A solid state lighting apparatus for general illumination comprising an LED module that comprises: a plurality of light emitting diodes, LEDs, including at least a first portion of light emitting diodes and a second portion of light emitting diodes, wherein the first portion and second portion of light emitting diodes are configured to provide different emission characteristics; a thermal sensor that is configured to provide a temperature signal corresponding to an operating condition of the solid state lighting apparatus; and a control circuit that is configured to receive the temperature signal and to interrupt electrical current to the first portion but not to the second portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes responsive to a value of the temperature signal exceeding a high temperature limit, wherein interrupting the electrical current comprises intermittently interrupting the electrical current in a temporally specific pattern to provide a visible indicator corresponding to the value of the temperature signal, wherein the thermal sensor is further configured to provide an updated temperature signal, and if the updated temperature signal has a value that is less than a restore function temperature, the restore function temperature being lower than the high temperature limit, then the electrical current is resumed to the interrupted first portion of plurality of LEDs such that a hysteresis control characteristic is provided, characterized in that the control circuit is further configured to perform said interrupting of the electrical current so as to interrupt the electrical current to the first portion but not to the second portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes for a minimum time that is independent of said updated subsequent value of the temperature signal. a plurality of light emitting diodes, LEDs, including at least a first portion of light emitting diodes and a second portion of light emitting diodes, wherein the first portion and second portion of light emitting diodes are configured to provide different emission characteristics; a thermal sensor that is configured to provide a temperature signal corresponding to an operating condition of the solid state lighting apparatus; and a control circuit that is configured to receive the temperature signal and to interrupt electrical current to the first portion but not to the second portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes responsive to a value of the temperature signal exceeding a high temperature limit, wherein interrupting the electrical current comprises intermittently interrupting the electrical current in a temporally specific pattern to provide a visible indicator corresponding to the value of the temperature signal, wherein the thermal sensor is further configured to provide an updated temperature signal, and if the updated temperature signal has a value that is less than a restore function temperature, the restore function temperature being lower than the high temperature limit, then the electrical current is resumed to the interrupted first portion of plurality of LEDs such that a hysteresis control characteristic is provided, characterized in that the control circuit is further configured to perform said interrupting of the electrical current so as to interrupt the electrical current to the first portion but not to the second portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes for a minimum time that is independent of said updated subsequent value of the temperature signal.