Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

As One Adventure Ends, Another Begins

Posted: May 24, 2019 in Uncategorized
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The Adventure with Architectural SSL Magazine

In 2006, I pitched the idea of a magazine dedicated to Solid-State lighting technology as it applies directly to architecture with the owners of Construction Business Media. After a few pizza lunches and more convincing, they moved to creation of Architectural SSL magazine in time for Lightfair 2007 with its debut issue.

Since that debut 12 years ago, I have participated in editorial discussion and planning, contributed content to every issue with a market setting feature, a closing remarks Op Ed, white papers, judeged products, provided reviews of various products and provided general commentary on the progress of SSL into the lighting market. (more…)

Change of Plans and Direction

Posted: March 23, 2019 in Uncategorized
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Announcement

After significant evaluation of successes, personal goals, market direction, costs of operation, and future trends emerging – I have decided to make large scale changes to how we participate in the solid-state lighting market.

Pursuant to this, as of March 22, 2019, Lumenique, LLC has begun a complete overhaul/re-casting, starting with  the closing of our prototype and research facility in Menomonee Falls, WI effective immediately. This includes Tasca ending its 9-year pursuit of light cure products for curing fiberglass resins.

The principles of Lumenique, LLC/Tasca will be relocating to a new facility in Elgin Illinois, beginning mid- April. Until then, Lumenique is closed for business to focus on the monumental task of moving house and shop facilities. Both Angie and I can be reached by email and cell phone, should anyone wish to make contact, regardless of status of the business itself.

I will continue as Editor for Architectural SSL magazine and contributor to NZB magazine for Construction Business Media through the transition and beyond.

More details will be announced as things gel, and our new direction solidifies.

Cheers,

Kevin Willmorth 

Deals upon Deals!

Posted: March 19, 2019 in Uncategorized
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We’re making changes and taking a fresh approach for spring. That means we have an assortment of items that are surplus to our changing requirements, so are offering them up for sale at mega-low prices. This includes test meters and lights alike. Everything is in good to excellent condition, some old, some new, no garbage in the lot. Our need to clear this inventory is your gain!

Take a look at the Tasca Store!

He who hesitates are lost! (applicable misquote from JosephAddison’s play Cato (1712)

Why CCT Tuning in the Work Environment is not Enough

Posted: November 27, 2018 in Energy, Facilities, General SSL Commentary, Uncategorized
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There is a great deal of marketing noise professing the use of CCT white light tuning to enhance circadian function in work environments. The real question is whether this approach actually has any real-world effect on human response to light in the spaces it is being applied to.

Theoretically, the proposition is that by changing the CCT of light, one can affect circadian reaction – specifically increase or decrease melatonin suppression. The proponents of CCT tuning profess that, with no consideration of illuminance levels, cooler CCT’s will produce greater melatonin suppression, resulting in a more wakeful state, while warmer CCT’s will produce significantly less melatonin suppression, creating a more restful state that does not disrupt sleep cycles. The assumption is that illuminance levels required for proper task performance can be maintained, relying solely on a CCT change alone to impart the desired “Human Centric” benefit.

To test this, I created a test box that houses 5 different high CRI LEDs, with a dimmer. The CCT’s I chose are the popular 2700, 3000, 3500, 4000, and 5000K. All had >88CRI and >90Rf/94Rg (using TM30). The first test was to set illuminance at 50Fc, and measure the difference in Circadian Stimulus (RPI/LRC method), and Melanopic Lux (Well Buildings Standard). (more…)

Bedroom Lighting for that Restful Sleep

Posted: November 5, 2018 in General Commentary, Uncategorized
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Bedroom

The Great Blue Light Panic Keeping Some Folks Awake

If you read alarmist comments on the inter-webs about the dreaded “Blue Light Hazard”, you may come away thinking that your TV, tablet, phone, and LED bedside lights are depriving you of sleep. Yes, the spectral power content, including blue light, can produce amplified melatonin suppression that can indeed disrupt your ability to fall asleep. And, yes, LED lights and many LED based displays do produce blue light at the wavelengths of greatest concern. We’ve been all over this, like here, and there have been thousands of other discussions on this everywhere, including in mainstream media – which for the most part get it all wrong. (more…)

Getting the Flicker Issue Behind Us Requires Action – Beyond Whinging on Social Media

Posted: September 17, 2018 in Uncategorized
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Flicker is a persistent and frustrating issue, and has been since the first fluorescent and HID lamps were put in service. Complaints of headache, migraine, feelings of ill health, and eye strain are the most common complaints. For some, flicker at 100Hz (Europe/Asia) or 120Hz (North America) is debilitating. Studies have shown that flicker creates reading errors from rapid eye movement changes under sources flickering at under 200Hz – NCBI The effects of flicker on eye movement control, Energy Focus Presentation ‘Lighting Flicker: Effects of Flicker in the Classroom’, including roadway effects – Lux ‘Street light flicker is a new hazard, says watchdog’, CBC – ‘Calgary seizure sufferer worries flickering LED street light will break down again‘.

I will not go into a great deal of detail here on the effects of flicker on human health or the environment. There are hundreds of articles on this topic, by experts in human (more…)

Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Lighting Technology – A Personal Take

Posted: September 16, 2018 in General Commentary, Uncategorized

According to marketers of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, et al, social media is the engine of change, the foundation for bringing information and real transformation to the people. With Social Media, we will see the world connected and refreshed through the voices of the previously unheard. Social Media is the new light, the symbol of freedom and ultimate new world order founded on the concrete foundation of the first amendment, the true voice of “the People”. It has enabled revolution and advanced the human cause. It all sounds so… amazing and spectacular, if not completely incredible.

Behind the scenes, social media is actually just a software/app product that generates (more…)

Why LEDs are Bad… and Great at the Same Time.

Posted: March 23, 2018 in General SSL Commentary, Uncategorized
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Before we get into this topic, let’s remember that history is filled to overflowing with cries of lighting technology destroying human health. When the incandescent lamp emerged, the gas light industry flooded the market with baloney about its harmful effects (including claims that electric lights caused women to get the vapors), in support of the healthful glow of gas lighting (gag). Fluorescent and HID technologies have been under attack from their very first introduction. It’s quite funny to see now the defense of HPS by LED detractors, as it has been the target for criticism for decades. My advise for the apoplectic LED detractors… take a very deep breath and get over it. Every light source carries with it a compromise, including daylight, with undesirable effects we must do our best to mitigate. I suggest to anyone interested in the processes of new lighting technology: An interesting read on the 60 years it took to get lighting off the gas. That said… (more…)

Hey, What do You Do When You Aren’t Doing the Lighting Thing?

Posted: June 15, 2017 in Uncategorized
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I’ve posted this sort of content before and will do so again. This is the sort of thing I cobble together from found objects, spare parts, experiments in fabrication, and other brain re-setting exercises.

My center all touch-stone and tribute to the mechanical arts that compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats every year.

(more…)

Side Note: Of Passion and Success

Posted: November 26, 2016 in Side Notes, Uncategorized
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passion

Follow your passion and success will follow you

I find these “inspirational” vivications irritating and shallow. At the risk of being pedantic, allow me to explain.

In this case, the words evoke images of everyone loving what they do, and succeeding for it – with the inference of success pointing  to fame and fortune. Certainly, if you look at successful people in the public eye; actors, musicians, athletes, motor sports champions, internet and social media innovators, software developers, wealthy investors, etc…, they (more…)

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