Projection or reflection: where is the difference?
A comparison of lighting technology
Spotlights, floodlights and wallwashers are flexible and efficient lighting tools for the effective presentation of products. The quality of lighting technology is not only decisive for the precise distribution of light and an appealing shopping experience, but also for the long-term cost-efficiency of the lighting installation.
Luminaires are efficient if the energy deployed reaches the target plane in the form of light. For this reason ERCO uses individually arranged LEDs and an in-house developed lens system consisting of collimators and interchangeable Spherolit lenses. Conventional optical systems however consist of chip-on-board (COB) LED modules and a reflector. Here several LEDs are arranged below a phosphor layer and form a large luminous surface. Not all light beams can be directed with this construction—this creates spill light (the red lines). The result - the optical system has less efficiency and precision.
Projection: light control via lenses
Lens systems feature high precision and efficiency. High uniformity in terms of brightness and colour constancy is generated within the light beam. Imperfections or spill light losses are avoided because all light rays are guided through the lens system. This means that operators benefit from high efficiency (lx/W). Even very narrow light beams for striking accents can be implemented.
Reflection: light control via reflectors
With light control via reflectors, only the light rays emitted to the side are controlled. Therefore very narrow light beams are not possible. Furthermore, high spill light losses (red lines) or not clean beams (e.g. halos) occur. Unfocused and sometimes coloured edges to the light beams may also occur as well as a non-uniform distribution of illumination in the centre.
Efficient wallwashing
Uniformly illuminated vertical planes are ideal for the highly effective presentation of large product displays. Only a few luminaires are needed for this purpose. This is demonstrated by a direct comparison of lens technology and reflector technology on a shelf with a width of 5m and identical illuminance (200lx) and uniformity.
ERCO Spherolit lens technology
The special light distribution of the ERCO lens wallwasher achieves high levels of uniformity even with wide luminaire spacing.
Conventional reflector technology
With reflector-based luminaires, the application requires more luminaires to achieve comparable horizontal and vertical uniformity.
Summary
ERCO lens wallwashers enable uniform vertical lighting with wide spacing between the luminaires. Despite the spill light component, a higher number of wallwashers with conventional LED reflector technology is needed to achieve comparable uniformity and illuminance.
Wallwash wallwasher reflecto
Wattage per area (W/m2) 4,0 8,4
Uniformity (Emin/Ē) 0,66 0,5
Luminaires pe 10m Wand 8 11
High performance accenting
Spotlights achieve hierarchies of perception in shops by effectively accenting merchandise displays and individual products. ERCO Spherolit lens technology also guides the light of the LEDs precisely onto the target plane – without any spill light. Compared to luminaires with reflectors this enables highly efficient lighting solutions.
ERCO Spherolit lens technology
A range of light distributions such as oval flood enable light beams to be specified according to the exhibit.
Conventional reflector technology
With a limited selection of light distributions, several luminaires may need to be installed in sequence for one object.
Fazit
Die präzise Spherolitlinsentechnologie ermöglicht eine Akzentuierung mit hoher Effizienz (lx/W). Die in Licht umgewandelte Energie wird auf die Zielfläche projiziert und entweicht nicht als Streulicht unkontrolliert in den Raum.
Cost-efficient shop window lighting
Changes in decorations and seasonally-based merchandise demand individual, flexible lighting solutions. Thanks to ERCO's interchangeable Spherolit lenses, only a few luminaires are required for this purpose. Compared to luminaires without interchangeable optics, investment overheads are reduced due to the lower number of luminaires.
**Decoration 1 Spot** Interchangeable ERCO lenses Luminaires 5 Lenses 5
Interchangeable ERCO lenses
Luminaires 5
Lenses 5
**Decoration 1 Spot**
non-interchangeable optics
Luminaires 5
Lenses -
Professional shop window lighting requires individual light distributions. If the displays change it is also recommended to modify the light beam.
**Decoration 2 - Oval flood**
Interchangeable ERCO lenses
Luminaires -
Lenses 5
**Decoration 2 - Oval flood** non-interchangeable optics Luminaires 5 Lenses -
non-interchangeable optics
Luminaires 5
Lenses -
With interchangeable lenses the light distribution is simply modified via accessories. With non-interchangeable reflector optics however, a higher invest of five further luminaires is needed.
**Decoration 3 - Wallwash**
Interchangeable ERCO lenses
Luminaires -
Lenses 5
**Decoration 3 - Wallwash**
non-interchangeable optics
Luminaires 5
Lenses -
Each further seasonal change in the displays again requires high investments if non-interchangeable lenses are used. The ERCO interchangeable lenses offer an economical alternative in such cases.
Summary
Interchangeable lenses cut the investment costs for flexible shop window lighting with changing displays. No further luminaires need be purchased if the displays are changed, but only the lenses as accessories.
Interchangeable ERCO lenses non-interchangeable optics
Luminaires 5 (incl. 5 lenses) 15
Lenses 10 as accessories -