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Full Spectrum LED Bulb for SAD Disorder

I am an 86-year-old female living in a retirement home. I have a small unit on the first floor of a multi-unit building. I would like advice on what full spectrum light to buy. I may get a SAD disorder, want to try one of your bulbs.

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our flicker-free lights that offer a high CRI in the 2700K color temperature. The flicker-free aspect is helpful for reducing eye strain, and the CRI is helpful for providing accurate color representation. 

​You may have noticed in the past that cheap lightbulbs or fluorescent tubes wash subjects in a yellow hue, which is largely due to those products having a much lower CRI than our products (With a CRI of 60-80 compared to 95+). The 2700K color temperature is often recommended for residential installations. This color temperature provides a warm glow that is easier on the eyes than the cooler color temperatures used in art studios and retail spaces.

The primary products that we would recommend would be the 2700K Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulb for Home & Residential or the 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb. The former option provides a warm output in a filament-style format, whereas the latter offers much higher output but is not compatible with fully enclosed fixtures.

LED Lighting Recommendation for Winter-time Mood

Which of your products do you recommend for lifting people's mood during the winter time? I would guess it's one of your "Centric Daylight" products. Which color temperature is most popular for this use? 

For human-centric lighting, the most important qualities to consider are flicker-free operation, full-spectrum output, and a high CRI. These features in conjunction create lighting environments that cause less eye fatigue while providing a superior quality of illumination. 

To find which color temperatures are right for your installation, we would recommend reviewing this link. If your installation is residential, we would likely recommend the 2700K or 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb, as those are the most common color points for homes. This product, as is true with any color temperatures available in our A19 products, will feature the aforementioned high-quality output. 

Full Spectrum LED Lights for Home Office

I know about how lighting affects our circadian rhythm and how important the right light at the right time is important for our physical and Mental Health. 

Do you sell suitable ones for the UK? I would like to start with 3 light sources in the office. Then if that works well, move on to the rest of the house.

The ceiling light in the office is an LED light, so I will need to replace that with a suitable fitting, can you suggest anything? I also have a Lamp with 2 lights on it, so I can shine it in different directions.

Would you be able to suggest the best fittings to use and the Bulbs? I want the 6500k bulbs or higher if they do that.

While there are voltage standard differences between the United States and the United Kingdom, we are happy to confirm that many of our products are designed for global compatibility. 

Further, these products are available with an E27 version, as is the name for the lightbulb base that is most common in Europe. In North America, the standard E26 base has slightly different measurements and is not compatible with E27 fixtures. 

For example, we would likely recommend our 3000K E27 CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb as a replacement for the lightbulb within the photo provided that reads ‘A65-2D 15’ at the top of the label, as 3000K is the most commonly recommended option for offices. As you will note, this label also lists the base size of ‘E27’, as was referenced above. 

For a 6500K alternative option, you may be interested in the 6500K E27 CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb, which is also compatible with UK voltage standards. This 6500K color temperature is most common for art production and photography. 

It appears that the desk light uses both an A19 bulb, as well as a smaller E14 bulb. We, unfortunately, do not have lightbulbs available in the E14 size, though we hope to offer them sometime in the future. 

Based on our review of the ceiling fixture, it appears to be fully enclosed. As our lightbulbs require a moderate amount of airflow for heat dissipation, they would unfortunately not be compatible with this fixture. We do sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this incompatibility may cause. 

As the above products are designed for line voltage, they are not compatible with battery operation. Regarding solar power, we would recommend reaching out to a local solar expert for advice regarding your available options. 

E14 and E27 Flicker-free LED Lights

I have a migraine and need flicker-free LED light bulbs (25 W and 60 W (I do not know how much that is in LED), and I need them in E14 and E27). I also need flicker-free fluorescent lamps (LED). I need a yellow light (not white or white-blue). Which of your products do you think is the best for me? I live in Sweden, how much is the shipping for just a few of your products for me to test before I buy more?

While we do not have E14 bulbs, you may alternatively be interested in our 60W-equivalent (800 lumens) E27 CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs and CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs. These products are compatible with global voltage standards, provide flicker-free light output, and offer a high CRI of 95+. ​

While our T8 LED Tube Lights and LED Ready T8 Fixtures are not compatible with global voltage, we might alternatively recommend our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures. These fixtures are compatible with 120 – 277V AC 50-60 Hz, but will likely need a wall plug adapter for use in Sweden. 

Can I buy a filter or shield for the 365 nm realUV LED light?

I'm using this light I bought from you to show off my glow-in-the-dark artwork at live art shows, and I want to make sure little children or nobody gets hurt from the radiation or from the light in any way. I thought there was a "filter" of some sort on the light itself. but is there a way I can make this light safer so it doesn't hurt anyone's eyes or skin at these shows? The last thing I want to do is have anyone be hurt at my art show.

Generally speaking, it’s a bit difficult for us to provide assurances and guarantees regarding the safe use of ultraviolet LED products, as each installation and application can vary significantly, so we recommend consulting a UV safety expert if you have any further concerns.

Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of ultraviolet radiation than is found in natural daylight so there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges, for example.

That being said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following:

As an additional note, we can confirm that while the realUV™ LED Flood Lights uses a clear polycarbonate lens, this lens is not designed to block the transmission of ultraviolet output. You may be able to locate a filter from B&H Photo, though please note that any ultraviolet-blocking filters will likely affect the fluorescent effect upon the subjects.

Full Spectrum Lighting that Mimics Natural Sunlight

I am essentially a shut-in right now with limited exposure to natural sunlight due to small windows in my mobile home. I am also sensitive to strobe lights. My pets and I all need the health benefits of natural sunlight. Can you recommend a bulb that I can use throughout my house that will provide a lot of light that will help our bodies, but not risk triggering seizures? 

We are proud to offer many human-centric lightbulb products that offer full-spectrum, flicker-free light which is designed to reduce eye strain.

Based on the details you provided, we would likely recommend our CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free LED Bulbs in A19 or A21 versions, which are available in the 2700K and 3000K color temperatures most commonly used for residential installations. 

Further, it might be helpful to know that the primary difference between the A19 and A21 versions is the light output (800 vs 1600 lumens) and size, where the A21 is slightly larger.

Health LED Lighting Fixtures

What products do you have so I can evaluate their application in my remodeling? I have an electrician who can follow up to address specs/tech matters.

Our Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulbs are a great option for recessed lighting, though they are not flicker-free as our A19 and A21 LED bulbs are. 

While we do not sell integrated recessed light fixtures, you might alternatively be interested in our ceiling-mounted LED-Ready T8 Tube Light Fixtures, which are designed to be compatible with our flicker-free CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. 

Natural LED light for Light Hyper-sensitivity

I have neurological vision damage and hyper-sensitivity to light or photophobia. The best light for me is a mix of natural light and a little fluorescent. I was wondering if you could recommend one of your bulb types for this type of condition.

For the reduction of eye strain, we usually recommend our flicker-free, high CRI products, such as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb. This product is also available in the 4000K color temperature, which is often recommended for office use. 

Would the T5 LED linear fixture cause eye damage?

My question is whether or not these lights would cause eye damage because they are "full spectrum" (NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixture 4026.2F.50). I was going to use them on my desk to uplight a wall behind my computers and monitors., so I will be looking at my monitors all day long and the light will shine up on the wall behind the monitors. I do critical color work on my computer. Were these the best choice or should I have ordered something else? 

Regarding eye safety, I can confirm that the full spectrum light output provided by the linear light fixtures does not contain any ultraviolet or infrared wavelengths that could be harmful to the eyes. 

In fact, the output will likely be more beneficial than lighting products that offer a lower CRI, which can often cause eye strain and migraines. As such, we believe that the high CRI output of the linear light fixtures could be a great match for your color-matching purposes. 

That being said, you may alternatively be interested in utilizing our Sidewinder™ LED Flex Strip for D65 Bias Lighting product, which is designed to easily add D65 bias lighting behind monitors and televisions for color-accurate work. 

Flicker-free LED Strip Lighting Options Preventing Migraine

I am highly sensitive to flicker - migraine caused by flicker eliminates short-term memory so I can’t work along with other debilitating symptoms. Would you please talk to me about some of the flicker-free options described on your site? I’d like to please learn more about the technical differences between some of the options. I need something that eliminates both brightness flicker and color flicker as much as possible. 

We can confirm that the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip can provide connected lights with flicker-free functionality. The TRIAC dimmable power supply has also been tested with the following wall dimmer products.

Dimmer Compatibility List: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

We can also confirm that the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output product can adjust the PWM frequency of connected light products between 500 Hz and 30 kHz.

You may also be interested to know that we are planning to release T8 Light Fixtures for use in office installations, which are designed to be compatible with our line of flicker-free, full-spectrum T8 LED tube light products, such as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. 

​The benefit offered by these over-integrated fixtures is that if the T8 product encounters an outage within the 50,000 hours lifetime (5-year warranty), they can be easily replaced. Contrastingly, integrated features usually need to be entirely replaced.

Flicker-free T8 LED Tubes for Vision Therapy Office Lighting

We are a vision therapy institute that sees patients recovering from traumatic brain injury. One of the symptoms of post-traumatic vision syndrome is an extreme sensitivity to light. Our office has regular fluorescent ballasts. We're looking for a solution with a lower flicker rate and a warmer color temperature. Will purchasing your T8 tubes solve for our flicker rate issues or will we see flicker at the same rate as the current fluorescents? 

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light product for your office installation. 

​While we can confirm that this product offers flicker-free performance, it might be helpful to know that some tube light fixtures contain pre-installed ballasts which are incompatible. When these products are installed within fixtures that may have not been designed for LED products, they are more likely to exhibit compatibility issues.

However, we do offer an illustrated guide to the alternative ballast-bypass installation methods, as well as a guide for the ballasts which have been tested for compatibility. For your reference, we have included both links below.

Tested Ballast List: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/CD4020.txt

Product Specification Sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_4020-4000.pdf

What are the risks of LED Red Light Therapy?

I'm looking into red light therapy - do you know if the same LED dangers exist in RLT devices? 

Though we were unable to provide direct expertise in red light therapy, we are happy to confirm that the majority of risks associated with LED lighting products can be associated with overexposure to blue light during evening hours. Excess blue light exposure during these periods can disrupt the circadian rhythm, where LED lighting with high flicker rates can also cause eye fatigue and headaches.

While we generally recommend speaking to a red light therapy professional to better understand your risks, we also have a terrific blog post on our website regarding the potential risks of LED lighting which I hope you find valuable.

Are LED Lights Safe? Are They Harmful to Your Health?: https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/are-led-lights-safe-are-they-harmful-to-your-health

Lighting Recommendation for Dark Apartment

I am in desperate need of lighting advice for a small, dark apartment with only one window light source per room - one in the bedroom and one in the living room. I intend to replace all light bulbs with as bright a light source as possible - including in floor & table lamps. I suffer from SAD and want to simulate as much natural light as possible. With having to be cooped up so much of the time due to the pandemic, this need has become critical. I don't know how to determine wattage but am willing to go for the brightest. 

Based on the details provided, we might recommend either the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs, or the CENTRIC HOME™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs.

As these products are extremely similar, and offer the same 95 CRI light quality and wattage, the primary difference can be found in the color temperatures available.

For selecting the right color temperature for your spaces, the below blog post from our website might prove to be useful: Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

Choosing LED Lighting Allowed for TBI Conditions

I respond poorly to conventional LED lighting. As far as I can tell, my traumatic brain injury causes a response, not unlike that of an epileptic to the flashing of LEDs. The problem could be in the cold blue of the lights used in many commercial settings, or simply the intensity. Can you direct me to articles that will help me understand the problem — and choose bulbs? I am starting with a shop space and I am concerned that the 5000k fixtures you offer will be too white for my eyes. 

Our research and development for our products is generally limited in scope to the technical performance of the LED lighting system, so when it comes to their efficacy in a medical context, our data and ability to provide definitive answers is quite limited.

That being said, I do believe that you are definitely on the right track when attempting to determine the source of symptoms caused by LED lamps.

I have seen most studies link the flicker produced by artificial lighting to detrimental health effects, while the concern with blue light seems generally centered on circadian rhythm disruption.

Natural sunlight is essentially a flicker-free, 100 CRI light source that has a color temperature of 5000K or higher (depending on the season, time of day, etc). Does exposure to natural daylight produce those symptoms for you? If not, I would suspect the issue is more likely related to flicker, rather than color temperature and intensity.

In addressing your lamp configuration question, you are correct that installing our tube lights in a fixture will require some considerations to ensure fixture compatibility. One search that may yield some results is "LED ready T8 fixtures" as these fixtures are built and assembled without any ballast inside.

We are also looking to launch a line of LED ready T8 fixtures in the coming weeks so that could be an option as well.

Photophobia can be a real problem for some people with TBI, so they use sunglasses outside and in most indoor spaces. Somehow, most LEDs seems brighter than outdoor light to my eye, or to my brain. It may be that flicker creates irritation and calls my attention to the lights.

With your input, I am more confident that your 5000k shop lights will work for the space I have in mind. I will start with enough fixtures to test my response to them. I will also look into LED ready fixtures (that will support your 4000k bulbs).

​Your observation that most LEDs seem brighter than outdoor light is very much valid and I suspect the nuanced difference is due to the way in which the light is distributed.

​A single 800 lumen daylight bulb may produce far less light than natural daylight (i.e. "brightness") but the way in which the light is emitted from a very concentrated 1-2 inch sphere is quite unnatural and will most certainly appear brighter to the human eye. Contrast this with natural daylight, where the light falls down from an entire diffused dome of light, aka "the sky," and you can see why our eyes would react differently.

In short, the way in which the light is installed and distributed in your room may also have an effect on your perception and reaction to the lighting environment. For this reason, wall-washing and cove lighting (indirect lighting methods which bounce the light off of interior surfaces) are popular options that can provide a more comfortable space.

Do you have a flicker-free controllers for the RGB LED strip lights?

I have epilepsy so I’m very interested in these flicker free LED’s. I want the RGB color changing LED strip. Do I have to get the FilmGrade one to get the flicker free or does the ColorSpace give me flicker free as well? 

Unfortunately we do not offer any flicker-free controllers for the RGB LED strip lights, so that this will be much more challenging to accomplish a flicker-free LED strip set up.

​On the other hand, the FilmGrade White LED strip lights can be controlled with our FilmGrade power supply and FilmGrade LED dimmer, providing for completely flicker-free light output. Please see below for a installation diagram for your reference:

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D

How safe is UV-A LED Light?

I am considering realUV™ LED Strip Lights in a custom bookshelf to make some vaseline glass fluoresce. I read on your site that 365nm is better than 395 for this application. How safe is UVA? I thought about putting the fluorescent items and LEDs behind the glass (which I know *passes* UVA) and applying a UV-blocking film to the glass which would pass the visible fluorescence. Is this kind of protection necessary? Is there a distance from the LEDs where the amount of UVA hitting a person would be negligible?

Our UV-A LED strips sound like a great fit for your vaseline glass fluorescence project!

Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of ultraviolet radiation that is found in natural daylight so there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges, for example.

​That being said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following:

UV exposure is usually not an issue as long as a reasonable distance is kept between the UV source and human skin and/or eyes, and as such, we do not anticipate any significant safety risks arising from the proposed installation. We recommend consulting a UV safety expert if you have any further concerns.​

Will exposure to 365nm LED UV Strip Lights cause any skin damage?

I would like to get some of your 365nm UV LED strips. Will exposure to the 365nm light cause any skin damage? 

Generally speaking, it's a bit difficult for us to provide assurances and guarantees regarding the safe use of ultraviolet LED products, as each installation and application can vary significantly, so we recommend consulting a UV safety expert if you have any further concerns.

​Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of ultraviolet radiation that is found in natural daylight so there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges, for example. 

​That being said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following: 

Full Spectrum BR30 Bulbs for SAD and Home Lighting

I am looking to replace our whole home can lights with full spectrum bulbs to combat SAD and boost the health of my family. We live in Oregon and have limited sunlight exposure. I am trying to decide between your Ultra High 95 CRI E26 BR30 LED Bulb in 3,000K and your Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulb in 4,000K. Are they both suitable for whole-home use? Are they both full spectrum and beneficial for light therapy/heliotherapy? 

Since both items come from the same product family, which can be noted by the shared part numbers, the full spectrum features and performance will be identical across the two items. As such, both products would be suitable for home use. The only differentiator between the two can be found in the color temperature options available.

Generally speaking, the intended purposes of different spaces or rooms can help to define the proper color temperature selection. For example, general-purpose areas might benefit from the warmer 3000K color point, whereas kitchens and work spaces might benefit from the slightly cooler 4000K option.

Our website features some excellent blog posts which I have linked to below, which could prove to be useful in your selection:

Blue Light, Melatonin, and Circadian Rhythms: https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/blue-light-melatonin-and-circadian-rhythms

Everything You Need to Know About Full Spectrum Lighting: https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/everything-you-need-to-know-about-full-spectrum-lighting

We are also happy to offer a 30-day return policy if the selected items don’t work well for the space. Simply let us know which items you would like to return, and we will issue a free return label. 

Could you clarify, if the effectiveness of light therapy is the same between 3,000K and 4,000K? Or is one more effective than the other? After reading this blog post, I see “light therapy” is listed for 4,000K but not for 3,000 K. 

While both color temperature options of this product feature the same high CRI and therefore would share extremely similar health benefits, the 3000K color temperature would likely be more beneficial than the 4000K.

We have two great articles on our website that go into further detail regarding the health benefits of certain color temperatures, which could be valuable in your decision-making process.

Are LED Lights Safe? Are They Harmful to Your Health?:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/are-led-lights-safe-are-they-harmful-to-your-health

Blue Light, Melatonin, and Circadian Rhythms:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/blue-light-melatonin-and-circadian-rhythms

Recommended LED Light for SAD in a Basement Apartment Installation

I would like to get something for the basement apartment that is best for mental health during the dark winter in VT. I'm sorry, but I'm finding your website totally overwhelming with all the information. Could you just recommend something? Also, I was looking at the Centric series LED bulbs, but the two I saw said they were only 10W each. That seems really dim, especially for a dark basement apartment. 

Based on the details that were provided, there are a few products that we might recommend depending on the intended use of the space.

For use within general-purpose areas of the apartment, we might recommend the 3000K FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free A19 LED Bulb or the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb.

For work areas, or artwork creation areas, we might recommend the 5000K option of the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb.

Each of these product options will offer the same high CRI, which measures how similar the light spectrum output of the bulbs is to natural sunlight. These products also feature a low flicker-rate. Products with a high flicker rate, such as fluorescent lights, can cause additional eye fatigue.

​However, in the event that these bulbs are not bright enough, or wind up being not to your preference, we are happy to offer a 30 day return policy. Simply let us know which products you would like to return, and we will issue a free return label.

Would your Full spectrum LED T8 Tube leads be a better choice to protect vision?

I read an article about how LED lighting is real bad for your vision. I think because of too much blue light. Would your full spectrum leads be a better choice to protect vision?

Lights which feature a low CRI, as well as a high flicker rate, can be detrimental by causing excess fatigue to our eyes.

Alternatively, products such as ours which emit light which closely resembles that of natural light, and feature a high CRI and low flicker-rate, should not cause nearly as much eye fatigue.

The blog on our website feature several in-depth posts which further explain the safety of LED lights, as well as the details regarding full spectrum lighting. I have provided several blog post links below, which might prove to be useful.

Everything You Need to Know About Full Spectrum Lighting: https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/everything-you-need-to-know-about-full-spectrum-lighting

Are LED Lights Safe? Are They Harmful to Your Health?: https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/are-led-lights-safe-are-they-harmful-to-your-health

Blue Light, Melatonin and Circadian Rhythms: https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/blue-light-melatonin-and-circadian-rhythms

LED Lights to Stimulate Daylight for Winter Depression

I am looking for a lamp that simulates daylight as accurately as possible to combat my winter depression. 

I'm not sure exactly which light fixtures are being used in my house. They appear to be standard spot lights. I sincerely doubt there is anything special about them. I am looking for a colour temperature of about 5000K - 6500K.

I'm interested in your full-spectrum products. Whatever reproduces the spectrum of sunlight must be the best. Let's take the LED strip as the starting point and figure out a solution around that. I would also like it to be dimmable if possible.

The closest measurement I can get is 13 metres for my small room and 30 for my large room.

Based on your needs, it seems as though the ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs at 6500K would be the best fit for you. From a spectral and chromaticity standpoint, this is the product that most closely resembles natural daylight at noontime, and should be an excellent choice.

​To address some of your questions about the technical aspects of the product:

Regarding the power supply, we can confirm that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product would require a DC power supply for every 16.4 ft (5 meter) of length, such as our 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. Our DC power supply is compatible with global input voltages (100 - 240V AC, 50-60Hz), though you may require an additional wall socket adapter. 

​Further, the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product can be paired with the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer product for additional dimming capability. 

Depending on your installation, we might also recommend placing the LED strip lights within an enclosure which features a diffusor, such as our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product, which is available in 'flat' and 'corner' options.

​For a detailed illustration of the configuration options available for this product, the below links may prove to be useful:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D?px=-2252.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1505&ph=1491&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2252.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1505&ph=1491&s=0.1

It is going to be pretty difficult to install a power supply for every 5 metres of strip. If I run a strip around my whole room, I'm going to have a huge number of power supplies everywhere. Is there some way to hide them?

Unfortunately, we don't have a proper recommendation to hide the power supplies. However, the cords for the DC Power Supply products are of a decent length, and could be helpful in hiding the power supply some distance from the LED strip lights.

Recommended LED Lights for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

I am considering buying daylight lighting, to combat potentional Seasonal Affective Disorder. I was wondering if you have had other customers purchasing lamps with this goal and about their experience with 4000K 5000K 6500K options?

We certainly have had customers purchase our lamps in order to treat SAD. We do not have any technical documentation or test results specifically addressing the treatment of SAD symptoms, however, so we are unable to make any medical claims as far as its efficacy is concerned.​That being said, the lighting science and theory would suggest that our 95 CRI lamps would be an excellent candidate for SAD treatment by virtue of the spectral similarity to natural daylight. We have seen that our 4000K and 5000K color temperatures are generally the most popular, while the 6500K is also a nice option which features rich blue light content that is similar to what is typically found in the north-facing sky.

Are there any known health hazards using red phosphors in the bulbs?

I am outfitting my home with waveform-led bulbs. I was wondering if your bulbs give off UV rays to the occupants. Are there any known health hazards with using red phosphors in the bulbs? I am buying PN 4011.40, PN 4002.30 PN 4011.30 I am hoping that all your lights have reduced blue spectrum and are safer than the typical LEDs at hardware stores. I know that your lights carry the CE rating but are not UL listing. 

Our bulbs do not emit any UV rays, and all emitted electromagnetic waves are longer than 430 nanometers.​There are no known health hazards with red phosphor wavelengths as their peak wavelengths are at 630 nanometers or longer.

These photometric properties apply to all of the PN 4011 and 4002 product lines. For reduced blue light output, we would generally recommend high CRI and low color temperature lamps as they will generally offer the best mix of wavelengths to reduce blue light exposure.

LED lights to replicate natural daylight in office space

I would like to upgrade the lighting in my office space. My goal is to get lighting that's closer to natural daylight, and am hopeful that I can create a healthier lighting environment for myself and my colleagues. What lights should I get?

It sounds like the first question we would like to determine is which color temperature would work best for your needs. Since you mention a desire to get closer to natural daylight, my first suggestion would be to consider 6500K.

Keep in mind, however, that 6500K isn't for everyone. It's commonly used to truly replicate blue daylight, and is popular among our customers who use the lights for graphic arts and other applications that require a true match to natural daylight at a technical level.

In reality, most office spaces will utilize a "warmer" 4000K or 5000K color option. These colors would be closer to natural sunlight, rather than daylight, and might be a better fit, depending on your personal preferences. Here is an article comparing 5000K to 6500K that you may find helpful.

We would not recommend anything below 4000K for an office space, as these color temperatures will provide a much warmer, relaxing atmosphere that is more appropriate for a residential area.

With all color temperature options, we suggest a high CRI value of 95 or higher. A high CRI rating ensures that the spectral content, and not just the appearance, of the light source also matches natural daylight or sunlight.

Check out our infographic on color temperature selection below:https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/which-led-light-color-temperature-should-i-choose

How to "warm up" my office with better lighting

My office currently has bright fluorescent lighting that feels dark and cold. I want to “warm up” the office with lighting  that will provide a warm and homey atmosphere. What full-spectrum lamps should I purchase?

It sounds like what you are looking for are warmer color temperature bulbs. For residential applications, we typically recommend color temperatures below 3000K. Although you are located in an office setting, since you're trying to replicate a similar, more relaxing atmosphere, we would recommend installing residential bulbs in your office.

For example, here is a 3000K bulb that might work well for your needs: https://store.waveformlighting.com/collections/a19-bulbs/products/centric-home-full-spectrum-flicker-free-a19-10w-led-bulb?variant=16031459278950

Also, make sure that the lighting has high CRI (95 CRI) to ensure that the colors in your space appear natural and accurate.

The term "full spectrum" is commonly associated with "healthier light" that can help provide supplemental light, especially during the darker winter seasons. Keep in mind, however, that full spectrum lights are designed with higher color temperatures (4000K - 6500K) that replicate natural daylight. These color temperatures generally do not produce a relaxing, calming environment. Instead, they are more commonly used to provide an energetic and vibrant atmosphere.

What color temperature best approximates natural sunshine?

For those who spend lots of time indoors, installing LED lights that mimic natural light may be a top priority.

The color temperature of natural light can be difficult to pinpoint as it can range from 4000K to 6500K or higher, depending on the time of day, weather, latitude and season.

If you're after the warmer feel of natural sunshine (as opposed to daylight), 4000K may be a great option for you. 4000K can be described as early-morning or late-afternoon sunshine that comes in through a south-facing window.

5000K and higher color temperatures are also close approximations of natural light, but they are more aligned with natural daylight, rather than natural sunlight. Think of a more neutral, white light coming in from a north-facing window on an overcast day.

See below for a photo except from our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT A19 bulb product page:

Flicker-free full-spectrum lighting for autism?

We have been reading that flicker-free and full-spectrum lighting might help with autism. What would you recommend?

We currently do not have any internal data or testing to verify this, and our lamps are neither approved nor marketed for treating any medical conditions or disorders.

On the other hand, there are several published studies which have linked stroboscopic flicker to autistic behavior, along with a range of other symptoms such as seizures, fatigue, eye strain. Flicker-free lighting may be an effective approach to reduce or eliminate the amount of flicker present in an indoor space and assist in promoting a healthier lighting environment.

The link between full-spectrum lighting and autism appears to be less established. Full spectrum lighting is a relatively vague marketing term, but the general idea behind it would suggest that a full-spectrum lamp provides a light spectrum that better approximates natural daylight. As such, the use of high CRI lamps (a better way to quantify "fullness spectrum") may be an effective way to introduce lighting that more closely resembles natural daylight, especially during daytime hours.

Waveform Lighting offers both flicker-free and 95 CRI LED lamps which may be an excellent options to consider. See below for our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT products, which can be used in a variety of residential or commercial (as well as classrooms and offices) locations:

Eye safety for realUV LED strip lights

I was wondering under what conditions either the 365 nm or 395 nm realUV LED strips could present an eye safety hazard. Are there viewing conditions that could be hazardous with a short LED strip segment?

Generally speaking, it's a bit difficult for us to provide assurances and guarantees regarding the safe use of ultraviolet LED products, as each installation and application can vary significantly, so we recommend consulting a UV safety expert if you have specific concerns.​

Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of ultraviolet radiation that is found in natural daylight so there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges, for example.​

That being said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following:​

The use of a short segment should present a relatively low risk given their correspondingly low energy output. We would recommend ensuring that the LED strip lights are pointed away from any people, and perhaps install them as far away from eye level as may be practical.

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