Datasheet

Carclo Optics
Guide to choosing secondary optics
Introduction
To quote from Pirelli‟s advertisement for tyre‟s, Power is nothing without control” and equally the same analogy
can be drawn with light. Seldom will the end user care about the total amount of light an LED radiates, rather what
counts is where the light is going and how bright it is. Sending the light in the desired direction and obtaining the
required brightness means controlling and directing the light output from the LED. (And it must not be forgotten that
it is often just as important that light is kept away from other areas.) To do this usually requires more than just the
pointing the LED‟s clear lens, (the primary optic), in the right direction. For the majority of applications producing
the illumination in the required area and at the desired level requires additional or secondary optics. This guide
aims to help in the selection of the best secondary optics and with the calculation of the illumination levels that will
be achieved.
Information you need before you start
Although it sounds obvious, the first steps in
selecting the best secondary optics for an
application is to determine what illumination
levels you want to achieve and over what
area. Then from these two figures the total
amount of light that will be needed can be
calculated. Once you know how much light
you need, it is then possible to decide what
type of LED is required and how many.
Only when the inputs to the optics, (the type
and number of LED‟s), and the outputs, (the
illumination level and beam shape), have
been defined can the secondary optics be
specified.
Carclo Technical Plastics
111 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4PF ENGLAND / 600 Depot Street Latrobe PA. 15650 USA
Web: www.carclo-optics.com e-mail: sales@carclo-optics.com
Tel UK: 0044 (0) 1753 575011 Tel USA 00 (1) 724 539 6982

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