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Over recent years, advances in LED (light-emitting diode) technology have transformed illumination onboard and underneath yachts. With more yachts opting for extravagant light portfolios and with designers manipulating light in new and previously unconsidered ways, we speak to a panel of experts in the field to find out how the sector is continuing to evolve. Julie Clark (Managing Director, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savage Lighting (Company)">Savage Lighting</a>); Stefan Wiendecke (<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3983" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yachtlite (Company)">Yachtlite</a>); Dr Toby Robertson (Head of Engineering, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2674" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="OceanLED (Company)">OceanLED</a>); Alessandro Palagi (owner <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5117" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palagi Marine Lights (Company)">Palagi</a>); and Michele Orlandi (<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5127" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="LUCE5 YACHTING S.R.L. (Company)">Luce5 Yachting</a>) share their insights. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/181351/image/large-77630d2782a1988a5869fc12430907ad.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/181351">What are the most recent developments in LED technology and driver systems?Stefan Wiendecke: We have been using digital LEDs for a while now, where each individual LED can be controlled individually. This makes it possible to create special effects - especially in our custom-made products such as lettering or helicopter landing decks. Professional programming and controls allow undreamt-of possibilities for spectacular lighting scenes.Dr Toby Robertson: In its infancy, LED lighting technology moved on rapidly with large jumps in performance seen yearly. However, in more recent years these improvements have slowed due to LED and driver technology reaching their limits in performance. What has changed though, is the advent of underwater light optics. With the use of optics specifically engineered for underwater use it is possible to significantly enhance the lighting effect. Lights fitted with optics can illuminate larger areas, and minimise light loss, thanks to the more focused beam of light produced.&nbsp;Alessandro Palagi: The trend we see in the market today is the use of LEDs to provide new features to lighting. The use of compact multi-chip light sources allows for mixing different CCCT of white. This is going to be available also for compact downlight solutions like DimToWarm or Turnable White, where we have the freedom to change the colour of the white light between cool and warm light and change the lighting scenario of the same environment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/298763/image/large-79068f5177f5388c964dea670337f211.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/298763">How is the ‘quality' of LED light determined?Stefan Wiendecke: The quality is determined by colour trueness and a stable luminous intensity. For this purpose, the appropriate selection of LEDs is mandatory. When we include new LEDs in our program, high quantities of the selected LEDs are purchased by us or blocked for us directly after the successful completion of appropriate test procedures. This allows us to maintain a consistent quality for several years before another, new LED is used as a replacement.Dr Toby Robertson: The CRI (Colour Rendering Index) is how we measure LED quality. This applies to ‘white’ light sources and defines the ability of that light source to show the true colour of objects. It is defined on a scale with 100 (the sun) defined as the best light quality, and values below this being poorer quality.For underwater lighting however, the CRI is less important as the much more dominant impact on the colour rendering is due to the water quality. What is more important is the ‘binning’ of the LEDs; when LEDs are produced, there is variance in their performance in terms of colour and brightness (flux). &nbsp;During production, LEDs are ‘binned’ – this involves the manufacturer measuring the colour and flux of each LED, and segregating them into a ‘bin’ of similar performing LEDs. Lower-cost LEDs tend to come from manufacturers who employ larger bins, resulting in more variance between colour and brightness between LEDs. So, the end product would also suffer from this issue.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/298764/image/large-9d6610e3f75ee65920bde711e20acbe4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/298764">Michele Orlandi: The quality of light strictly depends on the quality of the LED used. Therefore, only through correct LED selection, technically known as LED binning, is it possible to achieve high levels of quality represented by high efficiency values, low CCT tolerances and high CRI values. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5127" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="LUCE5 YACHTING S.R.L. (Company)">Luce5</a> produces all the LED chips used in our products in-house, choosing and purchasing not only the electronic components but also the LEDs, always preferring selections with 2 or at most 3 MacAdam steps [also known as SDCM (Standard Deviation of Color Matching), MacAdam steps for measuring colour differences in the appearance of LED light]. This selection also makes it possible to track the production of the diode, ensuring the 'repeatability' of the LED, which means being able to provide products with the same lighting characteristics over time. &nbsp;Alessandro Palagi: The main parameters are the colour rendering index CRI and colour targeting. Those parameters have been well defined many years ago and now we see that more and more people start to be familiar with them. Instead the difference between High Power LED &nbsp;and Midpower ones &nbsp;is still difficult to explain. The first ones have longer lifetime and less colour shifting over the time, they can provide stable light and colour for over 15 years, while with the Midpower LED, the lifespan can be much shorter.&nbsp;What are the most common lighting mistakes made when appropriate expertise is not applied?Stefan Wiendecke: Different light colours in various luminaires in the same area! Such as downlights, step lighting or furniture lighting. Therefore, when our products are used together with other products, we recommend our Dual-White LEDs, where you can adjust the colour temperature, or match them to the other lighting temperatures. Alternatively, you can also match the colour temperatures with RGBW-LEDs. &nbsp;This is then only a question of the controls.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/298775/image/large-d1b8fdd42c794ff3af7bd29003a91e32.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/298775">Dr Toby Robertson: Spacing and the achievable effect in the water, as well as what is a realistic budget for a system. The biggest mistake though, is how the client thinks about lights. The old way of thinking is that more lumens equals a ‘brighter light’, but that isn’t true. The lumens figure is usually misinterpreted and potentially used to mislead people. Historically, the solution to having a more powerful lighting effect was to increase the lumen capacity of the light and pump more energy through it. The flaws with this solution are two-fold, first, the lights can only maintain a huge lumen output for so long (a few minutes), before they need to ‘throttle back’ so they don’t overheat. The second flaw is you haven’t really solved the core problem of ‘light dispersal’. Everyone approaching underwater lights should look for sustainable solutions that don’t compromise on quality, reliability and performance. Underwater optics supercharge a light's performance, well beyond the point of simply adding more lumens.&nbsp;Michele Orlandi: The most common mistake is to think in terms of the quantity of light. Little importance is given to the illumination of vertical surfaces (which make the space appear larger) and a 'symmetrical' distribution of luminaires is often used. The essence of light design is instead based on where, how and why. Light not only illuminates but also creates darkness: by creating a light accent on a detail, it emphasises it precisely because it contrasts with the 'darkness' that surrounds it.What are the main considerations when choosing underwater lights in terms of number, colour, beam length/angle, etc?Stefan Wiendecke: To create a perfect light effect around the ship, the spacing of the UWL must be adjusted to the light emission angle. If we are talking about weld-in lamps, we recommend the Louvre series from Lumishore. In this system, the LEDs are not placed deeply in a welded-in tunnel but are close to the outer hull of the vessel. A restriction by a welded tunnel does not exist then at all.How is the Water Ingress Protection (IP Rating) calculated and what level of protection does it provide?<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/5314/image/large-7bd73a0a72163e54477f50ad6ebb593a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/5314">Julie Clark: The rating is measured by how resistant a product is against solids and water, IPP66 is always recommended on the exterior. This means IP &nbsp;(Ingress Protection) is equal to t dust 6 (completely Dust-Tight) for the first 6, and liquids 6 (protected against powerful jets of water against the enclosure with no harmful effects) for the second 6.Stefan Wiendecke: There are different levels of IP protection, which are always specified by the luminaire manufacturer. If the IP protection is sufficient for the intended use and the installation has also been carried out correctly, there should be no problem with the tightness.Dr Toby Robertson: The IP rating is not ‘calculated’ as such, it is a standard as defined by IEC 60529, and ISO 20653. The first digit of the IP rating relates to the ingress of solid objects e.g. dust, and the second digit is the ingress of liquids.&nbsp;Alessandro Palagi: There are specific tests according to the kind of rating. The IP65-66-67 of our exterior products are the most challenging ones because we need to always have the maximum output of lumens, heat dissipation and watertightness.Research has shown that electric light can impact circadian rhythm and affect our health, alertness, productivity and more. Can you implement a circadian lighting system on yachts?Julie Clark: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savage Lighting (Company)">Savage</a> have recently launched the smart DMX-C Lighting range, in conjunction with Crestron Electronics, with this partnership circadian lighting can be perfectly implemented onboard. In addition each fixture is individually addressable, dismissing the need for complex circuits.&nbsp;Stefan Wiendecke: In principle, this is possible. The luminaires must of course be capable of ‘full colour’ and the control system, including networking, must be programmed accordingly. This is no longer a problem with today's state of the art.Dr Toby Robertson: Potentially, yes this could be implemented on our colour change underwater lights, as intensity and colour could be dynamically adjusted to the time of day. However, such a system would be more beneficial being used on interior lighting rather than the exterior underwater lights. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/36610/image/large-25e458139ffbe60d634045ad3f6ca392.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/36610">Michele Orlandi: Our R&amp;D and Software Development departments are able to give maximum support to the design and implementation of circadian lighting. We are able to develop, create and provide all the necessary tools for these types of projects, from the development of hardware, software / programming and, of course, lighting fixtures.This article was originally published in Issue 3 of How To Build It, you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/magazine/how-to-build-it-issue-3" target="_blank">download the magazine for free here</a>.

How LED technology is transforming yacht lighting

Over recent years, advances in LED (light-emitting diode) technology have transformed illumination onboard and underneath yachts