Lighting gets the raw end of the deal when it comes to successful supermarket design. In reality, it can make or break the atmosphere and, most important, decide how merchandise looks. Gone are the days of fixtures that provide only general lighting. Top-performing grocery stores utilize various layers of lighting to highlight displays, make merchandise “pop” and create unique spaces between the various departments – all while keeping a consistent look and feel around the store.

One of the “dirty” secrets of the LED industry is that chemicals in the surrounding environment to some types of LEDs can cause a decrease in output or potentially accelerate complete failure. Probably the most common mechanism is referred to as “Sulfuration” because it involves the chemical reaction of sulfur and silver.

Over a year ago, Solais Lighting introduced the brightest LR38 replacement lamp at 1450 lumens. Based on its Center Beam Candle Power (CBCP), it is a direct replacement for a 39-watt Ceramic Metal Halide PAR’s initial light output or a 90-watt HIR Halogen PAR38 or a 150-watt standard halogen PAR38.

Most of you are now aware of our Xi24 trackhead, which we launched back in December 2012. Out of a 3 inch diameter and less than a 4 inch long cylinder, we are producing 1600 lumens from just 24-watts. This is the smallest LED trackhead with this performance on the market.

In a previous blog post, we detailed LM-80 testing, how it relates to our LED devices, and how it provided the LED lighting industry with a unified testing methodology. Since LEDs and LED devices have longer lifetimes than many other lighting technologies the problem arose as to how long of a testing period would be needed.

While our actively-cooled LR series lamps are to be used in dry locations only, our passively-cooled LRP & LBR series lamps have always been rated for damp location. This means they could be used in a pool area, or in an exterior area that is not exposed directly to rain.

Everyone asks for smaller and smaller fixtures that still put out a decent amount of light. We heard you. Solais is pleased to announce the Xi20 trackhead.

LightFair 2013 has come and gone and there was an amazing amount of products on display. A person could have spent 2 whole days walking the floor and still not have seen everything everyone had to offer. Though you may not have seen Solais on the tradeshow floor, we were only a quick walk across the street.

Interested parties often ask: how is Solais Luxiance (actively-cooled) technology affected by dust? The answer to this inquiry, in brief, is: Less than passive LED lamps.

Compact fluorescent often has a warm up time. While it may immediately come on at a decent level, it does take up to 10 minutes to come to full brightness. Luckily if you turn it off and on again, it does light right back up.