LED bulbs - everything you want and need to know about them

LED light bulbs - basic characteristics

In the following article you will find general, as well as practical information about LED light sources, often commonly referred to as LED bulbs. However, as you are about to see (or perhaps you already know), this technology does not involve filament, so it would be more accurate to talk about LED lamps or LEDs (in this article, however, we use these names interchangeably). We'll briefly introduce you to what LED light technology is all about, present the biggest advantages of using LEDs, and tell you about the basic types available on the market.

LEDs - what it means ? In a few words about glow technology

Let's start with the name. LED is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode, which in Polish means light emitting diode. This type of diode is a semiconductor element, and thanks to the ability of some substances in it to emit light when current flows through them, in this technology of illumination, electric current is converted directly into light. So we don't have a mercury vapor discharge, as with fluorescent lamps, or a traditional incandescent filament made of tungsten and heated by flowing current. Depending on the type of semiconductor used, light-emitting diodes can emit light of different colors.

Advantages of using LEDs

Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, whose era ended in 2016, and energy-saving fluorescent lamps, the price of LEDs is higher. What is the difference and what are the advantages of LED bulbs?

• LED bulbs are the most energy-efficient light source available.
• Energy consumption is 90% less with them than with traditional incandescent bulbs.
• By using typical, classic shapes and caps, LED bulbs are an excellent replacement for traditional tungsten light sources.
• LEDs exhibit high luminous efficiency.
• LED bulbs are very durable - their lifespan is up to 100,000. hours, and compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, they are estimated to shine up to 25 times longer
• LEDs are great at rendering colors. At the same time, it is worth remembering that unnatural colors tire the eyesight and make it deteriorate, and ophthalmologists recommend using LED bulbs, whose bright and warm light has been adapted to the human visual organ.
• No stroboscopic effect (flickering).
• Full brightness in a very short time.
• Resistance to switching on and off.
• Environmentally friendly due to the absence of mercury and other chemicals.
• High resistance to voltage fluctuations.
• Resistance to mechanical damage, shock and vibration.
• High energy efficiency and longevity (an LED bulb could shine continuously for as long as 3 years!) cause that although the cost of purchasing such a bulb is higher, the electricity bills in the following years of using modern LED light sources will prove to be much lower. So, looking from the perspective of the wallet, replacing fluorescent or incandescent bulbs with LED ones is very cost-effective.
• The amount of heat emitted during the illumination of LEDs is incomparably less than in the case of traditional lighting, so you can successfully mount them in places where a large amount of heat is inadvisable or dangerous.
• LED bulbs are compatible with light dimmers, so you can easily use them to create an intimate, welcoming atmosphere in your interior.
• LEDs come in many colors and are available in a wide range of color temperatures, so users can choose exactly the bulbs that best meet their preferences in terms of light color and create interesting lighting effects with them.

How to choose the right LED bulb?

When choosing LED light sources, it is worth avoiding cheap LED bulbs, which have much worse performance than more expensive LEDs of better quality. When choosing LEDs for our interior, it is also important to remember not to follow the parameters typical of classic incandescent bulbs, as they are not applicable in this case. For example - an LED bulb emits a light output similar to that of a standard incandescent bulb, while consuming several times less current. Thus, a 1W LED bulb is equivalent to a traditional 15W incandescent bulb at a luminous flux of 100. Correspondingly, an 8-10W LED bulb is equivalent to a classic 75W incandescent bulb.

The main parameters you will find on the packaging of LED bulbs are:

• power expressed in watts [W],
• number of lumens [lm],
• the number of Kelvin indicating the color of light [K],
• thread type and size,
• color rendering index,
• energy efficiency

If you care about low energy costs, pay attention to the energy label. If on the right intensity for lumens, and if on a pleasant color and temperature of light, you need to look at Kelvin. Read more about light parameters, lumens and its color temperature in our article HERE.

Types of LED lamps

The wide range of energy-saving LED lamps available on the market allows you to easily replace traditional fluorescent lamps, as well as incandescent light sources, which are already withdrawn from the market. However, it's easy to get lost in the offerings of electrical stores, so here's a quick guide to the most popular types of LED lamps and the available lamp bases.

• LED bulbs

LED bulbs, which resemble traditional incandescent bulbs in shape, are simply LEDs encased in a glass bulb that mimics a classic incandescent bulb. Among the most common shapes - in addition to the standard one, one also encounters LED bulbs in the shape of a sphere, candle, spiral or tube, as well as decorative LED bulbs with a visible, decorative filament, resembling the classic Edison bulb.

The threads and caps of LED bulbs usually correspond to those used in conventional light sources, and one of the most common solutions is the classic, large, screw-in Edison E27 thread (the number 27 corresponds to the thread diameter). This stem is mostly used in ceiling fixtures, pendant lamps, etc. Among the types of lighting dedicated to interiors, you can also often find fixtures for screw-in small thread Edison E14. It is used in incandescent lamps designed for installations of slightly lower wattage, such as desk and night lamps or in small chandeliers.

• LED fluorescent lamps

LED fluorescent lamps, also known as linear lamps, use LED technology to emit light, which we wrote about above. Due to its numerous advantages such as energy efficiency, instant start, lack of flicker effect, and safety for the eyesight, traditional gas fluorescent lamps, used most often to light warehouses, garages, or workshops, are increasingly being replaced with LED fluorescent lamps.

• Headlights, LED halogens

LED headlights are an excellent replacement for halogen headlights and, unlike them, do not heat up the illuminated surface. Energy-efficient halogen / LED spotlights are very often used in ceiling fixtures, as well as outdoors (also with motion sensor) to illuminate architecture, backyards, gardens or other outdoor elements.

• LED strips and strips

This type of LED lighting is mainly used for decorative purposes - under kitchen cabinets to create a mood or illuminate the kitchen countertop, in the bedroom and teenage room or in the bathroom around the bathtub. LED strips will also help highlight the assets of the room and create an intimate atmosphere conducive to relaxation and tranquility.

• Lighting / LED industrial lamps

LEDs, due to their high durability and energy efficiency, are also increasingly used in industrial lamps, automobiles, etc.

Looking for cost-effective solutions? Bet on LEDs!

Incandescent as well as other LED lamps are a modern technology of illumination, which will work in virtually any interior, any place and at any time of day or night, provided that we choose the right type and parameters of the lamp. Users of LEDs can choose from a wide range of colors and lamp color temperatures, as well as change them as they glow, which, with the already very extensive list of advantages that LEDs have, further puts them at the top of available lighting options. What's more, LED lamps can be successfully dimmed and even controlled from mobile apps, so they are sure to be loved by lovers of moody interiors and modern technology as well. We hope that you already know which LED to choose and that we have convinced you that LEDs really are worth the money. That's why we use them in many of Kaspa's lamps, and for those sold without an included light source, we encourage you to choose just this type of bulb.