Lighting control brand Lutron acquires smart lighting company Ketra

According to media reports, Lutron, a leading lighting control manufacturer, recently announced the acquisition of Ketra, a smart LED company.

Lutron co-CEO Mike Pessina said that Ketra's light series is a perfect complement to Lutron's smart accessories: "Ketra's quality light series complements Lutron's light control series, enabling our customers to create more comfort and efficiency at home and at work environment."

Ketra CEO Nav Sooch said that the acquisition will provide many benefits for lighting professionals and homeowners. "Lutron's global influence, unparalleled service and outstanding reputation provide new opportunities to expand Ketra's unique natural light products to larger markets," he said. Ketra hopes that the newly established partnership with Lutron will help it further expand its business scope.

It is understood that Ketra was founded in Austin, Texas, in 2009 to provide lighting and control solutions that provide beautiful, customizable, high-quality lighting in residential and commercial environments. Ketra’s goal is to create for everyone Customized lighting and control system. The company is known for lighting intelligent systems that focus on creating natural light simulations.

Ketra claims to have created "the highest quality and most accurate natural light and integrated control system", and its natural light solution can seamlessly simulate day and night light and provide the highest quality light source, so as to meet people's real needs for lighting, adjust the body's biological clock, and improve sleep and improve work efficiency. At present, about 90% of Ketra's business is in the commercial market.

Lutron is the world's top system designer specializing in lighting control. Founded in 1961 in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, USA. Its founder, Joel Spira, developed the world's first commercial solid-state dimmer, making Lutron the world's leading designer and manufacturer of intelligent control systems. Lutron offers a complete lighting management system from a single dimmer to control the entire building (including electric curtains, occupancy, daylight sensors, etc.), the application of its products include residential, hotels, office buildings, retail stores, public facilities and many other areas.

It can be expected that the price of these smart lamps will be very expensive. If you are looking for smart bulbs that are good for your new home but are reasonably priced, Xiaomi's smart light bulbs - the Xiaomi Yeelight will be a good choice.

Philips Hue let us see that what smart bulbs should look like - part 2

Hue also offers custom features that allow these lights to light up at the specified time. However, Philips Hue APP, although has a variety of built-in color settings, more flexible combination of lights need manually adjust by the user. The problem is that a variety of Hue bulbs can not share the same color scheme, so often there will be multiple bulbs in the same room where colors can not be uniform. And Hue can not remember the color scheme has been completed deployment, which means that after trying other colors, you can’t restore the previous color, you need to redo the tedious color operation from 16 million colors to get your ideal color. Will Philips upgrade the APP for this issue in the future?

Playability? Usability?

On the playability, Hue Go portable magic lamp is absolutely eligible. Because it is the only atmosphere lighting device that enables wireless movement. After separating it from the power cord, Hue Go can also maintain two hours of battery life. So you can travel with it, it can appear in any corner of the room. You can put it on the bed to act as a led night lamp. It can be placed in the living room to act as an ambient light and in some special cases can also act as emergency lighting.

And for the Philips Hue light strip, its usefulness is even more special. We often see similar lights in some large party decoration, and Philips Hue lights can play their own color control advantages. Let alone it can also be cut according to the marking line, stitching with high flexibility. Of course, we can decorate it in display cabinets, TV cabinets or some of the corners and footrests that need to be alert at night. Philips launched Hue Entertainment this year, which allows the Hue bulb to interact with the same television equipment that is also connected to a home smart platform so that the same color can be cast against the scene colors being played on the television. If this is the case, Hue led module rigid strip can be decorated around the TV to make this a more immersive atmosphere, and Hue light shapes will be more fun and practical.

Philips Hue let us see that what smart bulbs should look like - part 1

The word "smart" has frequently been haunting us in recent years. It can not be denied that "smart" really occupies every corner of our lives, even the indispensable lighting system in our daily life. Philips released its first smart lighting bulb four years ago, evolving to today not only accumulated rich experience, the product line is also more fullness. Philips Hue series star products are Hue Go portable magic lamp, Hue lamp belt, and the most classic smart bulbs.

In terms of installation, Hue smart bulbs use e27 light bulbs specifications, which is almost capable for all current mainstream lamp and pendant lamp base screw. Their initial color is pure white. To adjust for more brilliant colors, connect them to the wireless network through a dedicated bridge and pair them with your phone. This bridge provided by Philips is connected to the router in the home by wired connection, and can connect up to 50 Hue bulbs at the same time, which can fully meet the lighting needs of multiple rooms in the house.

How to show "smart"?

Philips Hue first step is to access the Apple's HomeKit platform, through Siri can voice the lighting effects and intensity control. They will also cooperate with HomePod in the future. And I'm looking forward to IFTTT network service, which can be connected with the mobile phone after a variety of services to connect, for example, when the phone receives a message that allows light to respond, or based on weather conditions obtained from the phone to change the color of Hue.

In addition to these third-party application services, Philips Hue also comes with intelligent services. For example, in the open "home/away from home" mode, the bridge can be based on the location of the phone to determine whether the owner left the house, and turn off all the lights in order to achieve the purpose of saving energy. When the phone is close to your house, it will automatically turn on the lights. In addition, the Hue series can also wake up like a light alarm, or adjust the light intensity at the set time of falling asleep.

Importance of the E27 and LED bulbs in commercial and residential sectors

Do you want to get the high efficient bulb by investing low cost? Well, the most commonly used bulb is e27 spotlight bulb or LED bulbs. These bulbs are well-accepted by a lot of families. The best part of these bulbs is these have no UV radiation as well as mercury. These bulbs have no side effect to your home environment as well as the health of your families. These bulbs are not only used in residential sector but also used in commercial sectors widely.

Benefits of the e27 led RGB bulbs:

The demand for LED lights is increasing rapidly. These lights provide 95% efficient energies. The longevity of these lights is proper. It can last up to 10 years without any problem. Also, this light is not only pocket-friendly but also it is environment-friendly. Some important benefits of the e27 led rgb bulbs are,

· Flexible- The flexibility of LED lights are high. You can use these lights to any lighting applications. It does not depend on shape or size. These lights have different shapes, designs, and colors etc.

· Lower voltage- Nowadays, most of the people are using LED lights very much. These lights have low voltage. Due to this benefit, this light is perfect for the solar power system. So, it can store energy.

· Durable- Are you suffering the problem that your incandescent bulb damaged in glacial weather? In that case, you can use the LED bulb which is more durable than any other bulbs.

· High-quality light- The LED light provides high-quality light focus. A most common example is your Smart Phone where you can see the quality of LED flash. The illumination power of the LED light is the best.

Uses of the e27 spotlight bulbs:

Nowadays, most of the people are using e27 bulbs. The e27 means the diameter of the bulb is 27 mm. The light effect of this bulb is admirable. The light color of these bulbs is also beautiful such as white or warm white etc. The demand for these bulbs is increasing rapidly as it has a beam angle of 360 degrees. So, it can provide the light through the whole space. The best use of this light is where the voltage is 12V to 24V. Many people are using a professional LED voltage converter. If you use e27 spot light bulbs, you don’t need to use a LED voltage converter. This e27 light bulb has 220V. Also, you can use this bulb for many years. Using this bulb for the family purpose is very beneficial. This bulb is completely atmosphere-friendly.

In online, there are various websites that provide LED bulbs and e27 bulbs. Before purchasing you can check the website and also read the testimonial section. The experience of the users and the reviews of these bulbs are very good. You can also purchase the light bulb holder which is also very useful. If you are searching on the internet, you will get enormous positive reviews.

Practical DIY Lighting Ideas Sharing - part 1

I think you would agree that the lighting of a home certainly sets and transforms the ambiance. Here are some DIY ideas for sticking to the latest lighting trends! You can easily improve the way your home feels in an effortless, and cost-effective way. When doing any lighting upgrades, make sure to always go for LED. There are vast benefits to LED lighting. In fact, the US Department of Energy named LED technology as today's most energy efficient. Not only do LED bulbs last twenty-five times longer than a standard bulb, they also have less of an environmental impact.

1. Modern wall lights

By far the easiest LED lighting idea is using the modern wall lights. I know is it not completely DIY-y, but it really does not get any simpler than this. It’s a breeze to install and you can feel free to say that you renovated any bathroom, office or similar space you add this LED Wall Light to, and that space will literally shine. Its simple and stylish design can definitely cater modern people’s tastes and decorative needs.

2. Track lights

Nothing says contemporary and chic like track lights. You can make an led aluminum track light yourself. All you need are a few easy to install LED Aluminum Track Rails and stylish bulbs. The installation of these rails is more than a breeze. You can do one or two rows of LED aluminum track lights. You can even do an X or H shape on larger ceiling spaces to accentuate the entire space. You can also create a beautiful variation of the sophisticated track light by adding a pend factor like the pendant light accessories. All you need are the same LED Aluminum Track Rails, electrical wire, and these gorgeous E27 Light Sockets with a Knob. Hang the bulbs from the ceiling track, this gives you the much-desired pend lighting look. These vintage, Edison style sockets come in a wide variety of colors, so you can customize your DIY, LED light fixture to your liking. You can also customize the length of each hanging pendant and use mismatching bulbs to create a more industrial look.

Practical DIY Lighting Ideas Sharing - part 2

3. Night lights

Now let’s look at upgrading some of the lighting features outside your home. You can have LED night lights with the click of a button. Not only do LED night lights add to the appeal of your home, they serve the very important purpose of providing visibility and security in the dark. Add a few of the led night lights like the Original Xiaomi MiJia LED Smart Lights throughout your front and backyard. These are infrared, have a human body motion sensor, and a dimming feature. It does not get cooler and more convenient than that.

4. Water tap lights

Speaking of cool, wouldn’t you love to have a LED water tap light? Have you heard about this fantastic and wonderful led water tap light? I came across this color changing and innovative tool for faucets recently. It is so cheap and so funky, unique that I couldn’t but want it and so I got it. I enjoy it very much, particularly the times I wake up in the middle of the night and find myself using the faucet. It literally makes your bathroom as fancy as a nightclub.

5. Street lights

The last DIY lighting idea I want to illuminate you with is probably the most useful. You can make your own street light. This is a straightforward way to add light to the furthers areas of your home and can come in especially handy if you live in a remote or rural area. Just wire up a High Power outdoor park road lamp. You can add a pole for it or just wire it around a tree. These park road lamps are 50W of LED light so you know it will shine bright and you know it will do so for a long, long time. Make sure to cover exposed electrical wire property if you try this very effective way of increasing visibility and protection to your home.

Remember, all you need to create something great without paying a great price is love, creativity and the right materials and tools. You can stay on top of the lighting trend, any trend really, with a little help from the right products.

The Different Bulb Models and Their Applications - part 1

Before the light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in 1878, there were numerous unsuccessful attempts, some ending in tragedies. Edison himself made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts for inventing the bulb. He was famously asked by a reporter how it felt to fail 1,000 times and he replied that there were 1,000 steps in the invention of the light bulb. We should all feel grateful that light bulb is so easy to use and provides lots of more conveniences to our life. The light bulbs are used until today, and with the development of science and technology, light bulbs are becoming more and more advanced and user-friendly. There are lots of different bulb models nowadays which are widely and commonly used in different industries and products.

I. b15 led bulbs

The b15 led bulbs are considered as decorative bulb types which are great for use in chandeliers and in ornate traditional light fittings. Apart from their stunning look when illuminated, the b15 led bulbs cost less to run, are eco-friendly and last longer. There are the b15 led bulbs in a cool white in case you want the brighter light and also there are the warm white b15 led bulbs great for achieving a warm ambiance in your place.

II. b22 light bulbs

The b22 light bulbs are bayonet bulbs and are designed to replace halogen bulbs by being able to fit straight into the existing furnishings. Bayonet bulbs are known for being used in a number of applications including in automotive lighting, many flashlights and in our rooms. They save you energy and last longer.

III. g9 led corn bulb

The g9 led corn bulb is well known for using less electricity while still being able to give you the same light output. The bulb emits light in a spreading out manner as opposed to being a narrow beam. For that reason, the bulb is great for general lighting purposes. Some of the popular uses include desk lamps, accent lights, and small appliances.

The Different Bulb Models and Their Applications - part 2

As we have mentioned above, different bulb types will be applied to different products due to their different characteristics and features. These light bulbs just make our life so much more convenient and brighten. If you are interested in knowing more about different light bulb types, please keep reading part 2.

IV. g24 led corn bulb

There are 2 main types of g24 led corn bulb which are the directional one and the all-around illuminations. The corn-cob G24 LED Bulbs are mostly great when you need light in all directions while the directional G24 LED lamp is great when you need light up only one direction like when the lamp is mounted on the ceiling, and in this case, the light beam will be strong and powerful.

V. gu10 led ball bulb

The gu10 led ball bulb is also commonly known as the PAR16 bulb is a common type of spotlight bulb that can be found in most of our homes today. GU10 bulb indicates the type of fittings these models of bulbs have. Like all or most led bulbs, it is also known for being energy-efficient, of longevity and affordability. The bulbs are mostly used in places that require bright and directional night including in our kitchens and workspaces.

VI. mr16 led corn bulb

The mr16 led corn bulb was originally used in slide projectors but is now generally used in both commercials, especially retail setting and residential applications. They are able to easily fit into track lighting, desk lighting and are able to provide accent lighting with an exact and directional lighting. 

In conclusion, there are different models as you have seen above and you only need to know the planned use of the bulb to be able to choose the right one. You can share your experiences with us below.