditional bulbs, and they also found their way to residential applications.
Advantages of LED Over Traditional Lighting Solutions for Stadium Lights
Regarding stadium lighting, LED lighting seems to be the right answer. The bulbs have a long life span with high brightness and low energy consumption, making them suitable for extended use. There are also different options when it comes to the fixtures, so you can choose the best one based on the size and nature of your stadium.
LED lights deliver several key benefits that make them better than any other lighting technology that has ever been used in stadium lights.
Long Lifespan
An average incandescent light bulb lasts about 1000 hours, while an LED bulb can last between 50,000 and 80,000. Some high-quality products can even last for 100,000 hours.
Despite the higher initial cost, an LED light is more affordable in the long run because it will last longer. It can last 50 times longer than an incandescent bulb and three to four times longer than a metal halide bulb. This will affect the replacement, maintenance, and operational costs.
Energy Efficiency
LED bulbs are more energy-efficient than other lighting technologies. They produce more useful lumens that don't go to waste for fewer units of power or watts. A typical LED bulb produces 75 to 100 lumens per watt, depending on its design. That's almost two to three times the energy efficiency of metal halides and almost six times the efficiency of incandescent bulbs.
Low Voltage Operation
The low-voltage operation makes LED lighting safe to use in areas where heavy rain and flooding might occur. This is why they're suitable for outdoor and indoor stadium lighting systems, where they'll be safer to handle in case there's a flooding problem.
Environmentally-Preferable
Stadium operators are currently switching to LED lighting because it results in less environmental stress. In addition, during the manufacturing process, LED bulbs don't produce much waste, and there are no hard metals or harmful materials used in their production.
These bulbs last for long, so they reduce the impact on landfills. Moreover, even after they stop working, they're completely recyclable and don't require special handling like mercury vapor lights.
Instant Lighting
LED lights can turn off and on instantly, unlike metal halide and fluorescent bulbs, which need a brief warm-up period. As a result, the bulbs don't flicker and immediately reach their full brightness capacity. This makes them suitable for various indoor and outdoor applications, including stadium lighting.
Withstand Frequent Switching
In the stadium, there might be a need to switch the lights on and off repeatedly over a short period of time. This doesn't damage LED bulbs or impact their life span. As a matter of fact, you can install smart sensors that switch them on and off based on the brightness of natural light.
Operate Well in Different Weather Conditions
As the temperature drops, the performance of fluorescent lamps and other light sources decreases, requiring more energy to operate. On the other hand, LED bulbs can perform better in cold temperatures. They also perform pretty well in hot temperatures and high humidity, so they're suitable for indoor and outdoor stadium lighting.
No Heat or UV Emissions
Traditional light sources like incandescent bulbs use most of the electric energy to heat themselves up. This is why a bulb will feel too hot if you try to touch it while it's in use or immediately after it goes out.
This is not the case with LED lights that emit no heat. The bulbs remain cool to touch, facilitating replacement and maintenance operations. They also emit no UV, so they're used for illuminating artwork, old pictures of players, and trophies that might degrade over time with exposure to UV rays.
Design Flexibility
Thanks to their small size, LED bulbs come with various fixtures and can be grouped in different ways to illuminate any space, no matter how big or small it is. You can use them on the tall poles in a stadium as flood lights or floor lights to guide the audience and the players.
Dimming Features
Some lighting sources like metal halides perform less efficiently when dimmed, and some can't be dimmed at all. On the other hand, LED lights operate more efficiently when dimmed by up to 5% of their power. They allow you to consume less energy and can provide you with an adequate light output depending on your needs.
Directionality
Traditional light sources emit light at 360 degrees. So, if you want to direct the light to illuminate a specific area, you'll have to buy special accessories to deflect it in a specific direction.
LED light emits light at 180 degrees, and the beam angle can be manipulated to direct the light exactly where you need it to be. This means the light won't be wasted or directed where you don't need it.
Conclusion
Although traditional lighting sources have been used in indoor and outdoor stadiums for decades, it's time for LED lighting to take over. This new technology has several advantages over traditional lighting, making it an excellent solution for stadium lighting.
