products

model 1103

how bright is it?

The following pictures are unretouched images taken using a Fuji Finepix F410 digital camera on its ISO800 setting. In all cases the lights were 3 metres (10 feet) from the brick wall and perpendicular to it. For scale, the pool of light cast by the 1103 is approximately 1 metre (3 feet 3 inches) wide. The halogen bulbs are run at their rated voltage unless otherwise specified.

Notice especially the difference in the light colour between the halogen bulbs and the LED, and how the more daylight-like light of the LED picks out the green of the weeds better.

Above is a comparison with a commercially-available halogen lighting system. Despite drawing less power, the LED gives a brighter, larger, better defined beam with better colour rendition.

Above is the 10 watt version of the above commercially-available halogen lighting system. It still can't approach the brightness of the 3 watt LED, although the beam shape and size is comparable.

A common method of getting more brightness from halogen bulbs is to run them at a higher voltage, typically 20 percent higher than their rating. Over-run like this the 10 watt halogen starts to compete in brightness with the 3 watt LED, but draws more power (over 12 watts). Its life expectancy would also be short, perhaps 500 hours or less, and the bulb is fragile. The LED is rated to last more than 20,000 hours.

Above is a comparison with a branded 20 watt 36 degree halogen bulb, new, fresh from the box. Notice how poor its colour rendition is compared to the LED, even on the yellow-brown brick wall.