Let there be light: The right components for the perfect setup
If you are shopping for LED lighting, you are probably looking to integrate different components into your setup. For bands and entertainers, for example, these can include LED PARs, LED bars, and LED lighting effects for on-stage use. The go-to for architectural illumination are LED floodlights, while battery-powered or rechargeable spotlights are the ideal solution for uplighting. LED theatre spots and LED profile spots will in turn cut a fine figure for theatre stage lighting, and virtually any lighting scenario can be further enhanced with LED strips, LED tubes, LED rope lights, LED star cloths, and LED panels. The full range of LED products can be found at Thomann, including separate lamps and accessories.
What advantages does LED technology offer?
The advanced lighting technology that is available to us today is the result of endless research and development, and the things that we now pretty much take for granted have only come about through groundbreaking innovations. One of the most significant of these was the introduction of LED technology, and an interesting question to answer is what precise advantages make this the optimum choice:
Low power consumption: A winning argument in modern times
Unlike discharge tubes and halogen lamps, LED lights have a very low power consumption, which these days is an automatic point in their favour. The figures speak for themselves: An LED light requires 85% percent less power than a halogen bulb and an astonishing 95 percent less than a conventional light bulb. So, if you are contemplating an LED lighting purchase, the reduced energy consumption can go down on the list of "pros".
Minimal heat generation: A pragmatic advantage of LEDs
One of the key objective advantages of LED lighting - both in mobile equipment and in fixed installations - is that LEDs generate very little heat: While halogen lamps can reach 250 °C, for example, LED lights remain "lukewarm" at just 30 to 50 °C. In practical terms, this difference means that LED lights are less susceptible to mechanical interference, and LED lighting equipment can be dismantled and packed away immediately after use, no need to let it cool down first.
Efficient yet compact, space-saving, and easy to transport
LEDs allow the equipment in which they are used (such as spotlights, PARs, and floodlights) to be constructed with relatively compact dimensions, making it easy to set up and dismantle - all the more so since fan cooling is seldom required and convection cooling can be used in its place, which means a significant reduction in weight. None of these benefits come at the cost of reduced power or performance, however!
Reduced component load means greater longevity
An impressive characteristic of LED technology when compared to halogen bulbs and discharge tubes is that it is impressively durable, just one of the many reasons for this being that the continuous load placed on the components is lower. What is more, LEDs (such as COB LEDs) become warm during use but do not get truly hot, which prolongs their operating life still further.
A whole spectrum of colours waiting to be harnessed
Depending on their exact design, LED spotlights, lighting effects, floodlights, and other models provide an outstandingly wide range of colours. Many of them cover the RGB spectrum (red, green, and blue), while others also add white and even amber and ultraviolet (UV) light. It is often possible to blend the available basic colours together and create colour mixes to evoke every emotion and make the illumination even more exciting.
Flexibility redefined: From innovative to retro
LED technology can essentially be installed in spotlights and lighting effects of virtually any kind, allowing the versatility of this hardware to be maximised. The same applies to innovative modern products as well as long-established models such as PARs and derby lights, whose popular retro lighting effects can be generated just as effectively by LEDs. One example is the Eurolite LED Laser Derby MK2, which in addition to its rotating LED derby and stroboscope effects also includes a class 2M RG laser.
Simple and intuitive operation with a high level of flexibility
Spotlights, lighting effects, and state-of-the-art decorative lights are characterised by their simple operation and easy-to-navigate menus, in addition to which they can be activated and controlled in a variety of ways that normally include the DMX512 standard via which the colours, colour transitions, dimmers, and other parameters can be selected. A range of factory presets and a "sound control" mode are also a standard feature in modern LED lighting components. Wireless operation via W-DMX is also gaining popularity, while the simplest and most straightforward method is to use a handheld infrared remote control.
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