When should I replace my viewing station lamps? Should I switch to LED?
Most of us understand lights bulbs change with time. This is true for both fluorescent and LED lighting. Consider the time your viewing station lamps are on throughout each shift or over multiple shifts. Over the course of weeks and months, that time adds up quickly. Knowing that both the intensity and color of the lamps changes with time, it is important to monitor and replace them to ensure optimal conditions for color-critical viewing. More standard fluorescent lamps that are optimized for viewing and approving color should be changed every 2,500 hours of use. GTI's LED lamps will provide color accurate viewing for 3 times as long and should be changed every 7,500 hours. Lamps may last longer, but the expected life is based on conformance to the ISO 3664 viewing standard.
"GTI lamps produce a true full spectrum white light which renders colors with the highest degree of accuracy and efficiency."
To ensure you maintain the same viewing conditions it is also essential to replace lamps with approved relamping kits. Lamps that are not manufactured to ISO 3664:2009 compliant viewing system specifications may result in inconsistent color and viewing assessments, not to mention unpredictable life expectancy.
Converting from Fluorescent to LED
YES! You can convert a booth from fluorescent lamps to LED lamps but it is important to understand it is not as simple as purchasing a standard relamping kit. GTI offers two Field Upgrade Options or a Factory Upgrade option. GTI LED solutions are also very competitive at less than half the cost of other similar lamps for viewing stations. When relamping for LED it is critical to ensure the system meets the ISO 3664: 2009 viewing standard.
Understand, the immediate outlawing of fluorescent lamps does not apply to specialized color-critical lamps like GTI's D50 and D65 lamps. Bob McCurdy, GTI Graphic Technology's President, explains, "These standard fluorescent tubes have been excluded because of the specialized application for which they are used. It is particularly difficult to get an LED light to meet the parameters that comply with the ISO 23603 (the standard method of assessing the spectral quality of daylight simulators for visual appraisal and measurement of colour)." That said, GTI has many customers that have made the switch to GTI UV LED lamps and are very pleased with the transition and viewing results. Meanwhile, GTI continues to work on further optimizing UV LED lamps to better meet the stringent demands for color viewing.
More about: UV LED for Color Viewing SystemsHow to Reset Lamp Counter
The GTI light booths include a digital readout on the LiteGuard Display to help track lamp life. Once the lamps are changed it is important to also reset this counter. Next to the LiteGuard display there is a recessed reset button that can be pressed with a paper clip.
Download - GTI LED Color Viewing Brochure, Adobe PDF - 396 KB.
