LED panel lights

01

Choose edge-lit or backlit construction and the size

GRNLED, a panel maker linked to this page, compares the two constructions. Edge-lit panels use refraction through a light guide: a frame, PS diffuser, PMMA light guide plate, reflector paper and back cover, with thicknesses of 8, 9, 10 or 12 mm and efficacy it puts at 80–140 lm/W; their main complaint is yellowing from poor light guide plates. Backlit panels light through lenses directly with only frame, PS diffuser and baseplate and no light guide, at 30, 45 or 55 mm thick and 80–120 lm/W; their main complaint is lenses dropping off. It lists 600 × 600 mm panels (595 × 595 mm actual) at 40 W, a 620 × 620 mm type for markets such as Germany, 1200 × 300 mm at 40 W and 1200 × 600 mm at 60 W, with Triac, 0–10 V and DALI dimming and optional emergency kits of 3–30 W lasting 30 to 180 minutes. [2]

Editorial calculation: a 40 W 600 × 600 mm panel at 100 lm/W, inside both of GRNLED's efficacy ranges, emits about 40 × 100 = 4,000 lm; at 80 lm/W it would emit 3,200 lm. Efficacy values are assumed examples within the stated ranges; ask for measured photometric (IES or LDT) files for the exact model.

Give the supplier the size (nominal and actual, e.g. 595 × 595 mm or 620 × 620 mm) and ceiling grid or mounting, construction (edge-lit or backlit), wattage and luminous flux, efficacy, colour temperature and CRI, UGR target, flicker and stroboscopic values, driver brand and power factor, dimming (Triac, 0–10 V, DALI), emergency kit, IP rating for wet areas, photometric files, certifications for your market and warranty.

02

Set light-quality, flicker and glare limits

EU Regulation 2019/2020 on ecodesign for light sources sets functional requirements applying from 1 September 2021: colour rendering CRI ≥ 80 (with exceptions for some outdoor and industrial uses); for LED mains light sources a displacement factor of at least 0.5 above 5 W, 0.7 above 10 W and 0.9 above 25 W; colour consistency within a six-step MacAdam ellipse; flicker Pst LM ≤ 1.0 and stroboscopic effect SVM ≤ 0.4 at full load. It defines a containing product as one containing light sources or separate control gear, for example a luminaire that can be taken apart to verify its light source. [1]

GRNLED describes anti-glare light guide plates as key to anti-glare panels with UGR below 19. [2]

Editorial note: for a 40 W panel sold into the EU, the 0.9 displacement-factor threshold for LED mains light sources above 25 W is the relevant one if the regulation's light-source requirements apply to the panel's light source; ask the supplier for declared CRI, Pst LM, SVM and displacement factor, and for the UGR table computed for your room. [1]

03

Compare what suppliers offer

Suppliers linked to this page list LED panel lights; each card links to the page reviewed.

Listings include backlit and edge-lit panels in standard and custom sizes, round and square flat panels rated 100–277 V or 120–277 V, backlit, edge-lit and grille panels from a wholesale range, and indoor panels alongside tri-proof and batten lights. Ask each for photometric files, driver details, UGR and flicker data.

04

Ask for inrush, tolerances and lifetime figures on the datasheet

Signify's specification page for a Philips CoreLine Panel gen6 (RC132V, 600x600 mm, 4,300 lm, 32 W, 135 lm/W, 4000 K) shows the electrical and lifetime fields a full panel datasheet carries. It lists inrush current of 9 A for 0.25 ms and allows 32 panels on a 16 A type B miniature circuit breaker, with power factor 0.9 and total harmonic distortion 20 %. It declares luminous flux tolerance of -10% / +10% and power consumption tolerance of +/-10%, a performance ambient temperature Tq of 25 °C and an ambient range of 0 °C to 35 °C. [3]

For lifetime, Signify gives lumen maintenance per EN-IEC 62722-2-1 of L90 at 50000 h and L80 at 100000 h, a control gear failure rate of 5 % at a median useful life of 50000 h, and a warranty period of 5 years; it rates the panel Repair Class D, not designed to be repaired. It also declares PstLM 1 and SVM 0.4, UGR 19, photobiological risk group 0 @200mm to EN62778, a glow-wire test at 650 °C for 30 s, IP20 and IK02 (0.2 J), and a 73 mm height at 595 x 595 mm. [3]

Editorial calculation: 32 panels on one 16 A breaker draw 32 × 32 W = 1,024 W in steady state, so the breaker count is set by inrush, not by running load; ask each supplier for inrush current and time and the panels-per-breaker figure for your breaker type, plus flux and power tolerances, Tq, L-value at a stated hour count and the driver failure rate. [3]

05

Test flicker and power quality when dimmed, not only at full output

In a CALiPER study for the US Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory procured 24 pairs of 2×2 and 2×4 recessed troffers anonymously, tested them to IES LM-79-08 and installed them in a mockup office. Each of the 12 dedicated LED troffers bested the T8 fluorescent benchmarks on efficacy, but one third of them had 0-10V dimming drivers that made the LEDs flicker when dimmed. [4]

At full output none of the luminaires showed dramatic flicker; the report treats 3% flicker or less as steady output. The report states: "For LED sources, flicker is predominantly determined by the LED driver." PNNL recorded light-output waveforms at full output and dimmed at about 25% on the dimming control. When dimmed, the three types that observers singled out as flickering appeared to use pulse-width modulation, giving 100% flicker at around 250 Hz, and almost all observers saw flicker through the stroboscopic effect of a moving hand or pencil. [4]

For power quality, the report cites ANSI C82.77-2002: a minimum power factor of 0.9 and maximum line-current THD of 32% for commercial indoor hard-wired luminaires; measured THD was below 12% for all luminaires except two LED T8 lamps, at 37.4% and 46.4%. CRI of the LED troffers ranged from 68 to 92, mean 83. [4]

Editorial note: the study tested troffers, not flat panels specifically, so use it as a test method rather than as panel data. Ask each supplier for percent flicker and frequency at full output and at about 25% on your dimming control, plus power factor and THD; the EU Pst LM and SVM limits above apply at full load. [4] [1]

06

Trace the panel components

This is a functional reference built from the sources cited; it is not one maker's specification.

07

Fill the specification fields with values for your project

An LED panel quotation needs values for your project. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.

08

Send the ceiling, light and control data together

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Ceiling: [grid; size; recessed/surface/suspended]
Panel: [edge-lit or backlit; size; wattage; lumens]
Quality: [CCT; CRI; UGR; Pst LM; SVM]
Driver: [brand; power factor/DF; dimming]
Options: [emergency kit; IP rating]
Documents: [IES/LDT; certificates; warranty]

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