The pain points with regular lights are that they don’t do what you want, and they hurt. That means you have a bad work environment. You have a bad space to live. It makes you feel bad. It makes you not want to be there. It makes you not want to work. Tunable white lights solve these problems for you.

Tunable white lighting means you can move the color temperature of a light source from warm to neutral to cool white light. It’s primarily done with LED fixtures that have multiple LED chips, usually a warm white and a cool white, to give you a range of color temperatures. The correlated color temperature (CCT) can be all over the place, but it’s typically somewhere around 2700K (warm) to 6500K (cool), depending on the application and the user’s preferences.

This technology not only gives you better lights but is going to change the way you see your world and the way you interact with your world.

How Does Tunable White Lighting Work?

Tunable white lighting systems work by using two or more types of LED chips in a fixture. By controlling the output of these chips independently, you can create different shades of white light. The control mechanisms can range from simple switches to sophisticated systems that use wireless technologies like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Key Components:

LED Chips: Typically consist of warm white and cool white LEDs.

Control Systems: Can include Dip-switch, DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface), DMX, or app-based controls for fine-tuning light settings.

CCT Measurement: CCT is expressed in Kelvin (K), indicating whether the light appears warm (lower K values) or cool (higher K values)

Three Types of Tunable White LED Lighting

Dip Switch CCT Tunable White

This type of tunable white lighting lets you use a physical dip switch located on the fixture to manually adjust the color temperature. Typically, the dip switch has some preset options, like 3000K, 4000K, and 5000K. This method is straightforward, inexpensive, and doesn’t require a bunch of complex control systems. So, it’s ideal for installations where fixed adjustments are good enough. It does not give you the ability to tune in real time, though.

Wireless CCT Tunable White

Wireless tunable white lighting systems let you adjust the color temperature using a remote control, a mobile app, or even voice commands if you use something like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This allows you to fine-tune the lighting with ease. You don’t have to go to the fixture to make the changes. This type is perfect for spaces where you want to get the lighting just right and you don’t want to have to walk over to the fixture to make the adjustments.

DALI CCT Tunable White

DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) tunable white lighting uses a wired communication protocol to adjust the color temperature exactly how you want it. This type of system is usually integrated with a fancy building management system. It allows you to adjust all the lights in a space at the same time. DALI tunable white lighting is often used in commercial and industrial applications where you want to be able to adjust all of your lights at once or automatically.

White Tunable vs. Dim-to-Warm

White Tunable

• Adjustable CCT: Independent control of brightness and color temperature (e.g., 2700K–6500K).
• Use: For dynamic lighting needs like offices or healthcare.
• Advantage: High flexibility for tasks and mood.

Dim-to-Warm

• CCT Dims Warmer: Light becomes warmer (e.g., 3000K to 2200K) as brightness lowers.
• Use: Ideal for cozy spaces like homes or restaurants.
• Advantage: Creates a warm, relaxing ambiance.

Key Difference: White tunable suits versatile lighting needs; dim-to-warm focuses on aesthetic comfort.

Feature	White Tunable	Dim-to-Warm
CCT Control	Adjustable CCT with independent control of brightness and color temperature (e.g., 2700K–6500K).	CCT becomes warmer (e.g., 3000K to 2200K) as brightness lowers.
Primary Use	Dynamic lighting needs, such as offices or healthcare.	Cozy, ambient spaces like homes or restaurants.
Key Advantage	High flexibility for various tasks and moods.	Creates a warm and relaxing ambiance.
Key Difference	Suits versatile lighting needs with adjustable CCT.	Focuses on aesthetic comfort with dimming warmth.

What is RGB tunable lighting?

RGB tunable lighting means you have LED lights that can make any color by mixing red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light. Depending on how much of each color you turn on and off, you can make millions of colors, including white light at different color temperatures.

Key Features

• Full Color Customization: Offers vibrant, customizable lighting for decorative or functional purposes.
• Control Options: Adjusted via remote controls, mobile apps, or smart home systems. Advanced systems may include dynamic effects like color-changing sequences or gradients.
• Applications: Commonly used in entertainment, retail displays, architectural lighting, and mood lighting in homes or events.

RGB tunable lighting enhances ambiance, fosters creativity, and provides flexibility for diverse settings.

What is the difference between tunable white light and RGB tunable light?

Tunable White Light

• Function: Adjusts color temperature(e.g., 2700K to 6500K) to mimic natural light variations.
• Color Range: Produces shades of white, from warm to cool tones.
• Use: Ideal for human-centric lighting, offices, schools, and healthcare environments.
• Goal: Enhances productivity, comfort, or relaxation based on lighting needs.

RGB Tunable Light

• Function: Combines red, green, and blue LEDs to create a full spectrum of colors, including white.
• Color Range: Produces millions of colors for decorative or dynamic lighting.
• Use: Popular for mood lighting, entertainment, architectural displays, and events.
• Goal: Adds vibrancy and creativity to spaces.

Key Difference: Tunable white focuses on varying white tones for functional lighting, while RGB tunable creates colorful, mood-enhancing lighting for aesthetic purposes.

Feature	Tunable White Light	RGB Tunable Light
Function	Adjusts color temperature (warm to cool white).	Combines RGB LEDs to create various colors.
Color Range	Shades of white (e.g., 2700K to 6500K).	Millions of colors, including white.
Primary Use	Task and human-centric lighting.	Decorative or mood lighting.
Applications	Offices, healthcare, schools.	Entertainment, events, architectural design.
Goal	Enhance comfort, productivity, and focus.	Add vibrancy, ambiance, and creativity.

Why You Need Tunable White Lighting

Tunable white lighting is great for all kinds of places because you can change the color of the light to fit your needs. Here’s why it’s valuable:

Enhances Productivity and Focus: Cool white light (4000K–6500K) mimics daylight, stimulating alertness and concentration, making it ideal for offices, schools, and workspaces.

Supports Relaxation and Comfort: Warm white light (2700K–3000K) creates a calming atmosphere, perfect for homes, hospitality, and healthcare facilities.

Adapts to Natural Rhythms: Tunable white lighting aligns with circadian rhythms by adjusting light levels throughout the day, promoting well-being and better sleep cycles.

Versatility for Multi-Use Spaces: Provides tailored lighting for diverse activities in the same space, such as reading, dining, or relaxing.

Energy Efficiency: Modern tunable white systems use LEDs, offering long life, low power consumption, and customizable settings to reduce unnecessary energy use.

Tunable white lighting is essential for spaces where functionality, comfort, and human well-being are priorities.

Featured Tunable White LED Lighting Products

Tunable white LED lighting allows you to change the color of the light from warm to cool to match the mood of the space. This helps with your eye comfort, productivity, and the look and feel of the room. We offer the following tunable white LED lighting solutions to help you get the lighting you need in your space.

Tunable White LED Panel Light

Designed for offices, schools, and retail spaces, these slim and elegant panel lights provide smooth, flicker-free illumination. The adjustable color temperature ensures an optimal environment for concentration and relaxation.

Tunable White LED Down Light

Perfect for residential and commercial settings, these downlights combine sleek design with the functionality of tunable lighting. They allow precise control of lighting tones, ideal for creating mood-enhancing atmospheres.

Tunable White LED Flood Light

These floodlights are suitable for outdoor and large-area lighting, including sports fields and parking lots. The tunable feature helps match lighting needs for events, safety, or aesthetic enhancement.

Tunable White LED High Bay Light

Built for warehouses and industrial facilities, these high bay lights deliver powerful and customizable brightness. The tunable white feature enables better visibility and easy in various operational settings.

Tunable White LED Vapor Light

Designed for harsh environments like factories and parking garages, vapor lights offer high durability and adjustable lighting tones. This ensures functional and adaptable illumination in challenging conditions.

Tunable White LED Bulkhead Light

Ideal for corridors, stairwells, and outdoor pathways, these compact lights combine robustness with tunable white technology. They ensure energy-efficient lighting without compromising on versatility or style.

FAQs About Tunable White LED Lighting

What is the difference between tunable white and dim to warm?

Tunable white and dim to warm both change the way light looks in a space, but they do it in different ways. Tunable white adjusts the color of the light across a wide spectrum from cool white to warm white, allowing you to dial in the exact lighting you want. Dim to warm primarily mimics the effect of dimming an incandescent bulb. As you dim the light, it gets warmer. It starts out as a bright, cool white and gets softer and warmer as you turn it down.

What color temperature is tunable white?

Tunable white lighting systems can usually adjust from around 2700K (a warm, soft white similar to incandescent lamps) up to 6500K or higher (a crisp, bluish-white light that mimics daylight). This lets you match the natural daylight cycles or create different moods or effects for different tasks or times of day.

Which is brighter, cool white or daylight LED?

Brightness is often perceived differently depending on the color temperature, even if the lumens output is the same. Cool white LEDs, which have a color temperature around 5000K to 6500K, look brighter to the human eye compared to natural white LEDs, which are around 4000K. That’s because the cool white LEDs have more blue light, which is more effective at stimulating the human eye.

How do you tell if a white is warm or cool?

The color temperature of white light determines whether it’s warm or cool. Warm whites, which are around 2700K to 3000K, look yellowish and are similar in color to incandescent bulbs. Cool whites, which are around 5000K to 6500K, look more neutral or slightly blue. The way you know the warmth or coolness of light is by looking at the Kelvin rating on the lighting specification.

How to control tunable white?

You can control tunable white lighting in a variety of ways including using wall switches, remote controls, mobile apps, or voice-activated home automation systems. These controls typically adjust the brightness and color of the lights. You can then set the light to the exact level you want based on your preference or what you’re doing.

What color temperature is perfect white?

“Perfect white” is subjective and depends on the application and what you like. But a neutral white around 4000K is often considered a good all-around option. It gives you a clean, crisp light without the harshness of the cooler temperatures or the yellowness of the warmer ones.

What does tunable mean in lighting?

In lighting, “tunable” means you can change the characteristics of the light output. This includes adjusting the color of the light in tunable white lighting, which is a powerful way to change the look and feel of a space with a few simple adjustments. Tunability is about flexibility in lighting design and function, so it can do what you want it to do.

Can you get warm white with RGB?

RGB systems, which are red, green, and blue light combined to make different colors, can do warm white, but they don’t do it as well as a dedicated warm white LED. The warmth you get from an RGB system won’t match all the subtleties of a warm white LED that uses special phosphors to create a consistent, accurate warm light.

What does CCT adjustable mean?

CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) adjustable means the lighting system can change the color of the light. You typically see this in tunable white lighting systems, where you can change the CCT to create a warm, relaxing atmosphere or cool, energizing daylight.

Conclusion

In summary, tunable white lighting is an awesome technology that lets you control the brightness and color of light in a space. You can create a lighting experience that makes you feel good, helps you get stuff done, and even helps you be healthier by copying the patterns of natural light. It’s great for all kinds of places.

If you have any questions about tunable white lighting, just feel free to contact us directly. Our lighting experts are ready to help.