SMART LED LAMP COMPARISON CHART For smaller properties, Bluetooth might be the way to


go, says Brian Qualls, business development manager for Unique Lighting Systems, Riverside, California. Qualls adds that, by design, Bluetooth signals are not


very strong. Depending on the situation, those with smart LED lamps may need to be close to the fixture to make changes.


Knowing how smart products work will help give you a strong awareness of how and where this product will perform best and provide owners with the best recommendation for their landscape.” – Shane Mikkelsen, Brilliance LED


“Tink about a Bluetooth speaker; when I walk into


another room with my phone, the signal is garbled or lost,” Qualls says. “Te same communication technology is in our lamps. Te further away, the weaker the signal.”


Selecting the right lamp After deciding what method of connectivity and commu- nication works best for a project, it’s time to figure out what smart LED lamp type should be used and where. In order to start the design and installation process, it’s tantamount that a landscape lighting professional or con- tractor is well-versed in smart products, says Mikkelsen. Tis means reviewing product information provided by manufacturers, as well as understanding the practical inter- action with all smart products. Certain smart LED lamp manufacturers offer webinars or in-person training that break down their smart products and installation processes. “Knowing how smart products work will help give you


Depending on the smart lamp’s type and brand, an app can provide control over activation schedules and a wide variety of RGB variations to fit any event or holiday. Photos: The Decor Group


a strong awareness of how and where this product will perform best and provide owners with the best recom- mendation for their landscape,” Mikkelsen says. “… Tis also minimizes installation time and return calls, and it allows you time to cover how to use the product and smart app with the property owner in advance.”


Pat Bradshaw, director of Nite Time Décor, Irving, Tex-


as, says that because some smart LED lamps operate with the same Kelvin ranges and colors, outdoor lighting profes- sionals just need to focus on lumens and wattages. “You need 3 to 8 watts, 200 to 650 lumens and beam


spread from 40 to 120 to 360 degrees,” Bradshaw says. “A bipin lamp for path or area lights, MR16 for your spots and wash lights, or PAR36 for wells and flood lights.” Qualls emphasizes that lamp types depend on the proj-


ect type. “Focus more on feature areas or areas with great view- points to select the lamps that will produce the biggest im- pact by changing colors,” Qualls says. Once the proper lamps are selected, smart LED lamps


are installed physically in the same manner as other drop- in replacement lamps. Each lamp must be programmed and adjusted individually at the initial installation.


A promising future Smart LED lamps carry myriad benefits for customers, al- lowing them to customize just about every aspect of their lighting system. It’s due to smart LED lamps’ versatility that Bradshaw


sees a growing need for these cutting-edge lighting sys- tems. “Today’s customers want to play and entertain, have the


ability to create a color scheme for any occasion, highlight an object while enjoying the power of controlling lights whenever they want, any way they want,” Bradshaw says. But smart lamps also come with notable positives for


landscape lighting professionals and contractors. “Offering a smart lamp or smart control system al-


lows contractors to diversify their product offerings,” says Cervantes. “In some cases, it can set them apart from competitors since they are able to offer a wide range of products.”


McKenna Corson is a freelance writer in Denver, Colorado, and can be reached at mckenna8989@gmail.com.


View the expanded version of the article online at irrigationandlighting.org/smartLEDcharts2022.


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Irrigation & Lighting Late Fall 2022


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