[Nhcoll-l] LED lights in collections

[Callomon,Paul]

Changing to LEDs makes sense in many ways. They consume a fraction of the energy used by incandescent or even fluorescent bulbs, and do not get anywhere near as hot. Both factors reduce stress on older light fixtures and thus the danger of sparking. They do not have ballasts, unlike fluorescents, and are a straight swap-out.

The only possible issue is that their color temperature tends to be higher than that of incandescents. Some LED bulbs can be configured to "cool" or "warm" modes with a switch, but most are set at the factory. Cool LEDs can change the visual perception of colors in exhibits and shared spaces, though that can also be good - many dioramas and specimen displays look better with higher color temperature lighting, and up to now that has often been achieved with halogen bulbs that get very hot indeed and eat a lot of power.

One caveat is that the optimistic durability figures many makers give - "lasts seven years!" are just that, optimistic. These bulbs are almost all made in China and to keep the price down, the QC is not all it might be. I've had them fail or start flickering (which can't be fixed) in less than a year in some cases.


Paul Callomon
Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
________________________________
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia
callomon at ansp.org<mailto:callomon at ansp.org> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170


From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Angela Hornsby
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2025 1:29 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] LED lights in collections


External.
Hi everyone,

Our campus facilities management would like to change all of our general lighting in non-public collections spaces (dry and wet) to LEDs.  I haven't found any sources suggesting major negatives (e.g., https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/mhi/chap4.pdf).

Does anyone have experience with the change to LEDs, particularly any unanticipated effects?

Thanks,

Angela

--
Angela Hornsby, Ph.D. (she)
Zoological Collections Manager (MMNH / JFBM)
Bell Museum
University of Minnesota
https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/zoological-collections/

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