What does the power factor mean?

Advantages of LED Lighting

LED lighting has many advantages in comparison with conventional lighting. The LED consumes less energy, has a longer life and uses no toxic gas. However, there are LED bulbs with disadvantages. If the power factor of lighting is low, it can cause pollution in the electrical system. This can cause damage to the power grid and become a problem for us all.

A power factor of a Light 

The power factor of a light source indicates the amount of energy that is redirected in our power grid. The power factor is calculated by dividing the apparent power and the actual power. For an incandescent bulb, this factor is 1, the apparent power and the real power is similar. But the power factor of the led can, for example, be 0.3. The apparent power is then stronger than real power. As a result, some of the electricity is returned to the grid, generating a reactive current, one of the main causes of network pollution.

Light sources

Light sources are not the only electronic devices that generate a reactive current. Any appliance with a power factor can generate electrical pollution. For this reason, it is very important to consider this specification when purchasing a new product.

For larger, premium brand luminaires, the power factor of LED products is between 0.9 and 1. But light sources that use less than 25 W, such as small fixtures, often cause more pollution. Many people opt for LED technology, which only adds to the pollution. This blind current is not visible on your energy costs, a 3W light source actually uses 3W.

We can avoid damage to the power grid by taking into account the power factor when buying a light source. We advise you to choose a power factor of at least 0.7 for small sources. On our page, you will find the power factor in the technical specifications of most products. If you do not know, you can contact our team of specialists or visit the producer's click here