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FAQs

General lighting

What are LEDs?
An LED is a semiconductor device that emits a visible light of a certain colour when an electrical charge is applied. They provide a very low heat source with a very long lamp life – around 50,000 hours. 

What is a Lumen?
Lumens measure how much light you are getting from a bulb. More lumens means it’s a brighter light; fewer lumens means it’s a dimmer light.

Lumens let you buy the amount of light you want. So when buying your new bulbs, think lumens, not watts.

What is the difference between current rated LED’s and voltage rated LED’s?
Current rated LED’s require a constant current such as 350mA or 700mA, these LED products will also require a forward voltage that is specific for the particular LED being used in the product. A current rated LED needs to be specified with these two factors taken into consideration i.e. 4 x LED’s rated at 700mA with a voltage of 3.2vDC each will require a driver that produces 700mA with a minimum voltage of 12.8v. Current LED’s also need to be wired in SERIES.

Voltage rated LED’s require a constant voltage such as 24vDC, these LED products will also consume a power (wattage) that is specific for the particular LED product being used. A voltage rated LED can be specified much the same as regular low voltage products i.e. having the required voltage (24vDC) and having a wattage output suitable to the amount of wattage consumption. Voltage rated LED’s also need to be wired in PARALLEL.

What is fire rating?
Some current building regulations require fire rated luminaires to be installed. If a downlight is fire rated, it has intumescent materials incorporated into its design.

These materials will expand when heated above a certain temperature, blocking any gaps, thereby maintaining the integrity of the ceiling and its ability to keep a fire from spreading to other areas of the structure.

The fire rating is applied after the product has been tested and proven to withstand exposure to fire within certain time limits and building constructions. Your area building regulation codes will dictate whether fire rated products are necessary

What is IP rating?
The system is used provide a guide to the degree of protection that a luminaire has against the ingress of solids and liquids.

The First Number relates to solids and ranges from 0 –6.
The ratings offer a logical progression from larger to smaller objects, so the lowest number (zero) indicates that there is no protection against touching live parts within the equipment. The most common rating for a light fitting intended for general interior use is IP20, which tells you that nothing larger than 12.5mm diameter can reach a live part when the equipment is fully assembled.
The Second Number relates to liquids and ranges from 0 –9.
Unlike the natural progression assigned to the ingress of solids, the second number relates to styles of liquid ingress; drips, sprays, splashes, jets and immersion.

Dimming compatibility?
When buying dimmable LED’s it is very important to realise that not all dimmer switches will provide effective, flicker free and smooth dimming. With this in mind we test our products on a wide range of dimmers.

Please visit our website to find Aurora tested dimming compatibility tables.

www.auroralighting.com

What is a PIR?
A PIR is a presence detector that can turn on a light circuit through the detection of a moving object.

How do I know I’m going to have a problem with PIR’s?
You do not know but if there is a problem this may occur when connecting multiple LED luminaires to one mains switching device. Issues may also arise when retrofitting installations. Luminaires with LED electronic control gear may exhibit higher inrush characteristics compared to non-LED luminaires. Causing failures in the long run. You need to check with the manufacture on compatibility.

How many LED circuits can I connect to a component with a contactor?
You cannot assume you can connect the same number of LED luminaires to a switching device compared with the number of non-LED luminaires. You will need to check with the manufacturer’s data sheets.

What is inrush current measured in?
Inrush current is measured in amps per microsecond. This should not be confused with the running load of a luminaire.

What is Thermal Management?
A common misconception is that LEDs do not generate heat. Although the beam emitted is cool they do, like any other light source, convert electric power in radiant heat. Lifetime of the LED Chip is directly linked to the operating temperature of the LED. Poor thermal management where the LED is operating above manufacture guidelines can also lead to colour shift and/or failure.

What is the cable thickness on long runs?
Making sure you get the right cable thickness is the responsibility of the installer. Cable thickness must be calculated to avoid voltage drop. Calculations and cable tables can be found within the latest edition of the IEE wiring regulations.

Does insulation need to be removed from the fittings?
Most fittings require insulation to be removed, however with newer fittings wool based insulation can be laid directly over the top up to 300mm. Please check with the installation sheets for the specific product.

Are your products covered by a warranty?
Our LED products are designed with long lifetime in mind, allowing reliable thermal management. Please check with the installation sheets for the specific product for their induvial warranty.

How do I obtain technical advice?
Our website allows you to have access to technical data on our product ranges, with a PDF format to download spec sheets, installation guides and IES/LDT files.

If further information is required you can email technical@auroralighting.com or call 01707 351 859

Pricing and ordering

How do I find the product prices?
Contact us and we will provide you with pricing details.

How do I place an order with the in-house telesales department?
Please call your personal in-house sales agent at their dedicated lines, provided in your approval confirmation emails.

How do I place an order via fax?
Fax numbers are located on the contact page.  Be sure to place your fax order utilising the approved purchasing template. Orders received after 5:30 p.m. BST may be processed the following morning.

I have not placed an order recently. What is required to ensure my request is handled promptly?
To ensure that requests are processed correctly, please call your dedicated in-house sales specialist with any relevant requests, including any updated contact information.

Does Aurora offer OEM / ODM services, and, if so, how can I get more information?
The Aurora Lighting Group does provide OEM / ODM services. Find out more about what we do on our OEM / ODM page or contact us for further information. 

How do I receive a replacement part or product?
Contact us and we will work toward resolving any replacement or refund issues. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.