In Canada we typically use FC(foot-candles). But on the odd occasion a Canadian company comes to us with a lux reading and prefer the layout done in that measurement. More often for the US we use lux but FC has been requested. Either way the difference is easily calculated by: 1FC = 10 Luxnote: 0.0929030436 = 1 Lux to be exact. Lux definition: A unit of illuminance equal to 1 lumen per square meter. FC definition: A unit of measurement for the density of light as it reaches a surface. One foot-candle is equal to 1 lumen per square foot.

Light Loss Factor or also known as LLF in short form is one of the hardest parts to remember in the lighting industry. Each fixture can have a different value and some are better designed to eliminate some of the common losses we encounter when doing a lighting design. Each manufaturer of fixture, or lamp would have it’s own value to be totally accurate. The IES files provided to not include such light reductions so experience in this field is mandatory. For example, a fluorescent fixture needs to be roughly around 0.7 to 0.8 LLF total which should include reductions due to ambient room temperature and ballast factor if it was not done already on an IES file. Some parts may be already done in the IES file so that makes having tools to read these files extremely important. LED’s have come a long way and have far less light loss. Dirt and Dust play a part still as they’ll always interfere with light output. We typically do not measure a design with dust and dirt in it so we leave that out. For LED we typically reduce the LLF to .95 or by 5% to simply add a little fudge factor to a layout. It’s always better to have a little more light in a layout to be safe.  Did you know we do lighting layouts? Using the latest technologies we can provide indoor and outdoor lighting. Many of our existing clients use this information as a sales tool and also a tool to gauge in either desired quantities and/or light levels. Using IES files and following lighting guidelines we can produce a near perfect 3D rendering for any project. Contact us to inquire about how we can produce a report for your next project. 

A common issue we encounter when doing layouts is how to accurately measure the reflectance in a building. The reflectivity of any surface is calculated by a numerical value 0.0 behind jet black(no reflectance) and 1.0 being as white(full reflectivity). It does not go beyond these values. Typical default values are 0.8(ceiling) 0.5(walls) 0.2(floor) which is like a dark grey concrete floor. The ceiling plays a very smaller role in boosting the overall lighting while the floor and walls are the most crucial. It makes a big deal to change this value when it is appropriate. One of the easiest ways to figure out the reflectance is to take a picture of the inside of a building and convert to it a black and white photo or better known as gray scale. This value is a perfect representation of your reflectance and is perfectly acceptable in all cases. Many programs will allow you to color pic and insert these values into the programs used to design lighting projects. Simply find that value(RGB, or HEX) and place it over. Try and include the floor and walls if possible, take several pictures if you can’t get it all in. A nice shiny floor in a retail shop can up the default value to .6 in some stores, that is going to amplify your lighting tremendously.  A warehouse is typically concrete and very dirty. We often find these layouts require nothing more then a design using your default reflectance. However, in some concrete flooring could be painted white to help with lighting, in this case adjust your floor reflectance accordingly. If you want to be able to easily pic colors. Try this cool program that allows you to hover over anything on your computer and at the click of a key it will grab the color under your mouse. A handy tool for selecting colors. https://colorpix.en.softonic.com/

One of our customers wrote a nice article on some recently installed lights purchased from our website. Take a look and see the perfectly lit workshop space. If you have any articles of work you’ve done with our products or services feel free to share with us. You can visit their website here to view the full article

We are pleased to announce that we are the winner of the 2022 Quality Business Award for The Best Lighting Store in Belleville. Check out the public listing at 

The technology While both infrared sensors and microwave sensors function well as motion sensors, there are fundamental differences between them that allow each to excel in different conditions. Infrared sensors operate by detecting heat. The sensor continuously fires off detection beams. It first measures the ambient temperature of the room to form a baseline. When a difference in temperature is detected by one or more of the infrared beams, the sensor activates the lights. When all the beams detect the same temperature again, the lights will switch off. Microwave sensors operate by emitting microwaves, which bounce off surfaces and return to a detector within the microwave sensor. When these returning microwaves are disrupted by movement, the microwave sensor activates the lights. The case for infrared sensors In situations where there is a lot of small ambient movement that should not trigger the lights, infrared sensors may be the solution. An example is when lighting is installed in a factory; since machinery may be moving constantly, an infrared sensor would not detect the machine’s movements. Another example is if infrared sensors are installed in a lab containing reptiles, the cold-blooded animals will not trigger any lights, as they do not emit heat. For a more day-to-day example, a low sensitivity infrared sensor may be the solution for pet-owners in their homes, as pets with lower heat signatures would not trigger the motion sensor. The case for microwave sensors Microwave sensors are ideal for most other applications, as they are more cost effective, can detect through non-metal surfaces, and has up to a 360° detection angle, as opposed to only a 90° detection angle with an infrared sensor. Microwave sensors are commonly used in warehousing applications, as lighting fixtures in warehouses tend to be installed at high heights, and microwave sensors have a very long range of detection. Microwave sensors are also frequently used in hallways, gymnasiums, stadiums, and other commercial applications. Here is a quick summary of the advantages and disadvantages of infrared sensors and microwave sensors.   Infrared Sensor Microwave Sensor Positive Can be used in areas with ambient motion Can be adjusted to be less sensitive Has a large detection range 360° range of detection Can detect through non-metal surfaces, such as plastic and glass Is more cost effective Detection occurs in less than a microsecond Very sensitive to movement Has a large detection range Negative 90° range of detection May not detect motion when moving directly towards or away from the sensor Is less cost-effective Does not detect through surfaces Very sensitive to movement Detection occurs through non-metal surfaces even when not desired   Source: Arani Education Centre