FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A Light Emitting Diode (LED) consists of a semiconductor that emits light when an electrical current is passed through it. This differs from traditional incandescent lamps that use heat to alight a filament which then glows.

LED lamps are fundamentally different from conventional light sources such as incandescent, fluorescent and gas-discharge lamps. They consume far less energy, last much longer and generate very little heat. They contain no mercury or lead and, as they don’t feature any fragile parts, such as glass tubes or filaments, are highly durable.

• Extremely energy efficient

• Eco-friendly lighting

• Significant savings on your electricity bills

• Much longer lifespan than halogen lamps

• Low temperature operation

• Directional light

• Low profile and compact size

• Breakage and vibration resistance

• Life unaffected by rapid cycling

• Instant switch on with no warmup time

• No IR or UV emissions

LED Lamps typically use 90% less power than an incandescent or halogen bulb of equivalent brightness. The reason LEDs can do this is because they are far more efficient at converting electricity (measured in watts) into light (measured in lumens). The effectiveness of a light source is evaluated by its lumen-to-watt ratio, usually shortened to Lm/W.

As such, a typical 4-watt LED lamp can easily achieve a light output comparable to a 50-watt halogen, sometimes higher.

LEDs are less susceptible to wear and tear than other types of lighting. This means they are less likely to fail outright. However, like all light sources, LEDs slowly fade over time. This loss of light is known as lumen depreciation and is influenced by many factors, including drive current and heat. Officially, light sources designed for general illumination are at the end of their useful life when light output falls below 70%.

To ensure longevity, most LED lamps are designed with thermal management systems known as heat sinks. These remove heat from the LEDs, either through convection or conduction and help to prolong the life expectancy of the lamp by slowing lumen depreciation.  A well-built LED lamp with good thermal management should last at least 30,000 hours. 

This is dependent on how long a fixture is used per day.  A 30,000 hours lifespan may look like this:

• 24 hours per day: Three and a half years

• 12 hours per day: 7 years

• 8 hours per day: Just over 10 years

The brightness of an LED lamp is not measured in watts. Watts are a unit of electrical consumption and do not tell us anything about the amount or type of light emitted from a light source. In an incandescent lamp the only way to increase light output is to increase wattage which is one of the reasons we previously used watts as a measure of light output. However, LEDs are far more efficient and can produce more light without increasing wattage.

Actual light output is measured in lumens (Lm) – the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the lamp.  LED Lamps can deliver an equivalent number of lumens when compared with traditional light sources. Most retailers quote an equivalent incandescent wattage, allowing customers to make their purchase based on the incandescent lamps they are trying to replace. So, for example, a 4-watt LED Lamp, may have an equivalent incandescent wattage of 40 watts as it provides enough light to replace a 40-watt incandescent.

You can return any Zico Lighting products that have not been used, with packaging intact and in re-sellable condition to us within 28 days for a full refund. 

If you would like to return any products, please contact us within 7 days of receipt to request RMA (Returns Merchandise Authorisation) Form, complete in full and return to us. Once your RMA form has been accepted by us, you will have additional 21 days to return the goods to us.

Please refer to our Returns page for full details.

The energy efficiency rating is measured in lumen-to-watt ratio, or Lm/W, and LEDs remain a more efficient lamp choice compared to incandescent and halogen light bulbs based on low energy consumption and longer lifespan.

Zico Lighting specialise in decorative lighting, which is designed to have lower light output (lumen) to create a more ambient, layered lighting, as such resulting in a lower Lm/W ratio.

All our lamps display energy efficiency rating on a G -> A scale in line with the UK and European regulations that came into force in 2021. 

Based on previously used G - > A+++ scale, which is still often seen within the industry, our lamps fall within A to A+ rating.

The up-front cost on LEDs is more than halogen lamps. However, LEDs use up to 90% less energy than halogen lamps and you will often recoup your investment within just 6 months. You will continue saving money on your bills every month thereafter.

The lighting in a standard household can account for as much as 20% of the overall energy consumption. In commercial premises this can account for a lot more.  Customers can save a considerable amount of money by switching to a light source that uses a fraction of the energy.

Reducing energy consumption isn’t the only way LED Lighting can save you money. As they last longer, they also reduce the amount spent on replacements, and, as they are more reliable, they require less maintenance.

Yes. All our lamps are designed to work with existing light fittings.

All our LED filament lamps are dimmable. However, if you are changing to dimmable LED Lamps you will also need to upgrade your dimmer switches. Dimmers (not lower wattage) create the ‘warm and cosy’ vintage feel, can be purchased inexpensively, are easy for your electrician to fit, reduce power consumption and can increase the life of your lamp.

Zico Lighting lamps have shown flawless performance with most market leading dimmer brands, or you can check out our own dimmer options here.

Colour temperature is a measurement in degrees Kelvin (K) of the perceived warmth or coolness of a light source. The Kelvin Scale runs in the opposite direction to the temperature scale. Light with a low Kelvin rating, 3,500K or less, is referred to as “warm” light and has a soft yellowy-orange glow. Light with a high Kelvin rating, 6,000K or more, is said to be “cool” and has a blueish white quality.

The colour temperature of different light sources varies considerably. For example, the flame of a candle has a Kelvin rating of 1,850K, moonlight has a Kelvin rating of 4,100K and a fluorescent lamp has a Kelvin rating of 5,000K.

Beam angle (measured in degrees) describes the angle at which a lamp emits its light. Lamps with a narrow beam angle create a spotting effect and are suitable for highlighting features of a room. Lamps with a wide beam angle create a flooding effect and are better for general ambience.

LEDs use around 80-90% of electrical energy for light, unlike traditional forms of lighting where most of energy is lost to heat. By comparison an incandescent lamp only uses 20% of its energy for light, with the rest going to heat. This difference means that LED lamps can produce more light using less energy, making them a greener choice. (eg. a 4W LED lamp can produce a similar amount of light as a 40W incandescent light bulb.)

In addition, Zico Lighting lamps have a lifespan of 30,000 hours - much higher than a traditional light bulb. As they don't need to be replaced as often, there are less wasteful.

Disposing of LED lamps is relatively straightforward. They don’t contain harmful chemicals like CFLs but, as electronic products, they do need to be disposed of responsibly under the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment regulations.  

All Zico Lighting lamps can be recycled. 

In the UK you can take your old lamps to the local Household Recycling Centre. Some councils also offer a household recycling collection service for small electrical items - please contact your local authority for more details.

If you are elsewhere in the world, please check your local recycling regulations.

Once your order is dispatched from our warehouse, you will receive an email confirmation containing tracking reference for your order. Tracking it with the delivery service will often resolve your query. If you can't find the tracking reference or still need help tracking your delivery, please do get in touch with us and we will be happy to assist. You can find more information about lost deliveries here.

If the goods we deliver are not what you ordered, or the delivery is of an incorrect quantity, you must notify us within 7 days of receipt and, where relevant, provide detailed description and photographs of any damage. Please refer to our Returns page for full details.

LEDs are quite sensitive to temperature extremes. Most LED lamps feature a special heat sink, which is designed to regulate the air flow to the LED components and keep them at a cool temperature. If you plan on using your lamps in unusually cold or hot conditions, we cannot guarantee the best possible performance.

We supply the four main UK base caps and specifications depending on the lamp style – check the store for available options: Screw (ES / E27, E10), Small Screw (SES / E14), Bayonet (BC / B22d), Small Bayonet (SBC / BA15d).

Yes, Zico Lighting is a LIAQA assured company.

IP (or Ingress Protection and International Protection as they are also known) ratings are used to define the degree of protection provided against intrusion with electrical enclosures.

The first digit tells you the level of protection against access to hazardous parts and the ingress of foreign objects, for example dust. The second digit tells you the protection against moisture i.e. water.

First Digit (Ingress of Solid Objects)

0 – No Protection
1 – Protected against penetration by solid objects 50mm+
2 – Protected against penetration by solid objects 12mm+
3 – Protected against penetration by solid objects 2.5mm+
4 – Protected against penetration by solid objects 1mm+
5 – Dust Protected
6 – Dust Tight

Second Digit (Ingress of Water)

0 – No Protection
1 – Protected from vertically falling drops
2 – Protected from water drops falling at a max angle of 15°
3 – Protected from water as in the rain at a max angle of 60°
4 – Protected from splashing or projection
5 – Protected from low pressure jets
6 – Protected from high pressure jets
7 – Protected from temporary immersion
8 – Protected against long periods of immersion

Yes, Zico Lighting LED filament lamps are rated IP54.