June 25th, 2011 
Admin 
Lighting Efficiency: Improving Cities Using LED Lights
LED cities are cropping up all over the globe as major metropolitan areas learn how effective LED light technology is in conserving energy, and in conserving taxpayers’ dollars. In the past, most LED cities have functioned by making changes in parking garages, street lights, traffic lights, and things of that nature in the switch from incandescent light bulbs to LED energy efficient lights. Today, those changes are still occurring in all LED cities, however there are many cities getting very creative with how they implement the technology.
Toronto, Ontario in Canada is one city that has illustrated just how creative a city can be when it comes to the use of LED energy efficient lights. In fact, Toronto, Ontario is the first Canadian city to be known as an LED city and is the first Canadian metropolitan to join the LED City Initiative. Other cities that can officially be called an “LED City” include Raleigh, NC; Ann Arbor, MI; Austin, TX; and Torraca, Italy. This initiative sets out to share the best practices in the evaluation, promotion, and deployment of the light technology through its municipal works.
LED light technology, particularly when used at the city-wide level, has been known to consume 90% less electrical energy and the lights last longer than incandescent lighting. Toronto has capitalized on this savings by installing the energy efficient lights in street lights, parking garages, and in pedestrian lighted areas. Light emitting diode holiday lighting is also being utilized as all publicly controlled holiday lighting has now been switched over to LED light technology.
But Toronto has taken it even a step further than that. Perhaps the most famous public structure in Toronto is the CN Tower, a beacon of strength for many Torontonians, and the most famous landmark in the city. All lights within the CN Tower have been switched over to LED light technology, which in turn lights the public locale of Exhibition Place. This change alone has worked to save the city of Toronto 50% of their energy use and costs on an annual basis. When you add this major change, along with the addition of the change of over 160,000 Toronto streetlights, the city of Toronto does not just save in energy use. They also save a total of million dollars annually in electricity costs. More importantly, the estimated reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with these changes is ball parked at around 18,000 tonnes.
Computer operated bill boards are another measure that Toronto has taken in the switch to LED energy efficient lighting. These billboards are billboards that function with LED light technology and are controlled by an operator. These signs posted along the highway and in the major city centers of Toronto are yet another example of the great lengths the city is taking to save on energy consumption.
The number of LED cities is growing though they are quite a ways off from becoming the norm. However, when major city centers such as Toronto, Ontario make changes as instrumental as the ones they have made, they serve as shining examples to other cities around the world that every step toward better energy conservation is a step toward environmental consciousness and cost savings. Changing a major public landmark such as the CN Tower is one way that LED cities can say, hey, it’s time for a change. If we can do it, so can you.
~Ben Anton, 2008
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Led lights?
hey i have two led lights which are plugd into the cigarette lighter part but i can only put one led light on a time because theres only one cigarette part. is there any way i could make both led lights work ? thanks
How do I connect led lights to my car?
I need to put led lights on the exterior of my car, but they need to be connected to a power source. How do I connect it to the battery? I’m trying to put lights under the door handle, on the tailpipe, on the license plate, and on the side view mirrors.
LED Lights?
Do LED lights ever die? Misfunction??
How can a build a display of LED emergency dash lights?
How can a build a display of LED lights?
I sell emergency vehicle lights. I would like to be able select one model at a time (similar to car stereo displays commonly found in retail stores). The display would be a wall with a push button switch that would power 12vdc cigarette lighter outlet. I only want one unit to be powered at a time. Could I do this with momentary switches and a type of relay circuit?
How to wire up LED lights using a 12v source. How many and how do you wire them up?
I am planning on wiring around (16) 3mm red led lights up to my xbox using the xbox’s 12v source. How many LEDs can I use if they are 3.5v per LED? Can I string them all on one strand with a source of 12v or do I have to have multiple 12v sources? Please explain how I would wire them up.
LED lights when connected does it result in harmonics in the electrical power system?
If I connect say load of 10kw of LED lights, does it increase the harmonics levels in the system?
It would be a simple matter of the 12 volt supply wire all the negatives together. Personally I’d get a rotary selector switch and wire the main positive to a fuse then to the incoming and the outputs to each different lighter plug. Be sure to chose components that exceed the highest current draw of the highest current draw light.
You can do the same with momentary switches but they are pricey especially for higher current ones . you can do it to power individual relays but that might get pricey depending on number of lights/relays needed
Another simple way is to use a standard light bar control box and wire each output to a different light
Are neon or led lights legal inside a car in Melbourne Australia?
What colours are legal and where to put them? Also are red LED lights legal on exhaust tips or on number plates when you hit the breaks and they comes on?
really depends on the driver circuit.
But if you have a conventional rectifier circuit with a capacitor filter to convert the AC to DC, which drives the LEDs, then yes, as that type of circuit draws power only during the peak of the AC, which causes distortion.
Even without the filter, the LEDs don’t draw current when the voltage is below the threshold, which means the current varies over the cycle, which causes distortion.
It is possible to build a power supply with special circuitry to equalize the current over the AC cycle, but those are rare.
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i put leds under my car all you have to do is run the main power wire from you battery to a switch and then to the leds just make sure that you turn off the switch when you dont want them on there is also a website called http://www.oznium.com they have help forums that will have wiring drawings on them too
Is it legal to ride with led lights on your motorcycle turned on and lit?
Is it legal to ride your motorcycle with led lights on it turned on and lit up?
Whats the output current of the Xbox’s 12v source ? that would be the determining factor on how many you can connect
not if facing Facing forward or flashing.
definitely! we change the rear LED lamps on Cadillacs here at the dealer all the time.
LED lights?
what size are my lights that are underneath my dash.. they light up the floor…they have little clips on the bulb
i have a 2005 dodge stratus coupe..
The likeliest bulb is probably going to be: 3157LED or 3157NALL (incandescent version).
I managed to find more info on bulbs for a 2005 dodge stratus coupe (courtesy of Sylvania):
High & low beam headlamp
9007LL
9007SU Silverstar ULTRA for Ultra Night Vision – The Whitest and Brightest Halogen
9007ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
9007XV XtraVision Halogen – The Brighter Light
9007CB Cool Blue Halogen – The Whiter Light
Parking light
3157NALL
3157AST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
Front turn signal
3157NALL
3157AST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
Rear turn signal
2057
2057LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Tail light
2057
2057LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Stop light
2057
2057LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
High mount stop light
168
168LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Fog/Driving light
899
License plate
168
168LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Back up light
1156
1156LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Front sidemarker
3157NALL
3157AST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
Rear sidemarker
168
168LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Map light
DE3175
Dome light
DE3175
Step/Courtesy light
DE3175
Trunk/Cargo area
DE3022
How many LED lights do I need for my artificial Christmas tree?
We are replacing our standard Christmas lights with LED and we have a 7 foot artificial tree. I have heard we should be using around 700 lights (100/ft). Is that equation the same for LED’s?
get a splitter for your lighter. Heres a list of a few on ebay atm. cost like $5.
The only way you will get a good answer is to check your local DMV in melbourne.Best of luck.
As long as you use the same size lights, then you should use the same light count. 100/foot is kind of sparse, so maybe 800 or so? A lot of 7.5′ prelit trees have 700-800 lights