CAST Lighting Introduces Next-Generation LED Wall Light

“Finally, an Outdoor LED Lighting Fixture that Outlives the LED Itself”

The use of LED’s in Landscape Lighting has become more and more widespread. This trend picked up momentum as consumers learned of the long life and energy efficiency of these electronic light sources. With the growing demand, lighting manufacturers rushed LED lights to market, and hundreds of new LED fixtures and replacement lamps found their way into gardens and lawns across the land. Unknown to consumers, however, was that the great majority of these lights will fail long before their promised lives.

CAST Lighting’s LED Research and Development

Several years ago, CAST Lighting launched an intensive research and development effort to create integrated LED lighting fixtures that live up to the company’s high standards of durability, reliability, serviceability, and performance. It was a long process because the technology continued to improve over time; many of the early LED components were unsuitable because of their susceptability to heat and moisture damage.

The release of CAST Lighting’s LED Engineered Wall Light (CEWL5LED1) constitutes a breakthrough in the industry. It is the first in a series of  outdoor luminaires that are designed specifically for the harsh environmental conditions present in the landscape.

Long Life – For Both LED and Fixture Body

The Nichia LED chips used in this new lighting fixture were specifically chosen for their durability, brightness, and lumen maintenance. To further enhance their long life, these chips were driven with only half their maximum current. Many manufacturers push the current to the maximum to achieve greater brightness at a lower cost. By reducing the current, far less heat is produced and full brightness is maintained over a longer period of time. The CAST Lighting Engineered Wall Light is estimated to maintain at least 70% of its brightness (L70) for 50,000 hrs. – that’s over 20 years.

While many lighting manufacturers also claim an LED life of 20 years, the consumer should ask the question, “Will the lighting fixture itself last as long as the LED light source?” CAST Lighting fixtures are uniquely constructed to make this claim. The body of the wall light is made of solid sand-cast bronze – a material that resists all types of corrosion. (Bronze statues have been known to survive for over 2,000 years with minimal corrosion.) The wire used in the fixture, and throughout all components of a CAST Lighting system, are tin-coated, marine-grade No-Ox – specially made to survive the most corrosive marine environments. Other manufacturers use copper, brass, aluminum and other materials – all subject to corrosion damage from soil and atmospheric salts and acids.

Other factors that can reduce the life of an LED fixture are voltage spikes and fluctuations. The CAST Wall Light is engineered to accept a wide range of voltages (8 to 20 volts) and has built-in voltage spike protection.

Serviceability

Many LED manufacturers that integrate LED chips and drivers into the body of the fixture, permanently seal the fixture to prevent moisture intrusion. If an LED board fails in such a fixture, the entire fixture must be discarded and replaced. The CAST LED Wall Light eliminates this problem by using a propriatary conformal coating on the LED board to protect it from water. In the unlikely event that the LED fails (a lightning strike, for example), the glass cover can be removed and the LED board replaced. This is a simple, inexpensive repair that can be done by the installer in the field.

Performance

The CAST LED Wall Light is designed to deliver a warm white (2,700 degrees kelvin) diffuse light, with a very wide beam angle (100 degrees). This light also has a very high color rendering index (86) to closely match the illumination of incandescent light. It’s light output is about 90 lumens, somewhat brighter than the incandescent version of this fixture.

CAST Lighting plans to introduce LED versions of its other popular luminaires – each one designed and engineered to provide optimal illumination for the landscape.