Switch Lighting

All Switch Lighting downlights are designed from the ground up to be used safely with insulation commonly found in your home.

One misconception around LED lighting products is that they do not generate heat. An LED luminaire that is designed to produce equivalent light to a 50W halogen or 75W incandescent light bulb needs to use around 8-15W of LED power. LEDs are not 100% efficient at turning electricity into light; the lost energy is removed in the form of heat. Heat is the No. 1 enemy of a Light Emitting Diode. If an LED runs too hot it can change colour, dim quicker over its lifetime and therefore not last as long.

Heatsinking of an LED is one of the most important aspects of the luminaire design. Correct heatsinking (removing the wasted energy from the LED diode) ensures the luminaire will perform and last as expected. Switch Lighting has engineered its products so that when you completely cover/pack them with insulation there is absolutely no compromise to the product’s performance and longevity.

The result of this engineering means zero compromises to your insulation properties. All Switch Lighting products are sealed designs, so there is no heat loss and minimal air loss through the luminaire.

We have also designed a range of drivers that can be covered with insulation. There is no other LED driver on the market that has been designed for such use.

New Zealand is the first country in the world to change its standards to ensure that all downlights installed in a residential environment are to be insulation safe.  Australia is currently updating its standards (jointly with NZ – AS/NZS60598.2.2) of which Switch Lighting Managing Director Gerard Woods is part of the working committee.

Lower your carbon footprint & power bill
Light your house and garden with Switch LEDs and lower your power consumption. Save money, reduce your carbon footprint and benefit New Zealand.

Our 11W recessed downlight will give out the same light as a 50W halogen. That's almost a 80% reduction in energy consumption. In a standard modern home with 30 halogen downlights, you could save up to $600 a year in energy costs alone. That doesn't take into account the carbon dioxide you would otherwise emit by driving to the store for your replacement globes or the time to change the blown globes. Our units will last at least 60,000hrs. Over that 60,000 hours, you could save up to $12,500 on replacement globes and energy costs.

Free lighting design
We are happy to look over your building plans and provide you with a comprehensive lighting plan. We offer this as a free no-obligation service as we believe there is not enough information and education on the possibilities with LED lighting.

LED lighting is a relatively new technology and each product performs in a different way from traditional lighting products. Although we design our products to replace existing form factors, the light spread and light levels are quite different.

Talk to the experts today and ensure your new build or renovation is finished off with the right light. The right lighting will enhance your home and provide you with a warm inviting environment.

Compare the energy consumption

• LED 11 watts
• Compact Fluorescents 20 watts
• Incandescent Light Bulb 100 watts

Environmental benefits
LED fixtures also have an environmental advantage in that they contain no mercury, last longer and produce less waste, plus they are made from fully recyclable materials.

A single kilowatt-hour of electricity will generate 610gm of CO2 emissions. Assuming the average light bulb is on for 10 hours a day, a single 100W incandescent bulb will generate 222kg of CO2 every year. The 12W Switch Lighting LED equivalent will be responsible for only 26kg of CO2 over the same time span. A building’s carbon footprint from lighting can be reduced by nearly 90% by exchanging all incandescent bulbs for new LEDs.

CFL lighting, which is commonly used in our residential homes today, must be disposed of through an appropriate recycling centre. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, a highly toxic waste, which, if disposed of irresponsibly, can pollute waterways and damage the environment. By switching to LED luminaires you help protect the environment we live in.

Energy efficient
LEDs are the most energy-efficient light source we have. Switch LEDs use the highest quality LED components and are therefore the most efficient on the market.

Long life
Switch LED products use the best quality components available. We rate our LED units with a lifespan of up to 60,000 hours (30 years). Current real-time testing of products packed in insulation is at 30,000 hours.

Blue Light Control
Blue light is natural and a healthy part of our everyday lives – it helps us be more alert and active. In the evening, however, excessive blue light can affect our circadian rhythms. Some people may have more difficulty sleeping after excessive exposure to bright blue light sources (especially from LED screens). Our Sunset Dimming models are ideal downlights for minimising potential effects on our circadian rhythms, as they dim to a warm and softer glow that may even enhance sleep cycles.

Simple installation
Switch LED products can easily be retrofitted to replace your existing lighting. They are designed to fit existing hole sizes and we produce an adapter plate to fill larger holes. We recommend using a registered electrician to install.

Low voltage
It is a misconception that LEDs are "Low voltage". In many cases, if you apply 12VDC to a product you may damage it. Switch Lighting LED products run at various voltages. Always follow our instruction sheets. Contact us for more technical details.

Dimmable
Switch Lighting products are all dimmable. Dimming can be done via standard trailing edge or universal dimmers, 0-10V or Dali control. Refer to our instruction sheets for tested and approved dimmers for each model.

Sealed units
LEDs do not need to be changed, so there is no need for a bulb holder/fitting. Switch LED units are fully sealed to protect against dust ingress and most products carry at least an IP65 rating allowing them to be used throughout the house, including bathrooms and covered outdoor areas.

Instant-on
No waiting for filaments or ballasts to heat up. Flick the switch and your room is instantly filled with warm bright white light.

No flicker
Switch Lighting LEDs are not prone to the flicker of a CFL bulb. This is especially helpful if you suffer from migraines etc. Flicker can be caused by the electronic ballast used with LED lights. Switch Lighting has spent considerable R&D time to remove this from our products.

Slimline design
LEDs are physically smaller than many traditional light sources and allow unobtrusive slimline designs to be made.

Colour consistency
Switch Lighting use high-quality Citizen Electronics LED in our products. These LED are graded to a three-step MacAdam Ellipse which means the human eye cannot discern any shift in the colour. Poor quality LEDs are susceptible to colour shift and in a single batch of LEDs, you could see the difference.

Some of our successes are:

• First lighting company to manufacture LED lights in NZ
• First lighting company to achieve IC-F classification
• First lighting company to achieve Energy Star accreditation
• First lighting company to manufacture a fully sealed tilt luminaire

Awards

• 2023 - IES ANZ NZ People's Choice Award
• 2023 - IES ANZ NZ Chapter Award of Commendation for the Cirro Ceiling Washer Luminaire Product
• 2023 – Supplier of the Year, 'Most preferred supplier' NZ Trade Group
• 2021 – Supplier of the Year, NZ Trade Group
• 2019 – Supplier of the Year, '2nd most preferred supplier' NZ Trade Group
• 2017 – Deloitte Fast 50 Awards – fastest growing manufacturer in the Christchurch and Upper South Island region
• 2016 – Deloitte Fast 50 Awards – fastest growing manufacturer in the Christchurch and Upper South Island region
• 2015 – Recognition in the Deloitte Fast 50 Awards for New Zealand's 27th fastest growing company
• 2013 – Winner Westpac Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce, Wakatu Innovation Business Award

What is an LED?
LED – Light Emitting Diode - is a solid-state semiconductor device that converts electrical energy directly into light. There are no moving parts, no gas and no filaments to heat up. A LED semiconductor comprises two regions: one is a positively charged region (P region) and the other is a negatively-charged region (N region). When a current is passed between these two regions, it causes the electrons to move to the opposite region. It is this movement that creates and releases energy. This energy is called a photon and is visible to the human eye, thus we have a Light Emitting Diode. 

What happens if an LED gets hot?
LEDs are an electronic device and as such they are not 100% efficient, therefore there is wasted energy which is released as heat. LEDs run much cooler than conventional light sources (incandescent means light emitted by heat). A Switch Lighting LED designed to replace a 100W incandescent light bulb will run at around 70-75°C at its hottest point. 

Should I cover an LED heatsink with insulation?
A traditional LED heatsink should not be covered with insulation. A heatsink requires free air around it to perform. If the heatsink function is compromised the Tj will also be compromised. Switch Lighting products use clever heatsinking of the front face (surface that is in the living space) to allow the rear of the product to be covered with insulation, thus there is zero compromise to the LED product's performance and longevity.

Can I cover Switch LEDs with Insulation?
Yes – Switch LED luminaires have been engineered from the ground up to be completely packed with insulation. We have developed unique heat dissipation techniques to allow this without compromising the performance or longevity of our products.

What is the different between Ultra Low Glare and Prismatic ?

• The Ultra-Low Glare fitting has a clear lens and delivers a sharper and more direct beam pattern.
• It is especially good for punching light over task areas such as kitchen benches and work desks for example.
• It is also excellent under soffits to create a nice beam pattern and offer a point of difference.
• The Prismatic lens delivers a softer beam and delivers more field of light.
• This is especially good in lounges, hallways and living areas. 

Can I get a lighting design done?
Yes you can and it won't cost you a cent. Here at Switch Lighting we strongly believe in providing our customers with the best possible lighting design. As the manufacturer we know better than anyone which product to use where and how many. We do lighting design by light, not fittings. 

How long is 60,000 hours?
Based on how long a fixture is illuminated per day, here’s what 60,000 works out to:60,000 hours is: Hours of Operation:24 hours per day - 6.8 years18 hours per day - 9.1 years12 hours per day - 13.7 years8 hours per day - 20.5 years5 hours per day - 32.8 years

Do I have to replace LEDs?
An LED does not burn out like a standard lamp, so individual diodes do not need to be replaced. Instead, the diodes gradually produce lower output levels over a very long period of time. If one LED fails, it does not produce a complete fixture outage.

What are the environmental benefits?
LED fixtures have an environmental advantage in that they contain no mercury, last longer and produce less waste, and they are made from fully recyclable materials. Furthermore, the extruded aluminium heat sink is manufactured using 77% post-industrial recycled material.

A single kilowatt-hour of electricity will generate 610grams of CO2 emissions. Assuming the average light bulb is on for 10 hours a day, a single 100-watt incandescent bulb will generate 222kg of CO2 every year. The 12-watt Switch Lighting LED equivalent will be responsible for only 26kg of CO2 over the same time span. A building’s carbon footprint from lighting can be reduced by nearly 90% by exchanging all incandescent bulbs for new LEDs.

What are the advantages of using LED lights?
LEDs bring several advantages to the lighting industry, including high efficiency and durability and, with superior life over other lamp sources, their required maintenance is greatly reduced. This translates into energy savings, maintenance savings and an overall reduction in cost of ownership over the product’s lifetime. 

What is a Driver?
In regards to LED, a driver is the power supply module that controls the current and voltage supplied to the LED or LEDs in circuit. All LED must have their voltage and current controlled. A typical driver is known as a switch mode power supply. Switch Lighting design our own range of drivers, from tiny units that are embedded inside products to larger stand-alone products that run our bigger downlights.

What is Sunset Dimming?
Imagine a room where you can change from general downlighting to beautiful warm mood lighting in an instant. Sunset Dimming is a perfect option for general room lighting situations where mood lighting is a priority. As you dim the light, its colour emulates that of the sun going down. The more it dims, the warmer and softer the glow becomes. Combined with a high light quality CRI rating – reflecting colours more naturally, you have excellent mood lighting where and when you need it. Sunset Dimming is available across the ZELA, E-LIGHTZ and D-LIGHTZ range of downlights.