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HONG KONG (October 20, 2016)—GRE Alpha recently attended the 2016 Global Source Mobile Electronics Show Smart Living Showcase, demonstrating how its innovative, top-of-the-line lighting management products can offer intelligent lighting control solutions. Throughout this AsiaWorld-Expo tradeshow, which was held at Hong Kong International Airport and concluded on October 21, 2016, GRE Alpha’s team members were proud to showcase the state-of-the-art applications of its wireless SmartDIM LED dimming module.

HONG KONG (October 20, 2016)—GRE Alpha will exhibit at the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair for the fifth consecutive year. From October 27 to 30, 2016, GRE Alpha’s team members will be showcasing several products at booth 1-CON003 in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre’s prestigious Hall of Aurora.

GRE Alpha’s products represent top-of-the-line innovation in LED lighting components. From color tuning and dimming modules to smart home dimming technology and unmatched reliability, the company’s booth will display samples of the company’s many state-of-the-art offerings. GRE Alpha is excited to offer expertise and guidance on the following productsand others in addition to providing networking opportunities:

A Constant Voltage Tunable White LED Dimming Module featuring LED dimming with color temperatures from 2000K to 8000K and using just one 0/1-10V dimmer, a color tuning module with a dimming range of 0 to 100 percent, wide range DC input of 8 to 48 volts, up to 97 percent efficiency and up to 1024 dimming levels for high resolution smooth dimming.

A 7-in-1 LED Dimming Module boasting constant voltage, dimming up to 240 Watts, multi-colored status with an LED indicator, seven dimming controls, user-adjustable linear or logarithmic dimming transfer, selectable switch mode timing durations, a dimming range of 0 to 100 percent, wide range DC input of 8 to 48 volts, up to 97 percent efficiency and up to 1024 dimming levels to create high resolution smooth dimming.

An LED Wireless SLD-SmartDIM Dimming Module with constant voltage, wireless and ZigBee-enabled dimming supporting up to 240 Watts of power, wide range DC input at 8 to 48 volts, high efficiency up to 95 percent, a high precision ratio, compatibility with IEEE 802.15.4 ZigBee Light Link-enabled devices, suitability for LED lighting and signage applications, easy installation and a compact size.

An XSP300 LED Driver offering dual-mode constant current and constant voltage, next generation e-capless LED driver, patented thermal-core technology -25 to 80 degrees Celcius full load operation, built-in 20kV surge protection, a universal AC input and user programmable output current and voltage via trim pots, five combinable channels of output, dimming options through GRE Alpha’s other dimming modules, and efficiency up to 92 percent.

GRE Alpha looks forward to showcasing these innovative products and to seeing its loyal customers and partners at the 2016 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair. Visit www.hktdc.com and click on “Events” for more information about—or to register for—the biggest annual lighting event in Asia. To contact a GRE Alpha service representative and schedule a one-on-one appointment with a technical expert, visit www.grealpha.com/contact.

GRE Alpha would like to extend an exclusive invitation to its guests, customers and newsletter readers to attend the 2016 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair. From October 27 to 30, GRE Alpha will be exhibiting at booth number 1-CON003, offering product information and networking with industry professionals and clients. Team members will also be showcasing several products, including the Constant Voltage Tunable White LED Dimming Module, 7-in-1 LED Dimming Module, LED Wireless SLD-SmartDIM Dimming Module, and GRE Alpha’s new XSP300 LED Driver

GRE Alpha’s Constant Voltage Tunable White LED Dimming Module features LED dimming with changing in color temperatures from 2000K to 8000K using just one 0/1-10V dimmer. A color tuning module with a dimming range of 0 to 100 percent, the product offers a wide range DC input of 8 to 48 volts, up to 97 percent efficiency and up to 1024 dimming levels to give high resolution smooth dimming.

The 7-in-1 LED Dimming Module is a constant voltage, 240 Watts dimming module offering multi-colored status with an LED indicator, seven dimming controls (including switch, 0-10V, 1-10V, VR, DALI, DMX and PWM), user-adjustable linear or logarithmic dimming transfer, selectable switch mode timing durations, a dimming range of 0 to 100 percent, wide range DC input of 8 to 48 volts, up to 97 percent efficiency and up to 1024 dimming levels to create high resolution smooth dimming.

GRE Alpha’s LED Wireless SLD-SmartDIM Dimming Module is a constant voltage, wireless and Zigbee-enabled dimming module supporting up to 240 Watts of power. The SLD-SmartDIM’s features include wide range DC input at 8 to 48 volts, high efficiency up to 95 percent, a high precision ratio, compatibility with IEEE 802.15.4 Zigbee Light Link-enabled devices, suitability for LED lighting and signage applications, easy installation and a compact size.

The new XSP300 LED Driver is a dual-mode, constant current and constant voltage, next generation e-capless LED driver. The XSP300 boasts patented thermal-core technology -25 to 80 degrees Celcius full load operation, built-in 20kV surge protection, a universal AC input and user programmable output current and voltage via trim pots. With integral wiring compartments for reduced installation costs, the XSP300 offers up to five combinable channels of output, dimming options through GRE Alpha’s other dimming modules, and efficiency up to 92 percent.

GRE Alpha looks forward to showcasing these innovative products and to seeing you at the 2016 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair. Click here to register for the event, or click here to contact a GRE Alpha service representative and schedule a one-on-one appointment with a technical expert.

From color variation and dimming to new applications and beyond, innovative improvements on LED lighting management systems appear every day. Some of the most important of these advancements include developments in energy efficiency and output. With continuous increases in efficiency comes lengthier lifespans of LED products, keeping these lighting fixtures and LED drivers functioning in the homes and businesses of consumers for far longer than ever before.

LED lighting products are progressively more reliable, easily becoming a go-to solution for cost-effective, efficient residential and commercial lighting. Advancements have not yet solved all issues with LED lighting—such as those regarding thermal management heat dissipation—but implementing a few simple changes can turn headaches into solutions.

LED Lighting and Heat: Trends and Evolutions

One of the largest changes to LED lighting systems is their increased capacity to create large amounts of energy without overheating. Most LED lights produce upwards of 350 milliwatts of energy, equating to approximately 70 percent heat output and 30 percent light output. The high temperatures resulting from heat output lower LED efficiency and make the products less dependable, thus creating a great need for thermal management and heat dissipation solutions.

With the transparent resin that encapsulates LEDs as a poor thermal conductor, and the back side of an LED chip generating heat from electrical energy not transformed into useful light, among other concerns, it is necessary to lower the overall operating temperature of LED lighting management systems. In order to create a more optimal “low junction” temperature, heat removal can be accomplished through passive thermal design. This includes:

• Using building materials with conductive properties when building LED lighting products, thus inherently allowing for better heat dissipation.
• Heat dissipation through convection or radiation within the LED product.
• Adding a metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) as a heat spreader.
• Designing products with heat sinks in mind, especially in regards to LED product shape, proximity of the LED board to the driver’s circuitry, and methods of mounting elements together.
• Implementing heat pipes and/or vapor chambers to further improve effective thermal conductivity.

The regulation of heat is referred to as thermal management. Thermal management represents a significant achievement in terms of the efficiency of LED lighting management systems and can be accomplished in myriad ways. Combinations of heat dissipation tactics allow for thermal management of not only the LED light bulb itself, but also that of other critical LED components of the lighting fixtures as a whole. This improves overall efficiency and the lifespan of LED lighting management systems.

Overcoming Other Challenges

The relative “newness” of LED technology means that design flaws, manufacturing defects and the eventual end-of-life phase of LED components have all been scrutinized to overcome and improve the lifespan of LED lighting management systems. Though progress has been made, the electrolytic capacitors of LED drivers—among other components—continue to provide lifespan challenges. There are effective solutions to help consumers overcome this and other challenges, including evolutions in efficient design of components and systems to improve functionality, monitoring manufacturing methods to keep defects at a minimum, and providing thermal conduction paths and heat sinks in appropriate locations to aid in cooling and heat dispersal. Ensuring capacitors are situated so as to avoid surrounding components’ heat by radiation, keeping other heat-generating components away from the underside of the capacitor, and using a convection cooling or fan in the power supply all aid in thermal regulation and heat dissipation, decreasing wear and tear.

While all of these solutions improve functionality and the overall lifespan of LED fixtures and lighting management systems, they are not enough to address the overall reliability of LED drivers. Continued improvements are being made, and an innovative new product from GRE Alpha is helping to bridge that gap.

The GRE Alpha Solution: A New 300 Watt LED Driver

GRE Alpha has developed a new, ultra-reliable, 300 watt LED driver—the XSP 300—a new generation product that will be unveiled at the Hong Kong Lighting Fair held from October 27 through October 30, 2016. Heralded as the world’s most rugged 300 watt LED driver, the XSP 300 features patented thermal-core technology and temperature-sensitive components for an 80C full load. This advanced thermal core technology, paired with applied advanced electronics, means that GRE Alpha’s XSP 300 has been able to overcome previously unsolved high thermal stress issues. It is idea for installation in signage, architectural and high power LED applications.

GRE Alpha is committed to innovation and to delivering high-quality, leading-edge LED lighting solutions. For more information about products, or to speak with a GRE Alpha product expert, visit the Enquiries page and fill out the Enquiry Form. Sign up for the GRE Alpha newsletter to stay up-to-date on new products like the XSP 300 and for early access to other GRE Alpha news.

Technological evolutions constantly advance lighting management systems, creating more applications than ever for LED lighting and dimming modules. Those same evolutions are giving rise to the trend known as the Internet of Things (IoT), the general connectivity that results from consumers making the switch to smart, internet-enabled products controlled through smartphone apps and computers. These smart devices simplify the methodology behind commonplace garage door openers, refrigerators, sound and entertainment systems, thermostats and home security systems, among other things, making it possible to modify the statuses of those devices remotely, thus optimizing their efficiency. With the addition of an appropriate Wi-Fi module, LED lighting and dimming easily tops the list of smart technology innovations ready to impact the average household or business.

The Growth and Importance of IoT

The progress of smart products can be largely attributed to the enhanced functionality they offer to users. These IoT-centric products save energy, money and time for home and business owners, creating a less hands-on lifestyle for consumers. Automation, instant results and efficiency are hugely positive outcomes of the IoT trend, allowing consumers of individual products or entire IoT-enabled systems to achieve an almost futuristic level of progress in their everyday lives. In fact, according to a recent poll, 68 percent of Americans believe smart homes will be “common” by 2026. IoT is making consumers’ lives easier, and that is paving the way for these smart products and smart homes to become standard in home automation.

IoT and Its Positive Impact on LED Lighting Management

Just as it has enhanced the realms of home security and appliances, the IoT movement has officially rooted itself in LED and lighting management. IoT is aiding countless home and business owners in achieving more efficient, higher quality lighting applications that can be dimmed, illuminated or completely turned off with the touch of a button on a smartphone or computer screen. Before IoT, lights were controlled by a “dumb” lighting switch, a piece of unintelligent, wall-mounted plastic that did not quantify energy savings or allow for precise lighting control. With IoT-enabled lighting devices, consumers have the opportunity to enjoy adaptive lighting systems—systems that will eventually learn consumers’ preferences over time, allow them to track energy usage and savings, and improve their overall well-being and quality of life. Internet-enabled LED lighting systems can be controlled in much finer detail than a traditional or non-IoT lighting system, including brightness and color to enhance moods for different occasions. All of this was previously unachievable before IoT-connected lighting.

For example, when IoT-enabled LED lighting is combined with the appropriate sensor, it can provide more localized details about energy usage and improve home security. One specific application involves motion sensor-activated security floodlights. These lights turn on when something moves in front of them, illuminating the yard and discouraging potential human prowlers. The IoT portion sends alerts to the security system’s owner that the lights have been triggered, keeping homes and families safer. IoT creates countless opportunities like this for future LED lighting applications.

GRE Alpha’s IoT-enabled SmartDim Module

GRE Alpha recently presented at the Hong Kong InnoCentre as part of a networking seminar entitled “How IoT and Green Technologies from Science Park Create a Smart Living.” The discussion, led by GRE Alpha’s business development manager, Kelvin Kwong, introduced a new Zigbee-enabled smart lighting module for quick and seamless upgrading of existing LED features into the IoT smart lighting realm. The SmartDim module is an intelligent IoT dimming module that works with the latest IoT-enabled home devices. It easily connects wirelessly to gateways such as a SmartThings® hub or other Zigbee-enabled wireless hubs, instantly converting non-internet LED lighting systems into IoT-enabled smart lighting management systems.

Other features of the GRE Alpha SmartDim include:

Compatibility with IEEE 802.15.4 Zigbee Light Link-enabled devices

0-100 percent flicker-free dimming and up to 95 percent efficiency

Suitability for LED lighting and signage applications

For more information on GRE Alpha’s SmartDim, evolutions in dimming efficiency, tips for achieving maximum efficiency and a discussion on the risks of inefficient dimmable drivers, view the presentation by Mr. Kwong.

Constant Innovations in LED Lighting

This summer has seen four product launches by GRE Alpha: the 0-10V dimming module, the DALI dimming module, the DMX dimmer and the SmartDim module. These products are cutting edge, top-of-the-line innovations in LED lighting and dimming, providing countless opportunities for lighting upgrades in homes and businesses. As IoT and other advancements continue to drive growth in the LED lighting industry, GRE Alpha will remain committed to innovation and to delivering high-quality, leading-edge LED lighting solutions.

For more information about products, or to speak with a GRE Alpha product expert, visit the Enquiries page and fill out the Enquiry form. Stay tuned for future news about new and current products, LED lighting applications and more from GRE Alpha.