Zhaga Specifications Promise Interchangeability of LED Sources

Below is an article I wrote about Zhaga, originally published in the October 2012 issue of TED:

In a traditional light fixture, lamps, auxiliary components such as ballasts, and the fixture itself connect using standard interfaces, providing three key benefits.

Manufacturers can specialize in what they do best—lamp, ballast/transformer or fixture design, facilitating product development. Owners can easily replace lamps and auxiliary components as they fail, making the fixture itself a durable installed product. And specifiers, owners and OEMs often have a choice of lamps and auxiliary components spanning multiple manufacturers, providing the benefits of competition.

Solid-state lighting introduced a new paradigm. Solid-state lights are not well suited to existing interfaces because of thermal and other penalties on performance. So while self-ballasted LED replacement lamps are available that fit conventional sockets, general light fixtures dedicated to LED lamping are typically highly engineered to optimize performance of this unique light source. The fixture may be designed so that the light source and power supply/driver cannot be replaced without replacing the fixture (making the fixture essentially a self-ballasted lamp), difficult to replace (major disassembly required), or relatively easy to replace, but using proprietary connections.

Enter the Zhaga Consortium, an alliance of manufacturers dedicated to creating voluntary specifications enabling true interchangeability of LED light sources, focusing on mechanical, photometric, thermal and electronic compatibility of modules and systems. Founded in 2010, it consists of more than 180 companies from around the world, including big names such as Acuity Brands, Cooper, Cree, GE, OSRAM SYLVANIA, Philips and Zumtobel. (“Zhaga,” by the way, is an arbitrary name for this group; it’s actually a waterfall in Sichuan, China.) In 2012, more than 30 manufacturers presented Zhaga-compliant LED products for the first time at major trade events.

Products that are Zhaga compliant carry the Zhaga logo. The specifications themselves are currently divided into six documents called “Books.” Book 1 provides general information. Books 2-6 cover socketable or spot LED light engines, with integrated or separate driver. The intention is for dimming control functionality to be incorporated into the specifications in the future. The LED light engine itself (LED module plus driver) is intentionally not covered, ensuring manufacturers can continue to innovate to develop continually better sources.

Interchangeability of LED sources using LED-specific interfaces can provide several major benefits. LED technology is constantly improving. By relying on stable interfaces, LED and LED fixture product development can be uncoupled, allowing LED companies to focus on innovation of the source without having to redesign fixtures every time a source changes. Standardized sources can be manufactured in higher volumes, helping to drive down costs. The specifier can choose light sources for a fixture from more than one supplier, providing the benefits of competition while reducing risk of being tied to a single manufacturer. And owners can replace LED components as they become obsolete, making the fixture durable and upgradable.

For more information about Zhaga, click here.