Lighting Selection Guide
Lighting products fall into indoor, high bay, outdoor, decorative and emergency lighting groups; the place of use is the deciding factor in selection.
This guide explains what to look at when choosing products in the Lighting category.
Which groups are lighting products divided into
The subcategories are divided largely by place of use:
- Indoor general lighting: Panel, downlight, tri-proof and batten types are under LED luminaires; ceiling, corridor and linear luminaires are separate groups.
- High bay and production areas: LED high bay luminaires for warehouse and factory volumes; handheld lamps and ex-proof luminaires are in the industrial lighting group.
- Outdoor: LED floodlights for facades and open areas; also street luminaires, solar LED luminaires, and floor and pool lighting.
- Decorative and accent: Decorative luminaires, including pendant, table lamp and garden luminaires, wall sconces, wall washers and LED strip products; magnetic track and track spot luminaires are in the special lighting products group.
- Light source, supply and control: Bulbs, LED power supplies, accessories such as tracks and spot housings, and motion sensors.
- Evacuation safety: Emergency lighting luminaires together with the guidance and safety luminaires that include exit signs and spotlights.
Which values to look at when comparing luminaires
- Illuminance. Lux is lumens per square meter. First determine the lux value the space requires, then calculate the number of luminaires accordingly. For example, EN 12464-1 requires 500 lux in an office for writing, reading and data processing.
- Luminous efficacy. Lumens divided by watts (lm/W) shows how much power is needed to produce the same light. Compare the luminaire's own lumen value; the lumen value given for the LED module inside it is higher because it does not include optical losses.
- Color temperature. Up to 3300 K counts as warm white, 3300-5300 K as neutral white, and above 5300 K as cool white. Choose the same value for luminaires that are seen together in the same space.
- Color rendering (Ra, CRI). Ra above 80 is considered good and above 90 very good; below 80 should not be chosen for work areas. EN 12464-1 requires Ra 90 for tasks where color is distinguished, such as color and fabric inspection in textiles.
- Supply. Besides luminaires that run on mains voltage, there are 12 V and 24 V LED strips, 12 V pool luminaires and 48 V magnetic track luminaires. For these, the output voltage of the power supply must match the product and its power must be greater than the total connected load.
On long runs such as gardens, car parks and open areas, the voltage at the end of the line is also checked. You can pre-check the circuit current with the current and fuse calculation from active power tool, and the cable cross-section on mains-voltage lines with the voltage drop calculation tool; exact values belong to the project calculation.
How to read the IP rating
In the IP code (IEC 60529), the first digit indicates protection against solid objects and dust, and the second digit indicates protection against water.
- First digit: 2 means protection against objects larger than 12.5 mm (fingers), 4 means protection against objects larger than 1 mm; 5 indicates dust-protected and 6 indicates a dust-tight enclosure.
- Second digit: 0 indicates an enclosure with no protection against water; 4 indicates protection against splashing water from all directions, 5 against water jets, 6 against powerful water jets, 7 against temporary immersion (1 m depth, 30 minutes), and 8 against continuous immersion under conditions specified by the manufacturer.
Accordingly, an IP20 luminaire is for dry indoor spaces; IP65 is dust-tight and protected against water jets but does not cover immersion. In wet areas, open sites, in-ground installations and in-pool applications, the required rating is determined according to the project and manufacturer data.
Brands in this category
- ACK: clip-in backlight, wall and ceiling luminaires, LED bulbs, LED strips and LED drivers.
- İnoled: surface-mounted LED panel luminaires, emergency exit signs, LED strips and LED transformers.
- Cata: LED bulbs, rechargeable table lamps, LED strips and LED strip transformers.
- MAS lists 220 V LED strips, Wel LED lists 48 V magnetic linear luminaires, and Schneider Electric lists emergency lighting and guidance luminaires.
Order notes
- For LED strips sold by the meter, the cut interval and supply voltage are given in the product data; plan the length accordingly.
- Most ACK products are sold in the manufacturer's carton; the carton contents and minimum order quantity are stated on the product page.
- Some of the products are listed as made to order; for these products the lead time is confirmed before ordering.
- You can reach a product directly by typing the manufacturer model code (for example AP21-13301, CT-8433, OVA48529) into the search box.
Lighting Product Groups Comparison Table
| Lighting Group | Typical Power and Color Temp | Ingress Protection and Mounting | Recommended Application | Category Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED Panel and Recessed Luminaires | 18 W – 48 W · 3000K / 4000K / 6500K | IP20 – IP44 · 60x60 grid / drywall | Offices, schools, hospitals and commercial indoor ceilings | LED Panel Luminaires |
| High-Bay and Floodlight Luminaires | 50 W – 240 W · High lm/W efficacy | IP65 – IP66 · Suspended / bracket | Factories, warehouses, workshops, facades and outdoor yards | Outdoor Lighting |
| Weatherproof (Vapor-Tight) Luminaires | 18 W – 60 W · Polycarbonate body | IP65 · Surface / suspended mount | Parking garages, boiler rooms, food plants and damp/dusty zones | LED Luminaires |
| Emergency and Exit Sign Luminaires | 1–3 hour battery backup | IP20 – IP65 · Maintained / non-maintained | Escape routes, fire stairwells and emergency exit doors | Special Lighting Products |
Frequently asked questions
How is the number of lumens needed for a space calculated?
First the required illuminance is determined in lux; 1 lux is 1 lumen per square meter. Multiplying the target lux value by the area gives the luminous flux that must reach the working plane. Because not all of the light leaving the luminaire reaches this plane, and luminous flux decreases over time through dirt buildup and aging, the total lumens of the luminaires are chosen higher than this value. EN 12464-1 requires 500 lux in an office for writing and reading; the number of luminaires is finalized by the lighting calculation.
What is the difference between 3000 K, 4000 K and 6500 K light?
The Kelvin value describes the color of the light, not its brightness. Light up to 3300 K is classed as warm white, 3300-5300 K as neutral white, and above 5300 K as cool white. Accordingly, 3000 K gives a yellowish warm light, 4000 K a neutral light, and 6500 K a bluish cool light. To compare brightness, look at the lumen value.
Can an IP65 luminaire be used underwater?
IP65 indicates that the luminaire is dust-tight and protected against water jets; it does not cover immersion. Immersion is defined by the ratings whose second digit of the code is 7 and 8: 7 denotes temporary immersion (1 m depth, 30 minutes), and 8 denotes continuous immersion under conditions specified by the manufacturer. In in-pool, in-ground and continuously water-exposed applications, the required rating and mounting style are determined according to the project and manufacturer data.
How is a power supply chosen for an LED strip?
First the supply voltage of the strip is determined; a 12 V strip works with a 12 V output power supply and a 24 V strip with a 24 V output one. Then the load is found by multiplying the power per meter by the total length, and the power supply is chosen above this load. The IP rating of the power supply is also checked according to the humidity and dust at the installation location. Transformer-free LED strip models that run on 220 V do not use a separate transformer; see the product data for the supply connection.
How can you tell which of two LED luminaires is more efficient?
The luminaire's luminous flux (lm) is divided by the power it draws (W); the luminaire with the higher lm/W value gives the same light with less energy. The comparison must be made between values of the same kind: the lumens given for a luminaire include optical losses, so they are lower than the lumens given for the LED module inside it, and the two values cannot be compared with each other.