Is LED Retrofit Kit the Right Choice for You

Have you ever considered converting to LEDs?

Switching to LEDs provides several benefits, such as reducing energy costs and improving lighting quality.

There are many options for LED retrofitting, including LED retrofit kits and new LED fixtures. LED retrofit kits seem to be a cost-effective option. However, budgets and needs vary with every application.

If you have a tight budget, want to keep the existing housing, and have no strict requirements for intelligent lighting control, the LED retrofit kit is a good choice. But new fixtures can be more efficient with dimmable and smart controls. 

What is an LED retrofit kit

An LED retrofit kit is a conversion to replace and upgrade existing HID and fluorescent lights. It involves an LED driver and an LED light panel. The key feature of LED retrofit kits is that they can improve lighting quality and efficiency without changing the look and design of the original fixtures. Therefore, LED retrofit kits are best for places where you want to keep the current housing as well as upgrade the actual lighting inside the fixture.

For example, our customer said the end user is not willing to change the heat sink of the previous tunnel light installed several years ago. This is because their original heat sink has very good anti-corrosion performance. Meanwhile, just retrofitting the inside light part can save a lot of money. To solve the problem, we develop retrofit kits for traditional tunnel lights, which can maintain the previous housing, save costs, and improve lighting performance at the same time.

LED retrofit kits VS new fixtures, which is better

Both LED retrofit kits and new fixtures contribute to more energy savings and better light quality. The key advantage of using LED retrofit kits is that they enable you to maintain the original look and design. While new fixtures allow you to change the look and achieve the longer lasting. Your choice is highly dependent on your affordability, needs, and acceptance of change.

Here is a table of the comparison of LED retrofit kits and new fixtures.

Are LED retrofit kits worth it

In general, LED retrofit kits are worth it. From the comparison, we can see that LED retrofit kits require less installation time, labor costs, and upfront costs than new fixtures. Retrofit kits keep the existing housing as well. But not all retrofit kits are available with dimming and control capabilities. To figure out whether LED retrofit kits are the right choice for you, here are some considerations:

1. What is your budget?

If you have to retrofit existing lighting to LEDs on a tight budget, LED retrofit kits are a better choice for you. New fixtures not only require higher prices but also higher installation costs. LED retrofit kits would be the most affordable option.

2. Do you want to change the look of existing fixtures?

If the fixtures have unique designs or high-quality housings, or you want to keep their charming look, LED retrofit kits are great solutions to upgrade your lighting system. For example, retrofit kits allow for optimizing the lighting quality and lifespan of historical lanterns without damaging their elegant and classical appearance.

3. What are the conditions of existing lighting fixtures?

If existing lighting fixtures are in decent shape, using LED retrofit kits is the best option. Simply replacing the inside light part is cost-effective. However, if the fixtures in question are near the end of their life, you should lean towards replacing existing fixtures with new LED fixtures.

4. Do you need dimmable and intelligent lighting?

Consider purchasing new fixtures if you want the lighting to be dimmable, color-changing, or have integrated sensors and controls. Not all LED retrofit kits are equipped with dimming and control capabilities. Even if you use dimmable and controllable retrofit kits, they cannot provide the same level of functionality as new LED lighting fixtures.

Is the LED retrofit kit the right choice for you?

An LED retrofit kit is the right choice for you when you are on a tight budget, ask to keep the housing of existing fixtures, and don’t have strict requirements for intelligent lighting control.

But sometimes, utilizing retrofit kits is not possible. Furthermore, LED retrofit kits are not available for some LED lighting. You should purchase new fixtures under these conditions.

As with our previous projects, the existing lighting fixtures were no longer suitable for factory operations. The insufficient brightness made it difficult to perform precise work. To address this issue, the customer replaced all 54 old lights with LED linear fixtures. As shown in the picture, the new LED lighting improves brightness, creating a well-lit and more efficient workspace.

Whether you need LED retrofit kits or new LED fixtures, we will provide the best solution that fits your budget.