99. Different Types of LED Light Bulbs and Their Uses
By Dani Thomason • May 15, 2024
When it comes to lighting solutions for commercial and industrial spaces, LED bulbs (or LED lamps, as they’re more appropriately called) have completely revolutionized the way we light up our environments. Gone are the days of energy-hungry incandescent or high intensity discharge bulbs and the buzzing, light flickering glow of old fluorescent bulbs. In today's world, businesses are looking for efficient, long-lasting, and eco-friendly options – and LED light bulbs are leading the charge.
But with so many different types of LED light bulbs out there, how do you know which one is right for your facility? Whether you're running a warehouse, an office building, or a retail space, selecting the appropriate light bulb type is crucial to maximizing efficiency and safety. Let’s explore some of the top LED bulbs and lighting fixtures available at OEO.com, and how they’re best suited for various commercial and industrial uses.
High-Bay LED Lighting: Illuminating Large Spaces
When you’re working with large, open spaces like warehouses, factories, or even gymnasiums, you need high-intensity lighting that’s both powerful and energy-efficient. Enter high-bay LED lamps – the unsung heroes of commercial lighting.
High Bay LED Lamps
High-bay retrofit LED lamps are designed to replace traditional metal halide or high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps in existing high-bay fixtures. Instead of completely overhauling your lighting system, these retrofit lamps allow you to maintain your current fixtures while reaping the benefits of LED technology. These lamps provide the same powerful light output as LED fixtures but consume far less energy, reduce heat emissions, and have a much longer lifespan, ultimately lowering both your energy bills and maintenance costs.
Best Uses for High-Bay Retrofit Lamps:
- Warehouses
- Manufacturing facilities
- Gymnasiums
- Large retail spaces
With OEO’s high-bay retrofit lamps, businesses can enjoy a seamless transition to LED lighting, achieving improved efficiency and lighting quality without the need for costly fixture replacements.
LED Tube Lights: The Fluorescent Replacement
If your facility is still relying on traditional fluorescent lamps, it’s time for an upgrade. T8 and T5 LED tubes have become the go-to replacement for fluorescent light bulbs, offering a cleaner, brighter, and more energy-efficient solution.
T8 LED Tubes
The T8 LED tube light is an excellent choice for office buildings, schools, and other commercial spaces where long rows of lighting are needed. Not only do LED T8 lamps reduce energy consumption, but they also produce less heat, making them safer and more comfortable to work under. Plus, they last up to 50,000 hours, far outlasting their fluorescent light bulb counterparts.
Where to Use T8 LED Tubes:
- Office buildings
- Schools and universities
- Hospitals
- Retail stores
T5 LED Tube Lights
T5 LED tube lights are another exceptional option for replacing outdated fluorescent lamps, particularly in spaces where compact, high-efficiency lighting is required. Slightly smaller in diameter than T8 tubes, T5 LED tubes are perfect for areas that demand a more streamlined, space-efficient lighting solution without sacrificing brightness or performance. T5 LED tubes are especially well-suited for settings where energy efficiency and longevity are key concerns. They offer significant energy savings compared to traditional fluorescent bulbs while providing a crisp, even light that enhances visibility and reduces eye strain.
Where to Use T5 LED Tubes:
- Industrial workspaces with tight fixture layouts
- Commercial kitchens and food prep areas
- Laboratories and cleanrooms
- Parking garages
- Supermarkets
By upgrading to T5 LED tube lights, businesses can enjoy a sleek, efficient lighting solution that not only reduces energy usage but also improves the overall quality of light in their facilities.
At OEO, we make it easy for you to upgrade your fluorescent strip lights to LED.
Outdoor LED Lights: A Smarter Choice for Exterior Lighting
When it comes to exterior lighting, LED outdoor lights provide unmatched energy efficiency, durability, and brightness.
LED Retrofit Lamps
When it comes to outdoor lighting, efficiency, brightness, and durability are key factors in creating safe and well-lit environments. OEO’s outdoor LED retrofit lamps are the perfect solution for upgrading your existing lighting systems without needing to replace the entire fixture. Designed to fit into a wide range of outdoor applications, these lamps are ideal for retrofitting wall packs, parking lot fixtures, post-top fixtures, and bollards, offering a simple yet powerful lighting upgrade. They also offer enhanced light output with better color accuracy and distribution, making outdoor spaces safer and more welcoming, all while slashing maintenance costs with their extended lifespans.
Key Uses for Outdoor LED Retrofit Lamps:
- Wall Packs: Illuminate building exteriors, walkways, and entrances with bright, consistent lighting.
- Parking Lot Fixtures: Improve safety and visibility for both pedestrians and vehicles in parking lots and garages.
- Post-Top Fixtures: Light up pathways, parks, and outdoor public spaces with energy-efficient, long-lasting bulbs.
- Bollards: Enhance pathways, driveways, and landscaped areas with better illumination while maintaining a stylish, modern look.
LED Retrofit Kits: An Alternative Upgrade Option
Sometimes, when a LED retrofit lamp won’t work and replacing entire lighting fixtures isn’t practical or cost-effective, a LED retrofit kit becomes a great option. That’s where LED retrofit kits come into play. These kits allow you to upgrade existing fixtures with energy-efficient LED bulbs, avoiding the need for a full overhaul of your lighting system.
LED HID Retrofit Kits
HID lights (High-Intensity Discharge) have long been used in warehouses, factories, and outdoor environments for their ability to produce bright light. However, they’re not exactly known for their efficiency. By upgrading your old HID fixtures with LED retrofit kits, you can drastically improve your facility's lighting output while cutting down on energy consumption.
Where to Use LED Retrofit Kits:
- Warehouses
- Industrial plants
- Parking garages
- Streetlights
Ballast-Compatible, Bypass, and Hybrid LED Lamps: Flexible Solutions for Industrial Upgrades
When upgrading from older lighting technologies like high-intensity discharge (HID) or fluorescent lamps, the transition can be complex, especially in large industrial environments. Thankfully, LED technology offers flexible options, allowing you to upgrade your lighting system with minimal disruption. Ballast compatible LED lighting is one such solution that can make the transition to LED a breeze. Let’s break down three key types of LED lamps that are perfect for retrofitting older systems: ballast-compatible, bypass, and hybrid LED lamps.
Ballast-Compatible LED Lamps
Ballast-compatible LED lamps (also known as "plug-and-play" lamps) are designed to work seamlessly with existing ballasts. This means you can upgrade to LED lighting without the need to rewire or remove the ballast, which simplifies the installation process.
Advantages of Ballast-Compatible LED Lamps:
- Easy installation without rewiring
- Works with existing HID or fluorescent ballasts
- Reduces upfront installation costs
Best Uses for Ballast-Compatible LED Lamps:
- Warehouses
- Manufacturing facilities
- Commercial offices
Bypass LED Lamps
For those looking to eliminate the ballast entirely, bypass LED lamps (also known as direct wire LED lamps) are the ideal choice. These lamps require removing the ballast, making them more labor-intensive to install initially, but they offer greater efficiency in the long run since there’s no ballast to maintain or replace.
Advantages of Bypass LED Lamps:
- No need for ballasts, which reduces long-term maintenance
- More energy-efficient than ballast-compatible lamps
- Longer lifespan without the risk of ballast failure
Best Uses for Bypass LED Lamps:
- High-ceiling industrial spaces
- Factories
- Large retail stores
Hybrid LED Lamps
For ultimate flexibility, hybrid LED lamps offer the best of both worlds. These lamps can operate with the existing ballast or in a bypass configuration. This is especially useful for facilities undergoing phased lighting upgrades, as you can start by using them with the existing ballast and later switch to bypass mode once the ballast fails.
Advantages of Hybrid LED Lamps:
- Works with or without a ballast
- Flexibility to change to a bypass system in the future
- Ideal for gradual upgrades to LED lighting
Best Uses for Hybrid LED Lamps:
- Commercial buildings with mixed lighting systems
- Industrial spaces undergoing phased upgrades
Final Thoughts: Why LED Is the Future of Commercial and Industrial Lighting
When it comes to lighting large, commercial, and industrial spaces, the switch to LED lighting is more than just a trend – it’s a necessity. With their superior energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and reduced maintenance costs, LED light bulbs are the clear choice for businesses looking to improve their bottom line while reducing their environmental impact.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade indoor metal halide bulbs in high bay fixtures to LED , retrofit outdoor lighting fixtures, or upgrade old fluorescent tubes to LED, OEO has some of the best types of light bulbs to meet your specific needs. By choosing the right LED bulbs for your commercial or industrial space, you’re not just improving light output – you’re also making a smart, long-term investment in your facility’s efficiency and safety.
Ready to upgrade your lighting? Check out the comprehensive selection of LED bulbs and lighting fixtures at OEO and start illuminating your space with the best in modern LED technology.