Step 1: Clarify The Smart Drive Output type #
Before buying LED SPOT, you must confirm the controller’s output type. Common types include constant current output and constant voltage output.
Constant Current Output #
TILLUME currently has no suitable LED spot solutions for customers to choose.
Constant Voltage Output #
Clear output voltage #
Currently, the TILLUME LED Spot Series only supports constant voltage controllers with a rated output voltage of 24V.
In the actual installation process of the constant voltage output solution, due to the certain distance between the controller and the LED installation position, the long cable will inevitably cause the voltage drop problem, resulting in insufficient input voltage and reduced LED brightness. Please check the input voltage range of the specific model before choosing.
For more information about line loss, please refer to the following article
Confirm the controller PWM frequency #
TILLUME LED spotlight series supports up to 10KHz PWM input.
However, due to the high-frequency PWM signal characteristics, there will be a certain spike voltage when the controller outputs. If the controller performance is poor, the excessive spike voltage will damage the internal control circuit of the LED Spot. The maximum instantaneous withstand voltage of TILLUME LED Spot is 48V, but considering the lifetime and EMC issues, it is recommended that the PWM frequency be set below 8KHz.
Step 2: Select Parameters For Rooms and Spaces #
Different spaces have significantly different requirements for lighting brightness, color temperature and functionality, so the spotlight parameters need to be selected in combination with scenario-based design.
Indoor Space Lighting Requested : #
- Living room: It is necessary to take into account the overall lighting and atmosphere creation. It is recommended to choose spotlights with adjustable color temperature (2700K-6500K), and match them with key lighting to highlight decorative paintings or furniture.
- Kitchen: High brightness (≥500Lux) and spotlights with good color rendering (Ra≥90) are required to facilitate color identification when processing ingredients.
- Bedroom: Prioritize low blue light (RG0 certification) and soft light design, control the color temperature at 2700K-4000K, and support night mode to avoid strong light stimulation.
- Bathroom:
Basic lighting Summary #
| Room | Brightness(Lux) | CCT | CRI | Function |
| Living room | 300-500 Lux | 2850K / 3300K / 2200-6500K / 2400-5000K | >90 >95 | Dimming Tunable White |
| Kitchen | 300-500 Lux | 3300K / 4000K / 2400-5000K | >95 | Dimming Tunable White |
| Dining room | 300-500 Lux | 2850K / 4000K / 2400-5000K | >95 | Dimming Tunable White |
| Bedroom | 100-300 Lux | 2850K / 2400-5000K | >90 >95 | Dimming Tunable White |
| Studio | 500 Lux | 4000K / 2400-5000K | >95 | Dimming Tunable White |
| Bathroom | 100-300 Lux | 2850K / 3300K | >90 | Dimming |
Step 3: Pay Attention To Hidden Parameters of LED Spot #
Ordinary users generally pay little attention to or ignore the following parameters, and most manufacturers do not display them well. However, they will affect the lifetime
Input Voltage Range #
What is the Input Voltage Range #
Rated voltage input refers to the ideal input voltage under which the device performs well. However, in reality, it is unrealistic to ensure that the input voltage of each lamp is consistent. Especially in low-voltage applications, due to the existence of voltage drop problems, the actual working voltage of each lamp is not completely consistent. Different input voltages will lead to inconsistent LED brightness. However, to ensure consistent brightness, TILLUME LED Spot has designed a special circuit for compensation, so that it can maintain a constant current supply to the LED Die within a certain voltage range, ensuring that within a certain voltage range, the brightness of each LED Spot is consistent.
If Input Voltage Over The Range #
When the input voltage is lower than the minimum voltage, the internal constant current circuit will fail and cannot provide constant current to the LED, which will cause the brightness of the two LED Spot far away to be inconsistent. If the normal voltage is restored, the circuit will resume the constant current function again.
When the input voltage is higher than the maximum input voltage, the internal constant current circuit can still maintain the constant current function, but too high an input voltage will cause the internal temperature of the LED Spot to rise, shortening its lifetime. If the LED Spot is operated under too high an operating voltage for a long time, it may cause irreversible damage.
Transient withstand voltage #
What is the transient withstand voltage #
Transient withstand voltage is the maximum tolerance of a device to withstand transient voltage (such as instantaneous high voltage caused by lightning strikes, switching operations, etc.) without being broken down or blocking function failure. TILLUME provides up to 48V transient withstand voltage capability to prevent the power supply equipment from working abnormally and causing irreversible damage to the LED Spot.
Our recommendations #
The generation of spike voltage is usually caused by the wiring method and poor power supply or actuator, so it is recommended to buy a well-known brand of power supply or actuator. In addition, try to avoid the entanglement of wires when wiring to reduce the generation of parasitic inductance.
CRI or Ra， What is the Difference? #
In lighting products, Ra (general color rendering index) and CRI (color rendering index) are both used to measure the parameters of the light source’s ability to reproduce the color of objects, but there are differences between the two in terms of definition, test range and application scenarios:
Definition and Test Range #
Ra (general color rendering index) #
Ra is the average value of the light source’s ability to render 8 standard natural colors (R1-R8), with a value range of 0-100. The higher the value, the closer the color reproduction is to natural light. These 8 colors include natural tones with medium saturation, such as light gray-red and dark gray-yellow, which mainly reflect the reproduction effect of common colors in daily scenes.
CRI (color rendering index) #
CRI is a more comprehensive indicator, including 15 test colors (R1-R15), of which R1-R8 are typical color rendering indices (i.e. the calculation basis of Ra), and R9-R15 are special color rendering indices (such as saturated red, yellow skin color, etc.). CRI evaluates the color rendering of the light source by comprehensively evaluating the performance of all colors. For example, R9 (saturated red) is essential for the color reproduction of meat, fruit, etc.
Practical Selection Suggestions #
Daily use: #
Choosing lamps with Ra≥90 can meet most needs, such as reading, cooking, etc.
Professional needs: #
Pay extra attention to the special color rendering index in CRI, such as the impact of R9 (red) on food display and the importance of R15 (skin color) on makeup mirror lighting.
Eye protection considerations: #
Eye protection considerations: High Ra/CRI light sources (such as Ra≥95) can reduce visual fatigue, especially suitable for children learning and color-sensitive people.
Summarize： #
Ra is a subset of CRI, and the core difference between the two is the coverage of the test color. Ra is suitable for quick evaluation of general scenes, while CRI provides a more comprehensive color reproduction analysis. When purchasing, you need to combine specific needs: general lighting focuses on Ra, while professional fields need to integrate special indicators in CRI.
Protection Function #
The reason why LED spotlights need protection functions is mainly due to the physical properties of the LED itself and the complexity of the actual application environment. The brightness of LED crystals is positively correlated with the current, but working under excessive current will accelerate chip aging. When the line is short-circuited or a single LED crystal in the COB fails, the current will be transmitted to other LEDs, forming a “domino” chain of destruction. Therefore, it is best for LED equipment to have a certain overcurrent containment function to prevent sudden current changes from having a bad effect on the LED.
At the same time, heat management is also very important. If the temperature is too high, the light effect will decay and the life will be shortened. Experiments show that for every 10°C increase in temperature, the life of the LED may be shortened by half. Spotlights are often installed in confined spaces or high-temperature environments (such as ceilings), so the overheating protection function can automatically adjust the current or cut off the power supply to prevent thermal runaway.
Of course, as an electronic device, voltage is also very critical, because each component itself has requirements for the power supply voltage. If the input voltage exceeds a certain value, even for a very short time, it will cause damage to the device.
Protection Function Requested #
In summary, when we choose LED Spot, we need to pay special attention to whether the product has below protection function
- Overcurrent Protection Function
- Overvoltage Protection Function
- Overtemperature Protection Fucntion
Overcurrent protection function: #
It can prevent excessive input current from damaging the LED, and avoid the risk of cables in the line being blown due to overcurrent and fire.
Overvoltage protection function: #
When installing for the first time, especially when using adjustable output voltage power supply equipment, the voltage we estimate may not be accurate. Products with overvoltage protection function can avoid some errors during installation from causing damage to the equipment. In addition, in daily use, sudden changes in input voltage can also cause irreversible damage to the equipment and extend its service life.
Overtemperature protection function: #
The impact of heat on the life of LED is huge. With overtemperature protection function, the product can respond quickly when overheating occurs, limit the continuous rise in temperature, and help to quickly find abnormalities when a fault occurs, while avoiding the deterioration of the problem.
